
Home made easy
An app for
HOWOGE tenants
Role
As Lead Designer, I was responsible for both the visual design (UI) and the conceptual strategy (UX). I worked closely with developers, project managers, and the research team. Within just 11 months, we successfully launched the first MVP (Minimum Viable Product) in the app stores and have been continuously and iteratively improving it ever since.
Goal
HOWOGE, one of Berlin's largest housing associations, needed a digital solution to empower tenants to manage their contracts and submit service requests via an app. The core business goal: significantly reduce the workload of their telephone customer service. An additional requirement was the development of an intuitive Content Management System (CMS) enabling HOWOGE employees to effortlessly manage these service requests and tenant profiles.
Users & Focus
Our target audience is the HOWOGE tenants. To truly understand their needs, we involved them in the process right from the start. Because the user base spans a wide age range and diverse cultural backgrounds, we placed a strong emphasis on accessibility and plain language.

_gif.gif)
Process
Our guiding principle was to create an app that not only reduces the call volume at the service center but also provides tenants with quick, frustration-free solutions in stressful situations (e.g., when reporting property damage). To stay aligned with user needs, we regularly validated our concepts through user testing with a clickdummy and, in later phases, backed our design decisions with quantitative tracking.
Challenges
The biggest hurdle was navigating the complex technical dependencies on SAP and other existing APIs. Instead of simply accepting technical restrictions, we actively challenged and re-imagined long-standing, rigid processes to deliver the best possible user experience.






The Outcome
-
Modern Tenant App (B2C): Handles contracts, service requests, energy tracking, and a digital inbox.
-
Matching Internal CMS (B2B): Designed with the exact same look & feel for employees.
-
Coherent Ecosystem: Drives high user adoption across both platforms.