Cameron Fahsholtz
/ Carnegie Mellon University Student Housing
Designing a multi-modal toolkit for roommates to navigate conflict.
Conflict is normal, but roommates often struggle to talk about their issues. They may avoid conversations or handle them poorly, which makes things worse. To address this, we created a toolkit that helps roommates communicate more effectively.
/ company
Carnegie Mellon University
/ role
UX Designer
/ year
2025
Challenge
Roommates understand what they should communicate but struggle to initiate or navigate conversations without escalation, leading to discomfort and strained relationships.
My Role
Design Research, Multi-modal Interaction Design, Design Prototyping
Project’s Unique Strengths
Builds early trust and shared goals to ease tough talks.
Physical items enable easy communication in shared spaces.
Supports full co-living lifecycle.
Supports verbal, non-verbal, and digital communication styles.
Background
University students know communication is key to resolving roommate conflict. Shared housing, however, brings unspoken expectations shaped by different backgrounds. These differences surface only through cohabitation and often create friction.
Research Process: Understanding Surgeons as Users
I led entire research phase (initial interviews, conflict mapping study, expert interviews), directed research synthesis and insight generation
Initial Interviews
Led 8 semi-structured interviews with CMU students about their last roommate conflict. Developed protocol focusing on retrospective conflict analysis and decision points where communication could have changed outcomes.
Conflict Mapping Study
Designed and led conflict mapping exercises with 10 CMU students, creating a visual research method where participants mapped their last conflict on a timeline, highlighting key issue points, what they could've done differently, what they should've said, and why they didn't.
Expert Interviews
Interviewed 4 experts in conflict resolution, communication theory, and roommate dynamics to understand why students struggle with these conversations.
Key Insights Translated to Design Requirements
Communication Paradox
Students knew what to say—the challenge was acting on it.
Lower barriers to effective communication.
Initiation Gap
Students delay addressing issues 2–3 weeks, fearing confrontation.
Provide low-stakes, structured entry points to ease emotional barriers.
No One-Size Solution
Students have varied conflict and communication styles.
Offer multiple interaction options to suit different preferences.
Investment Drives Resolution
Roommates with early shared goals handle conflict better.
Foster relationship-building through shared activities at move-in.
Identifying Intervention Points
I adapted two cybernetics models by Paul Pangaro, identifying research-backed intervention points. My paper, Using Cybernetic Methods to Guide Designer Interventions in Roommate Communication for Conflict Navigation, is available here.
Model One: A Model of Conversation
Model Two: Conversation to Collaborate
Design Process
I collaborated with a teammate, focusing on UX while they led visual design.
User Archetype Creation
We created the "Learning Roommate" archetype based on research patterns.
Archetype
Learning Roommate
Background
A college student living away from home for the first time, learning how to communicate and share space.
Needs
They need a comfortable living environment where they feel at ease.
Behaviors
They are willing to build a roommate relationship and work with their roommate to navigate conflict.
Hi-Fi Prototype
We developed functional prototypes across both physical and digital formats.
Design Refinement
Through critique and iteration, we refined concepts into three core toolkit components.
Early Iteration
We explored activity concepts across different lifecycle moments.
Solution: The Toolkit
This toolkit helps you understand each other, address issues early, and create a living situation that works for both.
First Move
How It Works: An interactive fortune-teller game played at move in and replayed as needed to help roommates set and update goals and communication preferences.
Design Justification: Addresses initiation gaps and fosters relationship investment with a playful, structured way to start awkward conversations.
Supports: Goal setting
Find The Beat
How It Works: Each day, roommates place magnets showing their emotions and readiness to talk on their photo on the fridge to signal their current state to each other.
Design Justification: Supports roommates in timing conversations and navigating communication styles through passive, visible signals that enable easy, ongoing communication without verbal pressure.
Supports: Daily relationship maintenance and guides timing for action and negotiation.
Reach Out
How It Works: A roommate signals they want to talk by placing the “We need to talk” magnet on their roommate’s photo. The magnet’s QR code links to a web app where they can send a text card to start the conversation.
Design Justification: This reduces hesitation to start difficult conversations. Magnets and QR codes provide an easy, visible way for one roommate to signal they want to talk.
Supports: Initiating hard conversations.
How They Work Together
The three parts work together across the roommate lifecycle. This approach emerged from research showing conflicts stem from changed circumstances without renegotiated expectations.
Move-In: Use the First Moves fortune teller to set goals and build investment.
Daily: Use Find the Beat magnets for awareness and passive communication.
As Needed: Gauge readiness with magnets, then use Reach Out to guide tough talks.
When Things Change: Replay First Moves to renegotiate expectations.
Reflection
Designing for roommate conflict turned out to be far more complex than I expected. User research and system mapping were essential in guiding my design process to navigate this complexity effectively.
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