03 / 05 · Zillow · Systems & Search Alerts · Design systems · Responsive web
Consistent rental application screens and saved-search alerts that renters can control across desktop, tablet and mobile.
The reported project covered 32 application screens moving to an updated Constellation system. The challenge was to make those screens consistent while keeping application progress and notification controls easy to understand.
Audit the application patterns, prepare reusable components and responsive states, and work with engineering on a phased rollout. Design saved-search notifications with clear frequency choices and recovery paths.
The reported delivery was a 32-screen migration for a product serving more than two million monthly active renters, plus components and responsive notification handoff. No measured conversion or usability gain was supplied for this project.
Decision 01 · Make the system visible
The desktop layout combines a persistent progress rail, a clear form and contextual help. The mobile layouts preserve field order and section labels. Completed sections can be edited before submission; screening remains separate from household coordination.
Decision 02 · Give renters control
Renters can choose instant, daily or no email for a saved search. The search stays saved when email is off. Saving confirms the preference, and a failed save keeps the choice so the renter can retry. Device push settings do not silently change email settings.
Decision 03 · Prepare the handoff
The portfolio file includes 14 local component families and 40 demonstration variants, with token bindings and usage notes. This current inventory is separate from the historical contribution of 14 components and eight variants reported above. The handoff covers keyboard behavior, errors, privacy and responsive layouts.
The same section pattern across all five application steps.
6 more images from the project.