沪巢互联
Service&Experience Design
Individual work
/2021
/2021
Intro.
After the collapse of Danke Apartment in 2020, over 800,000 tenants in Shanghai were left in chaos—some evicted overnight, others trapped in rent loan schemes they never fully understood. The crisis exposed just how fragile the rental market really is, especially for young people new to the city.
Today, renting in Shanghai means constant compromise: either deal with unreliable landlords, pay high agency fees, or live in shared flats that feel more like dorms than homes. Trust is low. Transparency is rare. And co-living, despite its potential, often fails to deliver on the promise of community.
ShangHive is a response to that. It’s a gamified co-living service that turns shared housing into a place where people actually want to live—where taking care of your space and your flatmates doesn’t feel like a chore, but part of something bigger. Through missions, shared roles, and small rewards, tenants build habits, build trust, and build a home—together.
Today, renting in Shanghai means constant compromise: either deal with unreliable landlords, pay high agency fees, or live in shared flats that feel more like dorms than homes. Trust is low. Transparency is rare. And co-living, despite its potential, often fails to deliver on the promise of community.
ShangHive is a response to that. It’s a gamified co-living service that turns shared housing into a place where people actually want to live—where taking care of your space and your flatmates doesn’t feel like a chore, but part of something bigger. Through missions, shared roles, and small rewards, tenants build habits, build trust, and build a home—together.
Discover.
Background & Problem
Shanghai’s rental housing crisis, epitomized by the 2020 collapse of major platforms like Danke Apartment (蛋壳公寓), exposed deep systemic vulnerabilities. Over 800,000 tenants were affected—many suddenly evicted or trapped in rent loan schemes with no recourse. This crisis highlighted the fragility of trust, transparency, and tenant protections in a platform-dominated housing market.Market Analysis: Comparing Shanghai’s 3 Popular Rental Modes
In Shanghai, young tenants generally navigate between three mainstream rental models—each with distinct trade-offs. Analyzing their strengths and failures reveals why co-living, while still flawed, offers the most promising foundation for design innovation.
To understand how young people in Shanghai are experiencing renting after the Danke Apartment crisis,
I carried out user research focused on their real feelings and daily challenges.
I carried out user research focused on their real feelings and daily challenges.
- I interviewed 10 tenants between 22 and 31 years old. They lived in different setups—some solo apartments, some shared flats, others sublets or dorms. Each interview lasted about an hour, sometimes in cafés, sometimes at their homes, or online. I asked open questions to let them tell their stories about renting, what’s hard, what works, and how it feels.
- Then, I ran experience mapping sessions with a few participants. They mapped out a typical month in their rental life, marking moments that made them happy, stressed, or unsure—things like paying rent, dealing with repairs, or talking to landlords. This helped me see when and why they felt good or frustrated.
- I also did a short diary study with three people over five days. They wrote about moments they felt “at home” or uncomfortable in their place, which gave me a closer look at their day-to-day feelings and small details that interviews might miss.
1. Trust is low.
Tenants don’t fully trust landlords or platforms because of past issues like sudden evictions, unclear contracts, and hidden fees.
2. Many tenants feel rootless.
Frequent moves and unstable leases make it hard for them to feel attached or make the place their home.
3. Managing rental life is tiring.
Splitting bills, fixing problems, and dealing with landlords all add up to a heavy mental load for tenants.
4. Social life is limited and often awkward.
Even though people share flats, they rarely connect or socialize deeply. They want community but not forced interactions.
5. Tenants want light and optional ways to connect.
Small acts of kindness or shared routines help build a sense of belonging without pressure.
6. Making efforts visible matters.
When cleaning or helping others is seen and appreciated, tenants feel more motivated and respected.
7. Autonomy and fairness are important.
Tenants want control over their living situation but also clear and fair ways to manage shared responsibilities and solve conflicts.
Insights
This tension became the heart of the challenge. I translated it into a clear design question to guide the next phase:
How might we create a rental experience that balances tenants’ need for autonomy with their desire for light, meaningful community connection, while rebuilding trust and making everyday living easier?
This question helped me focus the next steps on designing a solution that is playful, transparent, and empowering—addressing both practical and emotional needs.
DEFINE
How might we
create a rental experience that balances tenants’ need for autonomy with their desire for light, meaningful community connection, while rebuilding trust and making everyday living easier?DEVELOP
I brainstormed concepts that could help tenants feel both independent and connected without pressure. The focus was on creating light, playful ways to encourage community and reduce the mental load of managing rental life.
I sketched out ideas like mission-based tasks for house maintenance, a points and rewards system for participation, community roles to share responsibilities, and a friendly onboarding experience to welcome new tenants.
In the Develop Phase, I used the 10x10 Brainstorming Grid to generate a wide range of ideas for addressing the core design challenge: creating a rental experience that balances autonomy with meaningful community connections, while rebuilding trust and simplifying day-to-day living. This method helps break out of traditional thinking patterns and fosters creative, diverse solutions.
ShangHive
It combines both physical and digital community elements, with tenants actively involved in decision-making through tenant governance councils. The service features a transparent fund escrow system, ensuring clear financial management, and a gamified approach to everyday living. Residents can earn reputation scores, unlock rewards like rent credits for completing community tasks, and receive badges for meeting contract milestones — all contributing to a sense of achievement and community.
ShangHive isn’t just about renting a space; it’s about building a community where everyone has a role, and where autonomy, trust, and connection work hand-in-hand.