Alcove
How might we create a personalized, worker-centered experience that recommends work environments aligned with individual needs, moods, and work styles?
Client:
2026 California College of the Arts Junior Review
Category:
Product Design, UX Research
My Role:
Product Designer, UX Researcher
The Mission: Providing meaningful, accessible spaces for workers to focus and succeed.
Noticing that many workers needed a change of environment to truly focus, I set out ot design a solution.
Alcove is an app that helps people find work environments tailored to their preferences, whether quiet or lively, nearby or destination-worthy, with reliable Wi-FI or the right atmosphere.
The Mission: Providing meaningful, accessible spaces for workers to focus and succeed.
Noticing that many workers needed a change of environment to truly focus, I set out ot design a solution.
Alcove is an app that helps people find work environments tailored to their preferences, whether quiet or lively, nearby or destination-worthy, with reliable Wi-FI or the right atmosphere.
Meet Claire
She, like many others:
- Identifies as a remote worker
- Lives in an apartment with roommates
- Relies on public transport to get around her city
Meet Claire
She, like many others:
- Identifies as a remote worker
- Lives in an apartment with roommates
- Relies on public transport to get around her city
Meet Claire
She, like many others:
- Identifies as a remote worker
- Lives in an apartment with roommates
- Relies on public transport to get around her city
I often have to work from my bed when I work, which can get pretty distracting...
She frequently uses these apps to find local places to work from:
She frequently uses these apps to find local places to work from:
However, these platforms don't provide information specifically tailored to workers and their needs.
However, these platforms don't provide information specifically tailored to workers and their needs.
Projections by Census.gov indicate
As of early 2026, approximately 34.3 million Americans work remotely or from home, either fully or in a hybrid capacity.
Projections by Census.gov indicate
As of early 2026, approximately 34.3 million Americans work remotely or from home, either fully or in a hybrid capacity.
Projections by Census.gov indicate
As of early 2026, approximately 34.3 million Americans work remotely or from home, either fully or in a hybrid capacity.
According to a recent survey by Sleep Doctor,
62% of remote/hybrid workers admit to staying in bed during work hours.
According to a recent survey by Sleep Doctor,
62% of remote/hybrid workers admit to staying in bed during work hours.
According to a recent survey by Sleep Doctor,
62% of remote/hybrid workers admit to staying in bed during work hours.
That's a lot of working people needing places to focus, work, and collaborate.
Many workers lack access to sustainable, distraction-free spaces to focus, leading to uncertainty about where they can effectively get work done.
That's a lot of working people needing places to focus, work, and collaborate.
Many workers lack access to sustainable, distraction-free spaces to focus, leading to uncertainty about where they can effectively get work done.
Thus, we will personalize the search for workspaces by matching users with nearby environments that fit their preferences and support focus.
Introducing Alcove, an app designed to help users find workspaces that align with how they work best. By filtering for preferences like noise level, distance, Wi-Fi availability, and atmosphere, users can easily discover environments that support focus and productivity.
Pain Points to solve:
Pain Points to solve:
Workers struggle to identify spaces that match how they personally work best (noise level, crowding, amenities)
Workers struggle to identify spaces that match how they personally work best (noise level, crowding, amenities)
Finding a viable workspace often requires trial-and-error, making the process frustrating and inefficient
Finding a viable workspace often requires trial-and-error, making the process frustrating and inefficient
Poorly matched environments lead to distraction, fatigue, and lower-quality work sessions
Poorly matched environments lead to distraction, fatigue, and lower-quality work sessions
Solutions created:
Solutions created:
Match users with workspaces based on individual preferences, routines, and sensory needs
Match users with workspaces based on individual preferences, routines, and sensory needs
Reduce the effort of finding nearby, available workspaces through real-time, location-based search
Reduce the effort of finding nearby, available workspaces through real-time, location-based search
Recommend workspaces that support specific productivity goals, such as focus or collaboration
Recommend workspaces that support specific productivity goals, such as focus or collaboration
Thus, we will personalize the search for workspaces by matching users with nearby environments that fit their preferences and support focus.
