MLArc
Milton Lam Architects
Milton Lam, a principal architect at MLArc, worked with a hotel owner to open a micro-hotel in the San Francisco area that balances productivity and relaxation for business workers.
August - December 2022
Project Timeline
Senior Designer
Role
Interior design, UX design
Project Type
Figma, UX Research, Market Research, UI Design, Prototyping, Presentation Delivery, Cross-team Collaboration
My Impact
Business travelers want an affordable, comfortable, and luxurious place to stay but can’t because:
large rooms in metropolitan cities are expensive
existing hotels don’t provide balance of comfortable work and living spaces that business travelers desire
The Problem
Solution
Design a single-occupancy micro-hotel room and concept for business travelers with a focus on out-of-the-box creativity while balancing ergonomics and functionality
How Might We re-envision the typical interior space for business travelers and hotel guests?
User Interview
Research
We interviewed 6 people from our target audience to learn about their work-life balance, understand how they plan for hotel stays, and identify living environment pain points when traveling for work.
Our Insights
Business travelers value
productivity - travelers like a comfortable work space that enables them to work efficiently
relaxation and comfort - after a long day at work, visitors want a place to de-stress
work-life balance - want a living space that balances their work and personal lives
User Personas
Based off our user interviews, our team identified two different user personas we encountered and their needs and pain points based off their lifestyles.
Our team looked at two competitor chain hotels and identified their strengths, as well as spaces for opportunity.
Market Research and Existing Solutions
In & Out Campers desire a healthy work life balance, clean and functional living space for morning and night time routines, space to socialize with friends, and close proximity to work and attractions.
Their pain points include no space for working out and gathering with others as well as inconvenient furniture layout for daily maneuvering.
In & Out Camper
Laptop Workaholics seek spacious work area, natural lighting and ambiance, convenient access to food and snacks, space to relax for breaks, and fast wifi.
They are easily fatigued working under low-lights and are frustrated by a cramped room with small desk space.
Laptop Workaholic
Pros - strong branding, high quality amenities, efficient use of room spaces
Spaces for Opportunity - more accommodative and versatile room spaces
Muji
Pros - affordable, luxurious, prefabricated, consistent room styles
Spaces for Opportunity - increase common area space, showcase local design and culture, create unique space layouts and styles over the standardized rooms
Citizen M
Separating Public and Private Space
multi-functional island table for people to converge and relax
increased social space with platform bed for additional seating and separation of space
sound proof walls for guest privacy
customizable tech for personalized ambiances
In & Out Camper
Rejuvenating and Productive Room
workspace with long working desk and dry erase boards
separation between work and play
biophillic elements
isolated technology to reduce distractions when working
Room Concepts
Ideation and
Opportunity Spaces
Laptop Workaholic
Using feasibility and impact testing, we decided to merge the 2 rooms together based on our client desires and design a room that enhances productivity and relaxation through a separation of space and a shower transition area with a focus on four key components for the room.
Elevated platform bed - separation of space and storage function
Dry erase wall - a medium for brainstorming and productivity
Multipurpose island - food offerings and work into active space
Customizable lighting - based on personality, work mode, and privacy
Since we decided to split the room into three areas - active, bathroom, and rest space - we had to take into consideration the safety of the guests when traveling between active and rest spaces through the bathroom that is situated in the middle of the room with water concerns.
Mid Fidelity Prototypes
Active Space
High Fidelity Prototypes
Smart home device for lights and room service, luggage space
Recessed lights in the ceiling with overhead lamp over the desk to foster a well lit space for virtual calls
Pull out desk with a mini fridge to serve as a kitchen and dining flex space
Shower Space
Natural elements reflected with greenery, rainfall shower head, heated stone floors with surrounding drain
Quick draining and drying floor to create a comfortable experience during a shower and crossing through the room
Rest Space
Bed side log nightstand, foldable clothing hangers, platform bed with frame, and a bean bag to create a compact, rejuvenating bedroom with extra space for storage
User Testing and Prototype Validation
Our next step would be to conduct user testing with the existing prototype to determine the impact of the design and any additional iterations that need to be made. In future user testing, we would allow target users to navigate the room using the prototype, given specific scenarios, and observe their behavior and thoughts. This would allow us to make adjustments to room amenities, lighting, and textures to better suit potential guests.
Client Deliverable and Feedback
With our user and market research, design explorations, and final 3D prototype, we will organize a final deliverable report to our client, detailing the final design decisions, how they address the user needs, and compete against similar hotels. While our team communicated with our client throughout the design process, the team hopes to improve upon our designs based on additional client feedback.
Feasibility Study based on Safety and Budget
As we had no specified budget and the main goal was to create a hotel room using out-of-the-box creativity, the team prioritized creating unique designs. With additional time, our next steps would include conducting a feasibility study to best understand any financial, legal, and technical considerations for the hotel.
Next Steps