Life Storage Redesign

Summary

The overhaul of lifestorage.com was a game-changer in terms of user experience. Our overall goal was to deliver a modern and intuitive interface that takes convenience and usability to the next level. To improve page load speed on LifeStorage.com, we've prioritized user experience by strategically deferring the loading of below-the-fold content and other resources.

Process/Result

When I first took on the Life Storage redesign project, my primary focus was to initiate a complete overhaul of their existing website. The objective was clear: elevate the user experience, improve functionality, and boost overall effectiveness. To kickstart the process, my initial task involved streamlining and unifying four separate websites into a single, cohesive, responsive platform. By eliminating unnecessary elements and consolidating resources, we aimed to deliver a seamless and consistent experience for users.

Life Storage showed its dedication to staying ahead of the game by taking a bold step in the self-storage industry. We embraced cutting-edge solutions by being the first to adopt a fully responsive website, ditching the outdated "m-dot" approach. This game-changing move had a profound effect on how customers interacted with the website. The improved viewability made it easier for people to access the site from different devices and enjoy a seamless user experience.

Life Storage Kiosk

Summary

The Life Storage Kiosk is touch-screen terminal that puts the power of storage management right at your fingertips. It's designed with simplicity and ease-of-use in mind, making the rental process a breeze.

Process/Result

In late 2019, our UX team kicked off a project to improve customer convenience and operational efficiency with our kiosk application. We gathered feedback through focus groups, brainstorms, and extensive usability testing to improve the customers experience overall. However, shortly after its launch, the unexpected COVID-19 pandemic struck - despite the challenges, we saw impressive rental growth being the only self-storage company offering a contact-free solution.

Life Storage - Rent Now

Summary

Rent Now allows customers to rent storage units online quickly and conveniently. It simplifies the rental process by enabling customers to complete the entire transaction digitally, without the need for in-person visits or paperwork. Once the transaction is complete online, customers can go straight to their storage units.

Process/Result

From the get-go, we recognized that the primary hurdle we faced was the extensive information required to complete a rental, which had typically been handled in-store. Although we managed to condense certain fields, the overall process still felt heavy. Through research and brainstorming sessions, we eventually discovered a game-changing solution: organizing the form into animated sliding panels. This significantly alleviated the perceived weight of the process, providing a smoother and more user-friendly experience for our customers. Rent Now quickly evolved into the foundation of our kiosk application.

Howie - The Smart Storage Smart Bot

Summary

Howie - The Smart Storage Smart Bot was a playful April Fools' Day prank that showcased a fictional fleet of robots aimed at assisting customers during the move-in process and offering live-stream video surveillance of their storage units. These AI-powered assistants, were presented as part of a non-existent "Smart Storage Smart Bot program" in a fake press release.

Process/Result

Our April Fools' Day prank was a hit! It gained massive traction with millions of views and snagged a coveted spot on multiple top-10 commercial lists for the occasion.

Warehouse Anywhere - eCommerce Redesign

Summary

Life Storage launched Warehouse Anywhere in 2018, providing businesses with flexible and on-demand warehousing solutions.

Process/Result

Our objective was to simplify the lead generation process and connect customers with a fulfillment specialist seamlessly. In the process, we discovered that we could achieve this goal without requiring excessive user information. We implemented a more efficient approach by directing users to a contact form through a clear CTA on the homepage. This streamlined the process, offering a more user-friendly experience for our customers.

Life Storage - She sheds

Summary

Life Storage She Sheds, a lighthearted April Fools' Day prank, introduced a fictitious line of products tailored to cater to our female customers. The whimsical concept of the state-of-the-art 'She Shed' aimed to provide women with a private and indulgent sanctuary, offering respite from the challenges of motherhood and everyday life.

Process/Result

Our April Fools' Day prank garnered widespread attention, attracting millions of views and earning a place on various top-10 commercial lists for the occasion. She Shed's received notable recognition from publications such as Adweek, Time, The Washington Post, Yahoo, and others, who acknowledged its creativity and humor. The overwhelming response and positive mentions solidified the success and impact of our April Fools' Day campaign.

Life Storage - City/Store

Summary

The city and store templates serve as the bedrock of lifestorage.com, serving as critical components that provide customers with an extensive array of information about our facilities. Our primary objective was to enhance the current layout and introduce an intuitive solution that enables users to effortlessly access all the essential information they require.

Process/Result

A major challenge we faced was effectively presenting customers with a wide range of space characteristics and options to choose from. To overcome this, we conducted extensive user testing and found that offering customers a more traditional and familiar filtering option was the optimal solution. This decision proved to be a game-changer, as it not only improved user experience but also set a trend that our competitors later adopted.

Life Storage - Careers Redesign

Summary

Recognizing the need for visual enhancements and anticipating the integration with ADP, we embarked on the mission to revamp our careers section. Our goal was to create a user-friendly and intuitive experience for individuals seeking employment opportunities. By prioritizing visual attention and incorporating ADP integration, we have successfully transformed the careers section into a streamlined platform that offers a seamless and engaging experience for job seekers.

Process/Result

Forbes consistently recognizes Life Storage as one of America's top employers, yet we felt that our careers section didn't fully capture the essence of our company culture. To address this, we revamped the layout, opting for a clean and minimalist design. Our aim was to highlight our core values, community engagement initiatives, and authentic employee testimonials. Through this thoughtful presentation, we now provide a more accurate and compelling representation of our vibrant culture to potential candidates and job seekers.

Life Storage - Tier Pricing

Summary

At Life Storage, our tier pricing system empowers customers with a range of choices when it comes to storage units. We offer premium, standard, and value options, each with its own benefits. One of the key factors determining the pricing tiers is the proximity to an entry point. By offering these different tiers, we ensure that customers have the flexibility to select the storage unit that best suits their needs and budget.

Process/Result

We designed our pricing structure with a clear and familiar "pricing plan" theme, ensuring our customers can easily grasp the concept of having multiple tiers to choose from for each rentable space. Alongside this new feature, we introduced flexibility by offering two options: Rent Now or a traditional reservation. With Rent Now, customers can secure their space immediately, while those who prefer a more traditional approach can make a reservation and hold the space for two days without any payment required.