Embedded Files
Designed at Alloy
The Challenge
ARIUM needed a complete digital overhaul—not just for their main brand site (ariumliving.com), but for their entire portfolio of individual property websites. The goal was to modernize the apartment hunting experience under a tight deadline.
Key Objectives:
Unified Experience: Create a design system that works for the corporate brand and individual properties.
The "Explorer" Map: Build a robust map search that allows users to filter by amenities, pricing, and bed/bath count instantly.
Speed: Deliver complex functionality on an aggressive timeline.
Strategy & Research
We started with a full content audit and stakeholder workshops to align business goals with user needs. Knowing the timeline was short, we didn't reinvent the wheel where we didn't have to.
Competitive Analysis: We looked at map experiences both inside the real estate industry and outside (e.g., travel/hospitality apps) to find the best patterns for filtering and geolocation.
Balancing Novelty vs. Usability: We decided to keep the map interface familiar (using standard UI patterns) so users wouldn't need to "learn" how to use it, while reserving the "wow factor" for the visual storytelling on property pages.
Wireframe of unit details overlay
Wireframe of regional landing page template with map and property listing
Solution: Immersive Search & Discovery
We focused our design efforts on two distinct areas: utility and emotion.
The "Search Starter" & Real-Time Results
We moved beyond basic search bars. As the user types, the search engine provides real-time suggestions categorized by Point of Interest (POI), Property Name, or Region.
The Explorer Map
This was the functional heart of the site. We designed an immersive map experience that gives users immediate visibility into promotions, pricing, and availability without requiring excessive clicks.
Emotional Storytelling
For the Property and Home pages, we used scrolling animations and rich media to make users feel like they were already home.
Regional Landing page comp
Search Starter with real-time results
Technical Collaboration & The "Content Crunch"
This project required tight synchronization between design and engineering.
Dev Alignment: We utilized Jira for recurring requirements sessions involving myself, visual designers, devs, and PMs to ensure every module was feasible before development began.
Headless CMS (Strapi): We built the site using Strapi. To meet the deadline, I assisted the client with content entry.
The Hurdle: Because of the tight schedule, we had to perform content entry simultaneously with QA. This made testing a challenge, but close communication allowed us to squash bugs and populate content in parallel without missing our launch date.
Floor plan card carousel
The Results
The launch was a success not just in metrics, but in relationship building. The collaborative nature of the process meant no surprises at hand-off. The client was so pleased with the seamless execution and the final product that ARIUM's parent company (RMR) awarded us a subsequent contract for another large-scale project.
Google Sites
Report abuse