Out Of Office
Spaces
Startup Co-founder
Out of Office Spaces is the next generation of remote/ hybrid working connecting professionals to productive workspaces based on their occupation, working style and working needs.
Timeline
Status of Project
2 years (2020-2022)
Startup in London
My Role
I was the Chief Experience Officer, (CXO) / Head of Design
As the team's sole designer, it was my duty to make all the important decisions about the system's user interface (UI), user experience (UX), business strategy, creative marketing, and design research, including those for the web and app platforms. To formulate insights to develop intuitive and seamless user experiences, I established key design principles, and interaction patterns, used design thinking methodologies, identified key stakeholders, conducted trend research analysis, and user research, and conducted interviews with over 80 and surveys on 257+ users. Using the rapid prototyping process with Figma, Sketch, After Effects, Photoshop, and Illustrator, I generated wireframes, information architecture, user personas, user journey maps, user flows, and clickable prototypes that could be tested by users. We later pitched our business concept and prototype to other non-designers and investment firms, such as Lake Star and Antler Group, in an attempt to raise capital.
Awards & Publications
“Awarded £5000 for Best Business Venture” by Lake Star for Out of Office Spaces (previously “All About Space”)
https://blogs.insead.edu/innovation-competition/
BusinessBecause MBA Startup of 2021 Award for Out of Office Spaces,
https://www.businessbecause.com/news/mba-degree/7342/mba-coronavirus-startups
Featured in BusinessBecause for Out of Office Spaces as INSEAD MBA Startup offers a solution
https://www.businessbecause.com/news/entrepreneurs/7371/mba-startup-insead-work-from-home
Hottest start-ups to look out for from the INSEAD MBA 2020 Class featured in Medium
Meet Our Founders
I collaborated with 5 MBA Professionals from INSEAD Business School to develop this venture.
ME
WHY
The reason this start-up was founded was to address the issues my business partners and I had when working from home during the COVID-19 outbreak. We had to create something better not only for ourselves but also for others who faced similar problems, so starting in April 2020, we set out on a journey to find a better solution. We were so troubled because we lacked the appropriate space to work from home, and it was difficult for us to focus, stay motivated, and concentrate when our families, siblings, and roommates were also working from home.
Trend
74% of CFOs plan to reduce their office space because employees have adapted to remote/ hybrid working.
Shopify, Facebook, Microsoft, Google, Twitter announced long-term remote/hybrid working plans
Companies are aware that employees prefer to work from home since it's more comfortable and feels safer for them, and that this has led to higher output.
They must thus strike a balance between that and the requirement to create a meeting space where employees can collaborate and work productively at any time, from anywhere.
Changing Work Life Habits
Problem
Most of the people like working from home, however it comes with some challenges
Lack of appropriate working place at home
Hard to maintain work life balance
Hard to stay motivated and focussed
Reduced personal connection with co-workers
Being easily side-tracked by kids and household chores at home makes it difficult to focus
Harder to collaborate with people remotely
The locations of offices are far away, making it difficult to visit them for a brief visit.
User Research
We gathered some incredible insights that we had not previously considered when we conducted surveys with 256 people and interviews with over 80 Gen-Z and millennial respondents who had varied experiences working from home.
80+
Total User Interviews Conducted
256+
50+
Surveys Response
Usability Tests
User Persona
Jack Wilson
28 years old
Software engineer
Lives with his Girlfriend
Lives in London
Emma Smith
36 years old
Product Manager
Parent - 2 year old son
Lives in London
We chose Millennials and Gen-Zers as our initial target group since they appear to be the most impacted by the change and are actively seeking solutions.
In order to determine how our company can best serve them, we planned out their daily user journey and created a detailed persona to comprehend their emotional journey and important points of connection throughout the day.
Insights - Solution
We were better able to comprehend the consumers' needs and the main issues they were facing thanks to our conversations and interviews with them. Our unique solution was derived from the synthesis of these into important ideas.
Lack of a suitable location to regularly meet and impress high-profile clients in her vicinity.
People often find it difficult to locate suitable workspaces, meet clients, and obtain the necessary tools, particularly when they are on the go.
Connecting remote workers with empty spaces nearby, such as hotels and cafes, that offer all the equipment, software, and suitable workspace they need to do their jobs well
Users frequently experience difficulty focusing and being productive since they are easily distracted by their family and kids, especially while attending crucial meetings from home.
