Roam
Basic information
Project Title
Roam
Full project title
Roam. A flexible furniture rental service.
Category
Shaping a circular industrial ecosystem and supporting life-cycle thinking
Project Description
A PaaS for digital nomads, relocated professionals, & frequent movers that offers an adaptable, customisable, portable, and easily repairable solution. Providing good-quality products and a hassle-free experience, it offers a rental service & a personalised distribution plan based on our core values: Affordability, sustainability, & emotional relation. Possible through collaboration with partners that help us minimize furniture’s environmental impact and ensure efficient transport without waste
Geographical Scope
Cross-border/international
Project Region
CROSS-BORDER/INTERNATIONAL: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Ukraine, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden
Urban or rural issues
Mainly urban
Physical or other transformations
It refers to other types of transformations (soft investment)
EU Programme or fund
No
Description of the project
Summary
Roam is a flexible furniture rental service that offers an adaptable, customizable, portable and an easily repairable solution for digital nomads, relocated professionals or people who move frequently. By providing good quality products and a hassle free experience, we respond to the changing needs of our roam users.
We offer a rental service and design a personalized distribution plan based on our three core values: affordability, sustainability and emotional relation. We make it possible by collaborating with partners that helps us minimize furniture’s environmental impact and an efficient transport without furniture waste.
Roam’s structure, along with its core values and business plan are our proposal for shaping a circular industrial ecosystem and supporting life-cycle thinking.
We offer a rental service and design a personalized distribution plan based on our three core values: affordability, sustainability and emotional relation. We make it possible by collaborating with partners that helps us minimize furniture’s environmental impact and an efficient transport without furniture waste.
Roam’s structure, along with its core values and business plan are our proposal for shaping a circular industrial ecosystem and supporting life-cycle thinking.
Key objectives for sustainability
In recent years, the world has witnessed an increase in mobility and it is driving change in the ways we live. The habits we have and how we conceive the domestic space is constantly transforming. Therefore, residences are no longer fixed and permanent for everybody. In fact, 15% of young European adults have moved at least once in 2021. (Source: Eurostat)
In order to respond to these new realities and minimize their environmental impact, we aim to help make this a more sustainable experience, while fostering the relationship between furniture, users, and living spaces. The furniture would be stored in our storage facilities, Roam Hubs, one in every city that we operate. This system reduces environmental impact by minimizing the distances furniture travels, instead of from country to country, it only travels within the city. The curation and selection of the furniture also commits to the sustainability of the project. They must be modular to easily adapt to many different spaces, but also to be stored in the most efficient way: disassembled and stacked. Furniture also needs to be easily repaired to promote long-term use, giving a circular life to the products to reduce furniture waste (875,000 tons of domestic furniture went to waste in Spain in 2020. Source: INE, Instituto Nacional de Estadística).
In order to respond to these new realities and minimize their environmental impact, we aim to help make this a more sustainable experience, while fostering the relationship between furniture, users, and living spaces. The furniture would be stored in our storage facilities, Roam Hubs, one in every city that we operate. This system reduces environmental impact by minimizing the distances furniture travels, instead of from country to country, it only travels within the city. The curation and selection of the furniture also commits to the sustainability of the project. They must be modular to easily adapt to many different spaces, but also to be stored in the most efficient way: disassembled and stacked. Furniture also needs to be easily repaired to promote long-term use, giving a circular life to the products to reduce furniture waste (875,000 tons of domestic furniture went to waste in Spain in 2020. Source: INE, Instituto Nacional de Estadística).
Key objectives for aesthetics and quality
Potential users of Roam would benefit from the freedom of being able to move around the main European cities without the hassle of having to furnish an apartment every time. Nowadays it is more and more common for young adults to seek education and job opportunities away from their home for many different reasons. These can be economic, social or even political; and sometimes there are jobs that imply having to work in different places for periods of time.
