Qdesq Flexi: Designing a Solution for Flexible Workspace Booking
Mobile View in under Maintainance
Mobile View in under Maintainance
Examines the contemporary professional's perspective of workspaces being adaptable, evolving spaces rather than stationary places.
Open this case study on desktop / Laptop for better experience.
Open this case study on desktop / Laptop for better experience.
About the team šŖ
me
Product Designer
I was the sole designer who owned this project and worked on it from start to end.
Product Manager
To understand the scope of the project and itās requirements.
Engineers
To understand constraints early on (if any) and to ensure that final output is matched with designs.
The Context of Innovation
Imagine a world where finding a workspace for a single day feels like solving a complex puzzle. This was the reality for many professionals in India during the COVID-19 pandemic. In July 2020, the team at Qdesq RealTech Pvt. Ltd. recognised a critical gap in the market that was causing significant frustration for remote workers and freelancers.
Objective
Research, strategies and design an end-to-end product experience to help Indianās to get co working space on a daily basis.
Phase 1: Discovery
Identifying the core problem
Research Methodology
To truly understand the problem, we embarked on a comprehensive research mission. Think of this as becoming a detective of user needs. Our approach involved:
Qualitative Interviews
We didn't just ask surface-level questions. Each interview was a deep conversation aimed at uncovering the hidden pain points of workspace booking. By speaking with 6 diverse users, we began to paint a detailed picture of their challenges.
Arjun
Priya
RAHUL
Aisha
NEHA
Dr. Vikram
SATYAM TIWARI
me
User Personas
Freelance Creative
Freelance graphic designer seeking flexible, creative workspaces with reliable internet and affordable pricing.
Corporate Professional
Corporate marketing professional requiring professional meeting spaces with seamless booking and corporate-grade amenities.
Startup Entrepreneur
Tech startup founder needing collaborative spaces for team meetings with scalable and cost-effective booking options.
Digital Nomad
Digital nomad and content creator desiring highly flexible, 24/7 accessible workspaces across multiple locations.
Academic Researcher
Academic researcher looking for quiet, focused work environments with reliable resources and structured booking.
Freelance Professional
Early-career UI/UX freelancer seeking budget-friendly, creative workspaces with networking potential and simple booking processes.
Qualitative Survey Key Finding:
Booking Complexity
Users find existing workspace booking processes time-consuming and deterred by multiple steps.
Flexibility Challenges
Traditional models force long-term commitments and don't match actual usage patterns.
Quality Concerns
Inconsistent workspace amenities and limited transparency about facilities.
Cost and Accessibility
High subscription costs and minimum commitment periods limit workspace options.
Technology Integration
Strong desire for seamless digital booking with instant confirmation and mobile-first platforms.
Location & Availability
Users prioritize location-based search and real-time space availability.
Quantitative Survey
Numbers tell a story too. We collected over 50 survey responses, which revealed striking insights.
What is your current professional status?
Age Group
How frequently do you require external workspace?
Online Survey
Rate your satisfaction with existing workspace booking platforms (1-5 scale)
What is your primary reason for seeking workspace?
What feature would dramatically improve your workspace booking experience?
How much time do you typically spend booking a workspace?
Most important workspace feature?
Which booking model do you prefer?
Would you prefer a mobile app for workspace booking?
Quantitative Survey Key Finding:
90%
of users struggled with daily pass procurement
75%
felt frustrated by time wasted at reception
70%
found existing subscription model completely impractical.
The Core Problem
Most co-working space booking platforms suffered from fundamental limitations:
Rigid
subscription models
Complex
booking processes
Limited
daily pass options
Time-consuming
reception procedures
Lack of transparency
about workspace details
Phase 2: DEFINE
Transforming ideas into product/features
Decoding users needs
Our research unveiled a profound insight: professionals aren't simply searching for a physical location to work. They're seeking a holistic solution that addresses multiple layers of their professional and personal needs.
Flexibility in Booking
Imagine work as a fluid, dynamic experience rather than a rigid, fixed concept. Users want booking systems that adapt to their unpredictable schedules. This means:
Ability to book spaces for a few days, not just full month
Easy cancellation and modification options
Spontaneous booking capabilities
No long-term commitments
It's like having a wardrobe of work environments instead of a single, unchanging suit.