To be productive, people would rather have a more distinctive, tranquil, and soothing experience.
Offering users a serene, well-designed space with health and wellness amenities enhances their reputation while also assisting them in focusing, being productive, and working effectively.
The fact that co-working locations can be congested, pricey, and noisy and that sensitive information may be shared amongst co-workers—knowledge that would be difficult to allow in public settings—means that users frequently feel uneasy holding crucial meetings and working from them.
Enabling users to reserve individual, small meeting, and conference rooms in hotels and cafes that are specifically meant for work, particularly when travelling to meet clients and do business, would be highly advantageous.
How might we improve the working experience for remote / hybrid professionals and employees such that they are able to find productive workspaces based on their personal working requirements for short duration ?
Area of Opportunity
Businesses cutting back on their office space
In 2020, a large number of hotels nationwide entirely closed and became vacant.
Employees fear long commutes and don't want to spend a lot of time travelling to and from work as a result of COVID-19.
Solution
Out of office spaces is the next generation of remote/ hybrid working connecting professionals to productive workspaces based on their occupation, working style and working needs.
Through our membership platform professionals can easily find workspaces based on the amenities provided, services offered, tools available, workspace infrastructure, and location based on their working needs.
We aim to become the platform to find workspaces on the go.....
Hotels
Music & Photography Studios
Getaway Homes & Apartments
Office
Shared Professional Kitchens
As a platform for "Uber of workspaces," we aim to enable professionals to use underutilized locations and workspaces, including real estate, hotels, restaurants, cafes, music studios, and professional kitchens as we expand.
Partnered with 10+ Hotels in London
To begin with we partnered with hotels all across London to test the market viability and user need using "Lean Startup Methodology"
Launch and Prototyping Roadmap (Big Picture)
Phase 01
Web Platform
Quick and efficient proof of prototype to test market viability and improve based on user needs and business constraints
Phase 02
Mobile App
Making it accessible for use by company employees and individuals. Thus improving the user experience of booking and using workspaces on the go.
Future Scenario
Autonomous Fleet of Workspaces
We predict that in the future professionals could have workspaces come to them in the form of autonomous mobility and pop-up workspaces based on their needs.
Phase 01
Web Platform (Proof of concept)
Tested the concept with
60 customers initially (Round 1)
3475 visits in 1 week
We onboarded our first customers and hotels through this platform. We user tested the validity of our startup idea, business model and improved upon as we went further.
Though the web platform we tested...
Customer Booking Experience
Portrayal of Pricing, Business Model, and Value Proposition
Showcasing hotel workspaces, facilities based on user needs
Communication with hotels for convenient check-in and faster booking confirmations
Phase 02
Mobile App
How It Works....
USER FLOW 01
Find the perfect hotel, workspace close to you.
Meeting any high-profile clients soon?? Now locate and reserve a nearby workspace that meets your demands that is both attractive and professional, based on the services and features it provides.
USER FLOW 02
Impress high-profile clients and co-workers
Choose a workspace based on theme and decor to make it more lively, exciting, and professional while impressing high-profile clients and colleagues. Now, if you're unsure about choosing the ideal workspace to leave a positive impression, you can ask your friends and co-workers for advice.
USER FLOW 03
Seamless check-in
To check in at any hotel or restaurant, simply use the entrance kiosk to scan your membership card or hotel room key that is stored in the app.
USER FLOW 04
Be in control of your workspace
Assign and arrange the workplace in accordance with your requirements and tastes. Choose a pleasant scent, lighting setting, or music straight from your phone, whether it's to dazzle clients or just to get things done
USER FLOW 05
Connecting with colleagues outside of the office
To establish and strengthen social ties, locate and engage with your co-workers at any time in any of our affiliated workspaces.
Membership Card
OoOS intends to provide its clients with digital membership cards according to the plan they have chosen. Upon arrival, the customer only needs to present their card to the concierge to obtain their room key.
Let's Talk Business !!!
Business Model Canvas
Our Initial Offering
Subsidized Membership / per month + Pay as you go model
Primary Logo
Primary Logo
Pattern
The co-working plan layout (top image), which displays a range of spaces, served as the model for the pattern. I wanted to demonstrate the range of areas we offer with this pattern.
Typography
Typeface
Type scale
Icons
Hear From Our Customers
