SAGE MOVE : CASE STUDY
Sage move
Relocating app for First time movers , professionals , families & students
Sage Move is a stress-free relocation service designed to streamline the moving process. By offering multiple pathways, including personalized checklists, legal guidance, video tutorials, and professional moving services, Sage Move ensures a smooth and seamless experience for individuals and families.
Project scope : Design a user-centred relocation service with personalized guidance and resources, ensuring a seamless, stress-free moving experience.
My Role : Lead UX/UI Designer responsible for user research, interface design, and prototyping.
Industry : Relocation and Moving Services
Toolkit : Figma, Illustrator and photoshop.
Timeline : Q4 2024
Final wireframes
Access to many resources
Users can a range of resources easily - and also have explanations of what kind of information they can get before taking action. Colours are bold bright and meet accessibility for all users which is essential here.
Custom guide
Uses are provided with a set of clear steps before obtaining the guide - their are progress bars to show them how far they are into each step before completing and the format is simple clear and easy for them to understand.
Custom checklist
Users have the option to create custom checklists to help them organise their moving process. They can add and remove items with ease .
Contents
Background
Context
Relocating to a new home is often one of the most stressful life experiences. It involves managing multiple tasks, from handling legal paperwork to organizing logistics. Although there are various moving services available, most only address specific parts of the process rather than providing a comprehensive solution
Problem statement
The absence of an all-in-one platform forces individuals to navigate disjointed services and unorganized checklists, often resulting in unnecessary stress, anxiety, and costly mistakes. The fragmented nature of the moving process makes it difficult for people to stay organized and informed during such a major life transition.
Solution :
Sage Move was developed to fill this gap by offering a holistic, stress-free relocation service. With personalized pathways, step-by-step guidance, and access to professional resources, Sage Move simplifies the moving process. It provides users with everything they need for a smooth and seamless relocation, eliminating the chaos and uncertainty often associated with moving.
Designing an app for First time Movers , professionals , students , pet owners & families with children.
Students
University or college students relocating for their studies, whether moving to dormitories, shared housing, or new cities.
Needs:
Affordable moving solutions, assistance with packing and organizing in small spaces, and help with navigating leases and rental agreements.
Pain Points:
Budget constraints, lack of experience with moving, and time management while balancing studies and relocation.
First time movers
People moving out on their own for the first time (e.g., young adults leaving home.
Needs:
Guidance on all aspects of moving—packing, logistics, budgeting, and organization.
Pain Points:
Lack of experience with relocation, feeling overwhelmed by the process, and unsure of what to expect.
Professionals
Individuals or families moving due to work or lifestyle changes, often juggling relocation with a demanding career.
Needs:
Efficient, organized solutions that help streamline the moving process, minimize stress, and save time.
Pain Points:
Time constraints, managing the logistics of moving while maintaining work-life balance.
Pet owners
Individuals and families relocating with pets, either locally or internationally.
Needs:
Guidance on pet transportation laws, vaccinations, paperwork, and safe travel options for pets.
Pain Points:
Navigating regulations for pet relocation (e.g., international pet import laws), finding reliable pet movers, and ensuring pets safety during the move.
Families with children
Families relocating to improve quality of life, such as moving to better school districts or safer neighbourhoods.
Needs:
Support with moving logistics, especially organizing a family move, including legal paperwork, school registrations, and housing.
Pain Points:
Coordinating the move for multiple family members, managing belongings, and ensuring a smooth transition for children.
Why are we solving these problems for users?
Moving to a new place can be very stressful and time consuming , especially if . It can also be exciting especially if it's your first time and you're ready to start a new chapter.
There a logistical issues
There is a lot of stress involved in moving
Budgets are difficult to create and moving costs are high
Most people use digital tools to move
Competitive Analysis
What’s already out there?
Researching existing tools was important to understand what kind of tools users utilise when relocating , I decided to use competitive analysis to understand the market competitors for this particular research
What was discovered…
Target Audience Specialization and Service Customization are Crucial for Differentiation.
Each company analysed (Pods, Move.com, Any Van) targets specific customer segments (e.g., students, international movers, small businesses) and tailors its services accordingly. Pods emphasizes flexibility for residential movers, Move.com focuses on user-friendly tools for a broad audience, and Any Van highlights international expertise and detailed information.
Online Tools and User Experience are Significant Competitive Advantages
Features like online booking, cost calculators, live chat, and detailed guides are repeatedly cited as strengths. This suggests that customers highly value convenience, transparency, and readily available information throughout the moving process.
Reputation and Reliability are Built Through Positive Customer Experiences
All three companies are praised for their good reputations and positive customer reviews. This stems from a combination of factors: providing a wide range of services, offering flexible options, delivering reliable service, and maintaining strong customer support.
Understanding professionals, students, families, pet owners, in interviews
Expectations :
I expect to uncover different users stories of when they relocated and the type of tasks involved when they relocated.
Determine the challenges users face when relocating
What solutions they would like to ease the transition of their relocation
The goal from the interviews is too establish the research goal : understanding challenges users face when moving to a new place so we can enhance a smoother transition
The user interviews were conducted with 5 different participants aged between 18-60 , participants were selected based on if they had moved or relocated before. via zoom and google meet
Some of the interview questions asked were:
What were the considerations you had to make when first deciding on a new location?
How did you determine the destination? Did you use any tools to help you make your decision?How did the move affect you emotionally?
Were there any unexpected situations or challenges you faced during the process? How did you address them?
Affinity Mapping
Goal :
From the user interviews conducted , I conducted affinity maps to understand different key points of moving process for each participant. For example i want to understand the pain points of each user to get a good understanding of areas they struggled with in the moving process.