Moreover, only carefully curated products by our product designers would be offered in the service. Roam collaborates with local furniture brands to empower and promote them at a larger scale. These would be offered in every city where Roam Hubs are located, so Roam users can use the same furniture pieces wherever they go.
Users would benefit from having high quality furniture at a lower price, since they wouldn't have to invest large quantities of money by renting them instead of buying them. We want to ensure that the process of moving is almost unnoticeable for them, while also preserving the feeling and look of the previous home. We would be in charge of moving their belongings, but also setting up their new home with the furniture stored in our circular Roam Hubs, so big bulks of furniture don't have to travel long distances.
In the website, there are two sections called “Roam Stories” and “Roam In Use”, where people who are interested in the service can get a glimpse at the service in the context of people’s homes. “Roam Stories” are a series of interviews with Roam users talking about their spaces using Roam furniture. “Roam In Use” appears under the product’s description in the catalog to see different configurations of the product. (Emotional connection and aesthetics)
Moreover, only carefully curated products by our product designers would be offered in the service. Roam collaborates with local furniture brands to empower and promote them at a larger scale. These would be offered in every city where Roam Hubs are located, so Roam users can use the same furniture pieces wherever they go.
Users would benefit from having high quality furniture at a lower price, since they wouldn't have to invest large quantities of money by renting them instead of buying them. We want to ensure that the process of moving is almost unnoticeable for them, while also preserving the feeling and look of the previous home. We would be in charge of moving their belongings, but also setting up their new home with the furniture stored in our circular Roam Hubs, so big bulks of furniture don't have to travel long distances.
In the website, there are two sections called “Roam Stories” and “Roam In Use”, where people who are interested in the service can get a glimpse at the service in the context of people’s homes. “Roam Stories” are a series of interviews with Roam users talking about their spaces using Roam furniture. “Roam In Use” appears under the product’s description in the catalog to see different configurations of the product. (Emotional connection and aesthetics)
Key objectives for inclusion
Throughout the development of the project, we have taken into account the different causes that make people move frequently in order to create a service that can be beneficial for them. There are many reasons why people move: economic (to find a better quality of life), political (to flee from conflicted areas), due to job requirements (eg. A company’s headquarters are in a city, but the factories are in another city) or just because their situations allow them to do so (remote work/digital nomads).
By subscribing to Roam, you pay a monthly fee according to the amount of furniture you want to rent. Each subscription is individual and customizable to the users needs, both in terms of quantity of furnished space and frequency of iteration. We want to assure the lowest fees, so that people choose quality and durability over low-cost and short-term furniture. An easily accessible online platform allows people to get information about the service, scroll through the furniture catalog and customize their own living space through AR (Augmented Reality). The different plans’ costs are studied in-depth in the project thesis (see “Roam - Project Thesis.pdf”).
By subscribing to Roam, you pay a monthly fee according to the amount of furniture you want to rent. Each subscription is individual and customizable to the users needs, both in terms of quantity of furnished space and frequency of iteration. We want to assure the lowest fees, so that people choose quality and durability over low-cost and short-term furniture. An easily accessible online platform allows people to get information about the service, scroll through the furniture catalog and customize their own living space through AR (Augmented Reality). The different plans’ costs are studied in-depth in the project thesis (see “Roam - Project Thesis.pdf”).
How Citizens benefit
Citizens can choose to become subscribers to the service Roam offers. As previously mentioned, this service is mainly focused on those digital nomads or similar who stay for short periods of time in different parts of the world. This service offers them the ease of being able to feel at home wherever they go, being able to furnish their homes to measure from a wide catalog of products, highly configurable. The users/citizens will be able to be part of the project for the desired time, being able to register and unsubscribe at any time they wish.