Thus, we will personalize the search for workspaces by matching users with nearby environments that fit their preferences and support focus.
Introducing Alcove, an app designed to help users find workspaces that align with how they work best. By filtering for preferences like noise level, distance, Wi-Fi availability, and atmosphere, users can easily discover environments that support focus and productivity.
Introducing Alcove, an app designed to help users find workspaces that align with how they work best. By filtering for preferences like noise level, distance, Wi-Fi availability, and atmosphere, users can easily discover environments that support focus and productivity.
Solution 1:
Match users with workspaces based on individual preferences.
Solution 1:
Match users with workspaces based on individual preferences.
Solution 2:
Provide available workspaces through real-time, location-based search
Solution 2:
Provide available workspaces through real-time, location-based search
Solution 3:
Recommend workspaces that support specific productivity goals
Solution 3:
Recommend workspaces that support specific productivity goals
In San Francisco alone, there are abundant public spaces, but there are also Privately Owned Public Open Spaces.
Privately Owned Public Open Spaces, or POPOS, are public spaces, meaning anyone can use them, even if they are located inside a private building.
There are 200 of these public open spaces throughout San Francisco, and about 60 are concentrated downtown and south of Market Street.
Privately Owned Public Open Spaces, or POPOS, are public spaces, meaning anyone can use them, even if they are located inside a private building.
There are 200 of these public open spaces throughout San Francisco, and about 60 are concentrated downtown and south of Market Street.
What does this mean for workers?
A platform like Alcove connects workers to all kinds of spaces they can reach in an effort to:
- escape distractions at home
- evade the monotony of typical workspace choices
- feel more productive and motivated to make progress on work
What does this mean for workers?
A platform like Alcove connects workers to all kinds of spaces they can reach in an effort to:
- escape distractions at home
- evade the monotony of typical workspace choices
- feel more productive and motivated to make progress on work
Phase 1:
Alcove explains its mission to serve the user and encourages them to get started.
Phase 1:
Alcove explains its mission to serve the user and encourages them to get started.
Phase 2:
The user can take a survey to establish distance preferences.
Phase 2:
The user can take a survey to establish distance preferences.
Phase 2 continued:
The user continues and describes their ideal working environment.
Phase 2 continued:
The user continues and describes their ideal working environment.
Phase 3:
The home screen enables users to search, browse, and save locations.
Phase 3:
The home screen enables users to search, browse, and save locations.
Phase 4:
Users can use filters and searches to find workspaces within a specified distance.
Phase 4:
Users can use filters and searches to find workspaces within a specified distance.
Remote workers need environments that support focus and collaboration.
Remote workers need environments that support focus and collaboration.
Alcove puts access to those spaces right in the user's pocket, empowering them with the resources they need to succeed.
Alcove puts access to those spaces right in the user's pocket, empowering them with the resources they need to succeed.
In San Francisco alone, there are abundant public spaces, but there are also Privately Owned Public Open Spaces.
Privately Owned Public Open Spaces, or POPOS, are public spaces, meaning anyone can use them, even if they are located inside a private building.
There are 200 of these public open spaces throughout San Francisco, and about 60 are concentrated downtown and south of Market Street.
What does this mean for workers?
A platform like Alcove connects workers to all kinds of spaces they can reach in an effort to:
- escape distractions at home
- evade the monotony of typical workspace choices
- feel more productive and motivated to make progress on work
Phase 1: Alcove explains its mission to serve the user and encourages them to get started.
Phase 2: The user can take a survey to establish distance preferences.
Phase 2 continued: The user continues and describes their ideal working environment.
Phase 3: The home screen enables users to search, browse, and save locations.
Phase 4: Users can use filters and searches to find workspaces within a specified distance.
Remote workers need environments that support focus and collaboration.
Alcove puts access to those spaces right in the user's pocket, empowering them with the resources they need to succeed.
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