Pain Points / Unexpected challenges
The vet situation for the paperwork for his dog took longer than expected
~ Martin
Preparations/ Tools Used
Went online to look at YouTube videos of other peoples experiences in Hawaii
~ Martin
Packing belongings & rented out boxes for belongings
~Lucy
usually busy - didn't have time to view apartments with room mates
~Lucy
Mentioned that the moving van was small which cause a little delay and frustration
~Leah
I made a budget checklist of items I would have to buy for the move.
~Leah
Summary
90% of participants over the age of 30 had moved at least once in the last 3 years
75 % of participants interviewed had to take costs into consideration and budget carefully when deciding to relocate
100 % of participants interviewed had dealt with at least one unexpected challenges
“transitioning to a new place can be both exciting and challenging”
Personas
Goal :
The goal for the personas was to determine the type of users I was designing for and to gain a clearer perspective of the goals motivations and type of experiences of the users I will be designing for
Daniel , 34 , Graphic designer
Relocate his pet to spain with him
Having stress and anxiety around the move to Spain because of the planning involved
Driven to ensure the safety and well being of his dog prica.
Goals :
Pain points :
Motivations :
Emily , 18 , Student
Find a suitable affordable house in new destination
Feelings of stress and anxiety because of all the tasks involved in moving
Emily wants to have more social connections while at university to fel a sense of belonging in her new environment
Goals :
Pain points :
Motivations :
How might we & Point of view statements
Point of view statement
How might we reduce the anxiety and stress associated when moving so that movers feel confident and organised during process ?
How might we help pet owners have a a good understanding of guidelines in place to reduce stress and anxiety when relocating to a new place ?
I’d like to explore ways to help movers who are stressed out in the planning phase to have a smoother transition when relocating. There is a lot of stress and anxiety involved when planning a move. These movers need a more supportive and flexible system which allows them to have clear guidance and structure when planning the move and the system can incorporate all types of factors. For example pet owners , families , students etc. By having a supportive system in place will reduce the levels of stress and anxiety faced when organizing a move to a new place.
How might we…
Site mapping, User flows & Task flows
SITE MAPPING
This sitemap visually represents the hierarchical structure of a Sage Move, It's useful for understanding the site's organization and ensuring logical navigation for users seeking moving assistance, from local moves and pet relocation to packing supplies and budget planning.
User Flows
Purpose :
User flow for individual stressed out about move because they are not prepared for the move , create a user flow for a student who is nervous about moving away from home and doesn't know where to start with the process and is moving because of school , demonstrates the process for them in a smooth way to reduce their stress around the move.
Task Flows
Purpose :
The images below present a task flow diagram illustrating the steps involved in accessing pet regulation guides. Each action must be taken for the user to receive their guide. The purpose of this is to help me understand this process from start to finish and see any areas which can be simplified for the user to reach their goal.
Card sort
Goal :
The card sort allowed me to determine the mental picture of the users understanding of the sitemap terms. I had 5 participants for the card sort who all had to meet the criteria of being 18- 60 years old and if they had moved recently or in the last 5 years to take part in the sort. They were then asked to sort the cards based on categories of terms to order the site, The results helped me determine what terms users associate more in specific categories to help build the understanding to help them navigate the site smoothly and effectively.
Community support
Pet- Friendly
tutorials
Tips and guides
Movers
moving cost calculator
Packing and supplies
Moving supplies
Pet safety
Wireframes
LOW FIDELITY
With the low fidelity wireframes i was able to start putting together the site layout and look at the best ways to build sage move into a platform which would be easy to navigate for the users. This exercise really helped me understand the storyboard of how the user will navigate through the site.
Midi Fi Wireframes
With the mid-fidelity wireframes, I was able to refine the site layout established in the low-fis and begin solidifying the structure for key user flows within Sage Move. This iterative process allowed me to test different arrangements of content and navigation elements, focusing on clarity and efficiency for the user.
Branding
FONT TYPES
All three fonts project a contemporary image, aligning with the brand of "Sage Move" as a modern, forward-thinking company
Montserrat was selected as the primary typeface for Sage Move due to its modern, geometric sans-serif design that conveys both clarity and a sense of progress.
Colour Palette
Teal, with its blend of blue and green, conveys both calmness and growth, reflecting the positive transition that Sage Move aims to provide. Deep blue adds a touch of professionalism and trustworthiness, while the sage green reinforces the brand name and its association with wisdom and guidance.
Secondary colours like a warm yellow and a vibrant orange inject energy and dynamism into the palette. These highlight interactive elements and calls to action, guiding users through the platform.
Logo Sketching
Logo Branding
Wordmarks for sage move
Monograms for sage move
Pictorials for sage move
Final responsive designs
Final wireframes
Access to many resources
Users can a range of resources easily - and also have explanations of what kind of information they can get before taking action. Colours are bold bright and meet accessibility for all users which is essential here.
Custom guide
Uses are provided with a set of clear steps before obtaining the guide - their are progress bars to show them how far they are into each step before completing and the format is simple clear and easy for them to understand.
Custom checklist
Users have the option to create custom checklists to help them organise their moving process. They can add and remove items with ease .
Stress free
Simple
Smooth
Testing
USER TESTING
The goal of the user testing was to test the prototype to see how user would interact with the platform based on the design with this I will be able to generate feedback on the prototype and see what areas are good and what areas need improvement.
For the usability testing i conducted i reached out to 5 different participants aged between 20- 35.
Each test was either video recorded with participants consent , or taking in live view of them to conduct the test
Completion of the three tasks which was set out was successful and overall satisfaction was high with the usability of the platform. There was a few errors which was encountered on some tasks which was highlighted in feedback
