A transparent rent vs. buy calculator
Designed and launched a 0-to-1 financial AI product in a 3-week sprint, achieving a Top 2 ranking on major product discovery platforms.
Team
1 Product Designer + 1 Developer
My Role
Product Designer
Duration
3 Weeks
(Jul - Aug 2025)
Link
Overview
Ownorent is a web app that helps people decide whether to rent or buy a home. It turns complex, scary spreadsheets into a simple, step-by-step tool so users don't feel overwhelmed by math and hidden costs.
What I did
As the product designer, I drove the end-to-end UX/UI design within a fast 3-week sprint. I led the initial user research, built a trustworthy brand from scratch, and designed a conversational architecture that transforms a heavy financial calculator into a seamless, guided user journey.
My Impact
Speed to Market
Executed the end-to-end UX/UI design within a tight 3-week sprint, enabling a rapid and successful product launch.
Market success
Achieved a Top 2 ranking on product discovery platforms, proving the market demand for a clear, low-friction financial tool.
Process & Results
The Problem
Deciding whether to rent or buy is a stressful, multi-hundred-thousand-dollar choice. Users typically hit three major roadblocks:
Information Overload
Trapped between dense articles and overly complex spreadsheets.
Lack of Trust
Unsure if online tools are unbiased or if they are missing hidden costs in their calculations.
Analysis Paralysis
The fear of making the wrong multi-hundred-thousand-dollar decision leads to anxiety and inaction.
The Goal
My aim was to transform this complex, anxiety-ridden analysis into a simple, transparent, and empowering experience. I needed to design a tool that felt less like a spreadsheet and more like a conversation with a trusted advisor.
The Process: A Three-Act Design Story
To solve this, I structured the user experience as a three-act journey, focusing on reducing friction at every step. I started by building trust with a professional brand identity, then designed an effortless user journey, and finished by delivering the final result with an impactful animation.
Act I: Establishing Trust (Branding & UI)
Before asking users for sensitive financial data, the tool needed credibility. I designed a clean, professional brand identity—including a custom logo, cohesive colour system, and clear typography—to establish a strong, trustworthy first impression.
Act II: An Effortless Journey (UX Architecture)
To combat information overload, I replaced the traditional "massive input form" with a guided, conversational flow. By chunking complex calculations into simple, step-by-step questions, the interface guides the user naturally and significantly reduces cognitive load.
Act III: The "Aha!" Moment (Data Visualization)
Delivering a cold, hard number at the end isn't enough. I designed a clear visual hierarchy and an animated summary for the results page. This transformed complex financial data into an instantly readable and actionable conclusion.
Impact
By focusing on a low-friction, conversational experience, Ownorent successfully translated a complex financial problem into an accessible, market-validated tool.
Market Validation
Successfully launched and achieved a Top 2 ranking on major product discovery platforms, validating strong user demand.
Speed to Market
Executed the end-to-end product design—from initial user research to final UI and branding—culminating in a live launch within a rapid 3-week sprint.
User Outcome
Delivered a transparent, guided calculator that effectively eliminates "analysis paralysis," allowing users to make multi-hundred-thousand-dollar decisions with confidence.
Reflection
The Best Financial UX is Invisible
The biggest challenge wasn't designing a complex interface, but creating an experience so intuitive that the user barely notices the heavy lifting behind it. For a high-anxiety decision like renting vs. buying, success isn't a flashy feature. Success is a seamless journey where the user inputs their reality, gets a clear answer, and leaves feeling confident. This project reinforced my belief in the power of designing for "quiet confidence."