Instant, Transparent Information
Users crave complete visibility into their potential workspace. This goes beyond just location:
Precise pricing without hidden costs
High-quality images and virtual tours
Detailed amenity descriptions
Think of it as being able to "test drive š" a workspace before actually booking it.
Easy, Quick Reservation Process
The booking experience should be as smooth as ordering food š online:
Minimal steps from discovery to confirmation
Intuitive mobile and web interfaces
Instant booking confirmation
Quick payment processes
The goal is to reduce cognitive load and decision fatigue.
On-Demand Space Booking
Modern professionals reject the notion of being tied to a single location:
Support for impromptu meetings or work sessions
Same-day booking options
Ability to switch desks based on mood or task
Variety of workspace types
It's about creating a sense of professional šØš»āš» freedom and autonomy.
Clear Understanding of Space Amenities
Users want comprehensive insights into workspace features:
Detailed infrastructure information
Specific tech capabilities
Meeting room availability
Additional services
This is like having a detailed product specification for a workspace š¢.
Finalising MVP features
Key take aways and requirement synthesis
Final MVP features
Multiple date booking
USP
Booking a venue
Category exploration
Listing page
Venue detail page
And many more
Version added by stakeholder
Enterprise Version
For business
Finalised Basic User Flow
Phase 3: DESIGN
Getting things into design
Design Principles
We established core design principles that would guide our entire approach:
Simplicity
Every interaction should feel intuitive
Transparency
No hidden fees or surprise conditions
Flexibility
Users should control their workspace experience
Efficiency
Minimise steps between desire and booking
Low Fidelity Wireframe
Key take aways and requirement synthesis
While Presenting to Stakeholder
Some minor tweaks and turn we did according to business and product requirements.
Final Design
Letās take a look to some major flow and screens.
Homepage
Imagine walking into a perfectly organised workspace marketplace. Our homepage was designed to:
Priorities search functionality
SECONDARY EXPOSURE
Allow quick category exploration
PRIMARY EXPOSURE
Personalised Offer location-based recommendations
Navigation bar to make accessibility to important spaces easier.
Present Newly added spaces to overwhelms user with volume
Top cities to help user book workspace somewhere else
Listing Cards / Page
We implemented an F-pattern scanning design, ensuring users could quickly:
For Homepage
For Listing page
Distance from their current location
Save to Favourite
Distance from their current location
Price of the venue
Address of the venue
Name of the venue
Name of the venue
Address of the venue
Price of the venue
Homepage
For Listing page
Venue detail page
This became a comprehensive space representation, offering:
Top options to share or save to favourite
PRIMARY EXPOSURE
Immersive photo galleries
Overview details of the venue
SECONDARY EXPOSURE
Access to all amenities of the workspace in an organised manner
Nearby Landmarks to commute easily
More recommendation of workspaces
Floating bar to quickly access booking and price of the venue
Some more minor yet important features
This became a comprehensive space representation, offering:
Multi day booking
Qdesq flexi allows user to book a venue for multiple days in a single flow which makes user to plan their future events also at the same time.
Google Map Integration
Qdesq flexi allows user to use google maps directly from the app to commute seamlessly to the workspace.
Amenities
Qdesq flexi allows user to scan amenities in a seamless way with the help of categorising amenities in multiple categories.
Search
Qdesq flexi allows user to search workspace in multiple ways like voice command, filters like location or workspace or using current location.
Final Design
š¤© View Prototype
Phase 4: DEVELOP
Technical Implementation
Technology Stack Rationale
We established core design principles that would guide our entire approach:
React Native
Ensures cross-platform consistency
Node.js
Provides scalable backend infrastructure
MongoDB
Offers flexible data management
Razorpay
Enables smooth payment experiences
The Impact: More than just an app
Behaviour KPIs impact while testing
85%
Avg. Task Success Rate
82% (A)
System Usability Scale (SUS)
4/5
Customer Satisfaction (CSAT)
7.5/10
PURE Evaluation Score
Quantitative Achievements
15,000+
Bookings in first 3 months
+45%
User retention rate
20,000+
Venue listings in 3 months