Physical or other transformations
It refers to other types of transformations (soft investment)
Innovative character
Roam's innovation lies in its transformative approach to consumption and ownership, aligning with evolving work dynamics and the growing trend of nomadic lifestyles. As a flexible furniture rental service, Roam sets itself apart by developing a user-friendly experience and platform for the entire rental process while emphasizing sustainability. Our commitment to eco-friendly practices, reducing waste by extending product life cycles, and collaborating with brands focusing on repairable and recycled materials supporting life-cycle thinking and facilitating a more responsible consumption.
We bet for affordability, our second core value, by sourcing quality furniture at reasonable costs, providing personalized subscription alternatives based on the user's needs, reducing overhead expenses, and leveraging technology for operational efficiency. Roam serves individuals an alternative to lower their housing budget, especially in the costly European market.
Additionally, promoting decent work and economic growth for us is not only about developing more efficient technological systems but about fostering emotional connections, caring about the emotional well-being through personalized service, comfortable furniture, and community-building events in our Roam Hubs.
We bet for affordability, our second core value, by sourcing quality furniture at reasonable costs, providing personalized subscription alternatives based on the user's needs, reducing overhead expenses, and leveraging technology for operational efficiency. Roam serves individuals an alternative to lower their housing budget, especially in the costly European market.
Additionally, promoting decent work and economic growth for us is not only about developing more efficient technological systems but about fostering emotional connections, caring about the emotional well-being through personalized service, comfortable furniture, and community-building events in our Roam Hubs.
Disciplines/knowledge reflected
Different disciplines have participated in this project, among them: Graphic designers, product designers, interaction designers, space designers and economists.
Graphic designers: They proposed the brand strategy and brand design, as well as the communication of a digital campaign for the launch of the platform.
Product designers: In this case, this team was in charge of brand curation and product transportation.
Interaction designers: in collaboration with the graphic designers, they developed the application and web platform to create the best user experience for subscribers.
Space designers: These were in charge of setting up the Roam Hubs of the cities and the pre-established configuration possibilities for the users to better understand the service.
Economists: Finally, the economics team worked on the pricing of the subscription, taking into account the complexity of the business due to the high possibility of customization.
Graphic designers: They proposed the brand strategy and brand design, as well as the communication of a digital campaign for the launch of the platform.
Product designers: In this case, this team was in charge of brand curation and product transportation.
Interaction designers: in collaboration with the graphic designers, they developed the application and web platform to create the best user experience for subscribers.
Space designers: These were in charge of setting up the Roam Hubs of the cities and the pre-established configuration possibilities for the users to better understand the service.
Economists: Finally, the economics team worked on the pricing of the subscription, taking into account the complexity of the business due to the high possibility of customization.
Methodology used
Roam was developed as an academic project within the scope of research, innovation, and design. It was brought to life as a way of responding to the challenge of creating a startup that could provide a possible solution to the intersection of various Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). The project takes the direction of confronting different lifestyles and work modes, as well as the struggles of furnishing, renting, and moving in current times. This stems from an urgency and our own experiences as young individuals who faced the challenge of moving more frequently.
The project went through a phase of conceptualization and research, where we understood the projection towards the future of current realities and the need for more sustainable, affordable, and emotionally supportive alternatives. Secondly, we entered the design and formalization phase, working transdisciplinarily across different disciplines, including graphic designers, product designers, interaction designers, space designers, and economists. This approach led us to achieve a very realistic and precise final outcome, developing the project’s viability and outlining further steps.
The project went through a phase of conceptualization and research, where we understood the projection towards the future of current realities and the need for more sustainable, affordable, and emotionally supportive alternatives. Secondly, we entered the design and formalization phase, working transdisciplinarily across different disciplines, including graphic designers, product designers, interaction designers, space designers, and economists. This approach led us to achieve a very realistic and precise final outcome, developing the project’s viability and outlining further steps.
How stakeholders are engaged
Regarding participation, we find on the one hand the company and on the other the users. In the case of the company, it is responsible for implementing the service. This involves many parts, starting with the company structure, contact and supply of different brands, transport and assembly service... among others. In the case of the users, as previously mentioned, they will simply have to subscribe in case they are interested in the service and with this they will be able to enjoy its benefits and commodity.
