Designing & launching the first online marketplace for creative spaces

Designing & launching the first online marketplace for creative spaces

Co-Founder & Product Design, 2018 — 2019

Co-Founder & Product Design, 2018 — 2019

Interaction Design

Customer Research

Strategy

Design Engineering

I co-founded AVVAY with Jon Howard and two other founders while he was on tour with Paramore. Our goal was to create the first nationwide marketplace for discovering and booking spaces for creative projects and events.

A completely new way to find & book creative spaces

A completely new way to find & book creative spaces

AVVAY pioneered a platform that addressed a significant gap by helping creatives find and book unique spaces. Before AVVAY, artists, photographers, and filmmakers lacked a streamlined way to access spaces tailored to their needs. The platform introduced a simplified booking process, eliminating many frustrations that creatives previously faced. For space owners, AVVAY created new revenue streams, enabling them to monetize their spaces while fostering a creative community that had not existed before.

Designing the two-sided marketplace

Designing the two-sided marketplace

The renter owner experience

The renter owner experience

One unique challenge we encountered while developing the customer experience was the "fractionalized time" issue. The difficulty customers face when trying to book spaces that are available in non-standard time increments.

We created an intuitive experience that allows customers to quickly and easily find, request, and confirm spaces and locations based on specific time blocks as well as by the day. This user-friendly platform not only simplifies the search process but also offers advanced filtering options, enabling customers to tailor their searches according to their unique needs and preferences.

Designing the two-sided marketplace

Designing the two-sided marketplace

The space owner experience

The space owner experience

We needed to create an offering for space owners that could seamlessly integrate into existing booking systems or serve as a complete solution for those without the necessary infrastructure to manage booking requests.

We developed a platform that allows space owners to efficiently review, manage, and process booking requests and payments from a single, user-friendly dashboard. This centralized system streamlined operations, improved communication with customers, and provided valuable insights into booking trends, ultimately helping space owners maximize their revenue and improve customer satisfaction.

Scaling the platform

Scaling the platform

In 2018, the team joined the Techstars Boulder program to expand the platform beyond the Nashville area. We learned startup tactics from mentors, conducted customer research, refined the experience, and secured our first $1.7 million in seed funding to grow the platform.

Impact & learnings

Impact & learnings

Creative projects are more complex than simply providing rental spaces. Creative professionals require support in managing the entire process, including finding spaces and coordinating with team members such as photographers, assistants, and models. They also need assistance with communication with hosts.

We expanded the marketplace to create a vibrant community where creative professionals can connect with one another, discover new job opportunities, and showcase their services.

We also established the first nationwide location scouting company, which provides a comprehensive range of services tailored specifically for film and TV professionals. AVVAY can not only identify and secure diverse filming locations but also assist with logistical planning, permits, and on-site support, making sure that production teams have everything they need to create compelling content.

Product design

Get in touch at nickdominguez@gmail.com

Follow me on Linkedin

Copyright 2004 - 2025 by Nick Dominguez. All rights reserved.

Published in Nashville, TN United States of America

Get in touch at nickdominguez@gmail.com

Follow me on Linkedin

Copyright 2004 - 2025 by Nick Dominguez. All rights reserved.

Published in Nashville, TN United States of America

Get in touch at nickdominguez@gmail.com

Follow me on Linkedin

Copyright 2004 - 2025 by Nick Dominguez. All rights reserved.

Published in Nashville, TN United States of America