Product Design

CoWork: Case Study

Overview

CoWork is a mobile app concept designed to help remote workers find inspiring places to work—and connect with others while doing it. I led this project from end to end, including user research, product strategy, visual design, and usability testing. It started as a personal curiosity but quickly evolved into a thoughtful solution to a very real problem.

The Problem

Working remotely can be a gift—but it can also be incredibly isolating. Without the social buzz of a shared office space or the motivation of coworkers nearby, many remote workers struggle to stay focused and feel connected. On top of that, finding a good place to work can feel like a job in itself.

Not every café has reliable WiFi. Libraries aren’t always open. And it’s hard to know which places are actually welcoming to laptops. For many, these frictions add up to staying home, alone, which can reinforce feelings of loneliness and low energy.

The Solution

CoWork is a mobile app that helps remote workers:

  • Discover remote-friendly cafes, libraries, and co-working spots nearby

  • See workspace details (WiFi strength, vibe, noise level, price)

  • Invite friends or other remote workers to co-work together

With CoWork, remote work feels less lonely and a lot more motivating.

Research & Insights

This project grew out of my own experience working remotely for over a year. During that time, I often met up with friends to co-work in cafés—but it was surprisingly hard to find good spots. Some had no outlets. Others had time limits. A few just didn’t feel right for focused work. These frustrations led me to dig deeper into the experience of other remote workers.

I interviewed people between the ages of 25 and 45 who either worked or studied remotely. The stories they shared were incredibly consistent. Many described feeling isolated and unmotivated when working from home for long stretches. Most said that just being in the presence of others—even quietly—helped them stay focused. And almost everyone said they spent too much time figuring out which spaces would actually support their work needs.

Three core themes emerged:

KEY THEME #1: LONELINESS & ISOLATION
Working remotely can become lonely and isolating with the lack of in person human connection and camaraderie.

KEY THEME #2: NOT KNOWING WHERE TO GO
It takes time and energy to find out what cafes will meet my remote work needs (ie. wifi connection, noise levels, prices, busyness, overall aesthetic).

KEY THEME #3: WORKING WITH OTHERS
Working with others can be energizing and inspiring, and can have a positive and inspiring impact on our mood.

Design Challenge

Discovering these themes led me to my design challenge.

I created a persona to signify all my research findings and ideal user.

How might we create a space for remote workers to connect and find spaces to work together in order to decrease feelings of isolation when working remotely?

Competitive Analysis

It was really helpful to do a competitive analysis so I could understand how this problem space was currently being solved and where the gaps were.

Overall, each of these sites targets a unique aspect of the remote work ecosystem. From physical coworking spaces and remote-friendly locations to virtual coworking communities with daily coworking sessions and events, these platforms offer a variety of solutions for remote workers.

However, there seems to be a gap in the market for a comprehensive solution that not only provides physical space recommendations and networking opportunities but also fosters a sense of community among remote workers.

User Flows

The user can now feel inspired and encouraged to venture out to a cafe, library, or other type of work space knowing that it will meet their needs as a remote worker.

As this stage, the user can choose to invite a friend(s) to work remotely with them at the chosen location if they would like.

Ideation

In designing the app, I wanted the visuals to reflect the calm, focus-driven energy that many remote workers are craving. I leaned toward a minimal aesthetic, with generous use of whitespace, clean typography, and image-forward screens that showcase the personality of each location.

Final sketches:

Testing

After developing my first prototype, I conducted a 3 rounds of user testing. This helped me see how users naturally would interact with the application and identify any usability issues. Below are some of the changes I made.

Final Screens

The objective of the final solution was to address the desire for a sense of community among the target user group while also serving as a reliable resource for discovering inspiring and trustworthy remote workspaces.

Next Steps

Due to the time constraints, there was a lot we couldn’t get to. Here are some of the next steps we’d want to take:

  • More usability testing - to make sure everything works as intended within the prototype.

  • Incorporating a CoWork rating and ranking system - this was an idea that came up during the usability testing. Setting up a ranking system specifically for CoWork users would be a great way to establish a clearer rating system among user and could be what drives user growth.

Key Learnings

This project taught me a lot—not just about remote work, but about product thinking. It reminded me that great design often starts with personal pain points, but needs structure, validation, and curiosity to truly become something useful.

On a practical level, this was my first time managing a solo project from idea to high-fidelity prototype, and I relied heavily on time-blocking and the Pomodoro method to keep things moving. I also gained valuable experience conducting interviews, running usability tests, and making product decisions from both a design and strategic lens.

Most of all, this project reinforced the idea that small changes in the environment and community can have a huge impact on how we work and how we feel.