Global challenges
As outlined in our project thesis, Roam was developed as a response to current challenges, with a focus on projecting towards the future through sustainable development strategies. Specifically, the project addresses the needs and challenges faced by digital nomads, relocated professionals, or individuals who frequently move—often young adults pursuing education and job opportunities outside their home for various reasons, be they economic, social, or political. Some jobs necessitate working in different locations for extended periods.
Roam aims to navigate the intersection of the future of housing, the rise of nomadic lifestyles, and the potential in new ownership models.
In order to formulate solutions for a more sustainable future, we aligned our strategy with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This approach helped us illustrate the issues we were addressing, projecting scenarios that anticipated the imperative for climate action. For instance, "By 2030, an estimated 700 million people will be at risk of displacement by drought alone." Our proposal is grounded in the principles of responsible consumption and production since unsustainable patterns in these areas contribute to the triple planetary crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.
Additionally, our strategy aligns with the goal of making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable, considering that over half of the world's population currently resides in cities. Furthermore, we contribute to the aim of promoting inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment, and decent work for all.
Roam aims to navigate the intersection of the future of housing, the rise of nomadic lifestyles, and the potential in new ownership models.
In order to formulate solutions for a more sustainable future, we aligned our strategy with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This approach helped us illustrate the issues we were addressing, projecting scenarios that anticipated the imperative for climate action. For instance, "By 2030, an estimated 700 million people will be at risk of displacement by drought alone." Our proposal is grounded in the principles of responsible consumption and production since unsustainable patterns in these areas contribute to the triple planetary crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.
Additionally, our strategy aligns with the goal of making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable, considering that over half of the world's population currently resides in cities. Furthermore, we contribute to the aim of promoting inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment, and decent work for all.
Learning transferred to other parties
As nomadic lifestyles and flexible working models expand across Europe, the approach of initiating the project with a pilot test, evaluating its viability in cities such as Barcelona and Madrid, is replicable in other EU locations. This strategic and controlled introduction enables the assessment of the service's success and adaptability to different markets.
The subscription-based model is gaining increasing traction in European culture. Utilizing it for furniture needs allows the platform's paradigm shift and business model to be easily scaled and implemented in other locations with similar target demographics.
The logistics and hub system, serving as logistical centers for stock management, furniture repairs, and delivery scheduling, can be duplicated in other capital cities, promoting efficient operations and minimizing environmental impact.
The strategy of fostering community growth through events that encourage interaction and community building is applicable to other locations. Establishing Roam Hubs as central spaces for coworking, enjoying coffee, and networking aligns with the goal of nurturing a sense of community among digital nomads.
Collaborating with local furniture brands to create a catalog is replicable in other areas, ensuring a diverse and high-quality furniture offering for subscribers through a successful partnership model while keeping the travel distances sustainable.
The subscription-based model is gaining increasing traction in European culture. Utilizing it for furniture needs allows the platform's paradigm shift and business model to be easily scaled and implemented in other locations with similar target demographics.
The logistics and hub system, serving as logistical centers for stock management, furniture repairs, and delivery scheduling, can be duplicated in other capital cities, promoting efficient operations and minimizing environmental impact.
The strategy of fostering community growth through events that encourage interaction and community building is applicable to other locations. Establishing Roam Hubs as central spaces for coworking, enjoying coffee, and networking aligns with the goal of nurturing a sense of community among digital nomads.
Collaborating with local furniture brands to create a catalog is replicable in other areas, ensuring a diverse and high-quality furniture offering for subscribers through a successful partnership model while keeping the travel distances sustainable.
Keywords
#FurnitureRentalService
#CircularSustainability
#NewOwnershipModels
#FutureHousing
#NomadLifestyle
