CollegeCribs
A cutting-edge property search app connecting students and landlords in Ireland
Year
- 2018-2019
Industry
- Advertising service
- Startup
- Property rental
CollegeCribs, Ireland's go-to student accommodation finder, engaged us to revitalise their branding and web presence. Our approach evolved their site into a user-focused web application, integrating practical and efficient features. While leveraging contemporary technology, we primarily focused on creating a user-friendly and intuitive platform. This transformation enhanced the user experience and positioned CollegeCribs for sustained growth and increased market presence.
Scope of work
Logo
The Student's Home
In reimagining our visual identity, we have echoed the brand's original logo, which depicted a home, infusing it with a fresh, student-centric perspective. We have intertwined the iconic imagery of a home with that of an academic cap, creating a dynamic symbol that vividly links to the student experience. The typography is both clear and minimalist, yet it breaks from convention, capturing the app's vibrant, youthful energy and welcoming ambiance.
Strategy
Simplifying for All
Our collaborative effort was geared toward refreshing the brand's image to contemporary levels and, more critically, toward implementing technical upgrades in the search engine. We focused on innovating personalised filters based on user preferences and advancing the user interface for a more efficient and intuitive navigation experience.
Needs-Based Filtering
We've upgraded search mechanisms to address the intricate needs of students, ensuring they can find ideal living spaces quickly and accurately.
Visuals that Add Character
Distinctive graphics lend the site a unique, memorable flair while enhancing navigational ease.
Eye-Catching Icons
A suite of intuitive icons was crafted to ease navigation and expedite the discovery of vital information.
Discreet Branding, Prominent Listings
The branding is subtly integrated – visible but not dominant, allowing the listings to stand out on the page.
![Color palette based on intense green, purple, and yellow]()
Green, the anchor of CollegeCribs' visual branding, remains its primary corporate colour. Enhancing this with a modern twist, shades of purple now complement the palette – a colour widely favoured by youth and forming a sharp contrast against green.
Icons and illustrations
Attention to Detail
We crafted a range of icons to simplify navigation through the features and equipment of rooms and apartments. Complementing these, we have included spot illustrations that conform to the company's colours, infusing the site with a friendlier and more personal character. These graphic elements have enhanced the structuring and showcasing of information, effectively engaging and capturing the user's attention.
Functionality
Renewed Structure, Elevated Experience
Redesigning the search engine was the pivotal element of our project. We meticulously reviewed the site's earlier version to craft a new and more efficient structure. This transformation has markedly improved the user experience, from accelerating page load times to refining navigation pathways and enhancing how content is displayed.
Next to University Campuses
Students can now search for listings in their preferred cities and, more importantly, in areas adjacent to their universities.
Advanced Filtering
We've introduced innovative filter categories that precisely meet the demands of students and the variety of rental listing options.
Enhancements for Landlords
We've made the listing submission process faster and more user-friendly, reducing additional inquiries and speeding up the rental process.
Highlights
Far More than a Refresh
Our task to revitalize the client's brand and website resulted in its evolution into a modern web application built with current technologies. We equally prioritized the visual appeal and the user experience, leading to a redesigned information structure and user-centric features that aid CollegeCribs in attracting a broader customer base and growing their business.
Win-Win for Students and Landlords
By deeply understanding the requirements of both customer segments, the implemented modifications yielded significant business advantages, aligning the interests of both groups. The search engine was crafted to effectively satisfy the needs of both property seekers and landlords, significantly improving user satisfaction.
A Meaningful Logo Design
Our logo redesign is influenced by the visual trends of popular mobile applications, making it attractive and memorable, particularly for younger audiences. The logo cleverly combines a home symbol with academic imagery, directly reflecting the services' essence. This blend of elements allows the CollegeCribs logo to be visually appealing and a powerful medium for conveying the brand's unique identity, clearly setting it apart in a competitive market.
Effortless Development Process
Our developers implemented the project using cutting-edge technologies: Vue.JS for the front-end and Ruby on Rails for the back-end.
Still Relevant, Years Later
The CollegeCribs project, finalized in 2018, still upholds its contemporaneity and effectiveness. Its continued relevance is the result of selecting solutions and technologies that are not only innovative but also enduring, ensuring the project's long-term viability.
We couldn’t have been happier working with HS. The new branding is beautiful and the website is truly top quality. The feedback we hear most about the website is how good it looks and how easy it is to use – something that takes effort and skill to get right.
