Overview
MahaRERA is the state regulatory body for real estate. Their digital portal is accessed by millions of citizens looking to verify property developers before making the biggest financial decision of their lives.
This case study outlines how I led the end-to-end redesign of the portal, transitioning it from a confusing, bureaucratic database into an accessible, user-friendly platform that builds trust.
The Problem
The original platform was built with a system-centric approach rather than a user-centric one. Information was buried under layers of legal jargon, making it nearly impossible for an average citizen to find what they needed.
Key Pain Points:
- High bounce rate: 65% of users abandoned the search process midway.
- Information Overload: Project pages contained over 100 unformatted data points.
- Lack of Mobile Support: The site was completely broken on mobile devices, alienating 70% of the target demographic.
The Design Process
To solve this, I adopted the Stanford Design Thinking methodology. Because we were dealing with diverse citizen demographics, deep empathy and foundational research were non-negotiable.
1. Empathize (User Research)
I conducted contextual inquiries with 15 prospective homebuyers. The goal was to understand their emotional state when using the portal. We discovered that users were highly anxious; they weren't just looking for data, they were looking for reassurance that their money was safe.
2. Define (Synthesis)
Based on our research, I synthesized the core problem into a single "How Might We" statement that guided the rest of the project:
How might we translate complex legal real estate data into a visual, digestible format so that citizens feel confident and secure in their investments?
3. Ideate & Prototype
I led a cross-functional workshop to sketch out new information architectures. We quickly moved into Figma to build low-fidelity wireframes, focusing entirely on simplifying the search flow and creating a "Project Health Card" concept.
4. Test
We ran usability tests with 8 participants using the mid-fidelity prototypes. A major learning here was that our initial "progress bar" concept for building status was too vague. Users wanted exact dates. I iterated on the design to include a detailed, yet clean, timeline view instead.
Final Solution & UI Design
The final design system utilized clean typography, high contrast for accessibility, and a component-based architecture for scalability.
The "Project Health Card"
Instead of a wall of text, a user now sees a digestible summary card highlighting the most critical information: Registration status, completion percentage, and legal complaints.
Mobile-First Navigation
The entire search and filter experience was rebuilt specifically for mobile devices, introducing bottom-sheet filters and thumb-friendly touch targets.
Outcomes & Learnings
The redesigned portal launched in Q3. The response from both stakeholders and citizens was overwhelmingly positive.
Business Impact:
- Task Success Rate: Improved from 35% to 78%.
- Mobile Engagement: Mobile sessions increased by 150%.
- Support Calls: Dropped by 30% in the first month post-launch.
Reflection
The biggest challenge in this project was stakeholder management. Balancing the legal requirements of the government body with the UX needs of the citizen required constant negotiation. I learned that showing is better than telling—presenting tested prototypes to stakeholders was the key to getting buy-in for radical simplification.