SharedStandard

The problem was not chores. It was ambiguity.

SharedStandard was designed for young adult roommates living in shared housing, where conflict around chores often comes from unspoken expectations rather than a lack of care. In shared spaces like kitchens and bathrooms, people regularly assume they are on the same page, but their standards for what counts as done can be very different.

The concept helps roommates create a shared definition of done, pair it with a timing rule, confirm agreement together, and reduce the need for repeated reminders.

Small mismatches repeated until they became social tension

Research showed that unclear expectations turn practical issues like dishes, counters, or bathroom cleanup into recurring interpersonal tension. In many shared homes, expectations stay implied rather than written down, and once one person feels forced to remind another more than once, the interaction quickly starts to feel like nagging.

“If I send one reminder, that should be enough, and beyond that it feels like nagging.”

Discovery research mapped where roommate coordination breaks down

The gap was not scheduling. It was agreeing on what “clean enough” means.

Existing tools could handle assignments, lists, or expenses, but they did not solve the social problem of aligning expectations for shared spaces. That gap shaped the opportunity for SharedStandard: build a calm, lightweight tool that helps roommates agree on what a finished task actually looks like before conflict starts.

A research led process moved from problem framing to refinement

1. 01

   Research

   Interviews, contextual inquiry, and observation revealed that chore tension often came from implied expectations and mismatched definitions of done.

2. 02

   Synthesis

   Patterns were organized into the key themes of ambiguity, reminder friction, low tolerance for repeated follow up, and the need for calm coordination.

3. 03

   Opportunity gap

   Existing tools supported assignment and scheduling, but did not help roommates align on what a completed shared-space task actually meant.

4. 04

   Concept narrowing

   The concept focused on the Shared Standard Reset direction because it best addressed the strongest research signal: different standards, not lack of effort.

5. 05

   Wireframes and wireflow

   Early sketches and wireflows translated research into interaction structure, helping define the flow before moving into polished interface design.

6. 06

   Prototype

   A mobile first prototype was built around spaces, definitions of done, timing rules, agreement states, reminders, and lightweight updates.

7. 07

   Usability testing

   Moderated testing checked whether users could create standards, understand agreement states, use reminders, and update expectations when the system was not working.

8. 08

   Iteration

   Templates, clearer approval language, more visible edit actions, and lighter weight completion flows were introduced based on testing feedback.

From rough ideas to a working flow

These early sketches helped translate research insights into possible interaction flows. Starting with hand-drawn wireframes made it easier to explore structure, priorities, and task sequence before moving into wireflows and the high-fidelity prototype.

A spaces first tool built around alignment, timing, and light touch accountability

The final concept was a mobile first shared household tool organized by spaces. Rather than using points, surveillance, or gamification, it focused on making expectations explicit and helping roommates coordinate with less friction.

Core prototype flows

Key moments in the final flow

Moderated usability testing showed the concept had value, but the language and actions needed refinement

SharedStandard reframed chores as a communication design problem

The final concept did not try to pressure people into compliance. Instead, it created a shared reference point that made expectations visible, reduced ambiguity, and supported calmer coordination in daily life.