Airbnb — Redesigning the Co-Host Feature
This was a concept project based on a Designlab UX Academy brief. Airbnb is a global online marketplace for short-term homestays and experiences. As an Airbnb host myself, I saw that managing co-hosts was often rigid and confusing. My goal: redesign the co-host feature to give hosts more flexibility, customization, and clarity when sharing responsibilities.
Role
UX & UI Designer
Secondary research, competitive analysis, persona development, wireframing, prototyping, usability testing
Information architecture, task flows, wireframes, high-fidelity prototypes, usability testing
San Francisco, CA
2008
Hospitality / Travel
$10B+ (public company)
~7,000
Challenge
Airbnb’s co-host feature lacked flexibility:
Hosts could only appoint permanent co-hosts, not temporary ones
No option to split payouts in a customized way
Payment processes were clunky and confusing
Hosts lacked guidance when setting up arrangements
Competitive research showed VRBO’s co-host system was even more rigid, creating whitespace for Airbnb to differentiate with more flexible, host-friendly tools.
Solution
I redesigned Airbnb’s co-host feature with:
Temporary co-host option → assign helpers for specific dates or reservations
Multiple payout split methods → by percentage, exact amount, or share-based
Built-in guidance & disclosures → icons and tooltips helped hosts make informed choices
Consistent Airbnb-style visuals → matched the brand’s UI for seamless integration
Results
The redesigned co-host feature gave hosts flexibility and clarity and strengthened trust through more intuitive flows, helping Airbnb improve host retention.
Process
Research: With no budget and limited access to hosts, I relied on secondary research:
Airbnb Host Community forums
App store reviews
Competitor analysis (VRBO)
Third-party Airbnb management tools
Key insight: Hosts wanted customization in how and when they added co-hosts — especially for payout splits.
Persona: From research, I developed Angela, a weekend side-hustle host. Angela needs temporary co-hosts when traveling and simple payout splits that are fair and automated.
Information Architecture: I restructured the flow to:
Add temporary co-hosts for specific dates/reservations
Include options for payout splits (percentage, fixed amount, share-based)
Include clear disclosures before finalizing
Wireframing:
Lo-fi wireframes explored flows for adding co-hosts and configuring payouts
Hi-fi prototypes matched Airbnb’s UI kit (fonts, colors, visual hierarchy)
I prioritized clarity, simplicity, and hierarchy in each screen
Usability Testing & Refinement:: I conducted remote, recorded sessions with Airbnb hosts.
Participants found designs clear and appreciated the flexibility
I simplified the design to clear up confusion around “reservation-based” vs “calendar-based” flow
I added more payout options and clearer copy based on feedback
Final Design: The redesigned feature gave Airbnb hosts:
Temporary Co-Hosts → add by date range or reservation
Flexible Payouts → split by percentage, fixed amount, or share
Built-in Guidance → info icons, explanations, and tooltips throughout the flow
Final Prototypes
“Ava is thoughtful, detail-oriented, and always goes the extra mile to ensure her work not only looks good but solves the right problems. ”
Dawn Nguyen
Senior UX Design Product Design Lead | Indeed
Conclusion
This project taught me how to design under resource constraints — relying on secondary research, forums, and creative testing when access to real users was limited.
If extended, I would:
Gather more feedback to confirm which payment option should be the default
Enable multiple co-hosts per reservation
Introduce role-based permissions for co-hosts (privacy and access control)
Get Athos Pro