How Airbnb designs for trust | Joe Gebbia

TL;DR

This content tells the story of how the speaker's hosting experience led to the creation of Airbed and Breakfast, which eventually became Airbnb.

Transcript

I want to tell you the story about the time I almost got kidnapped in the trunk of a red Mazda Miata. It's the day after graduating from design school and I'm having a yard sale. And this guy pulls up in this red Mazda and he starts looking through my stuff. And he buys a piece of art that I made. And it turns out he's alone in town for the night, ... Read More

Key Insights

• 💼 People are often hesitant to trust strangers, especially when it comes to opening their homes to them.
• 🚪 Building trust is essential for the success of a sharing economy platform like Airbnb.
• 📈 A well-designed reputation system is crucial for establishing trust between hosts and guests.
• 💭 People are more likely to trust others who are similar to them, but a high reputation can overcome this bias.
• 💬 Designing for the right amount of disclosure can help establish trust between hosts and guests.
• 🌍 The sharing economy offers a unique opportunity for people to connect and have authentic, local experiences while traveling.
• 🏠 Designing homes and cities with sharing in mind can foster community and connection.
• 🧠 Design has the power to overcome deep-seated biases and change people's perspectives.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did the speaker meet the person who almost got kidnapped?

The speaker met the person who almost got kidnapped at a yard sale. The person pulled up in a red Mazda Miata and bought a piece of art made by the speaker.

Q: Why did the speaker invite the person out for a beer?

The speaker invited the person out for a beer because they were alone in town for the night and driving cross-country on a road trip before going into the Peace Corps. The speaker wanted to hear more about the person's passion for making a difference in the world.

Q: What did the speaker offer the person when they didn't have a place to stay for the night?

The speaker offered the person an airbed to stay on in their living room. The speaker was initially hesitant due to safety concerns, but ultimately decided to offer a place to stay.

Q: How did the speaker's experience of hosting the person change their perspective?

The speaker's experience of hosting the person in their living room completely changed their perspective. It made them realize that the people they label as strangers may actually be friends waiting to be discovered. It inspired the speaker to continue hosting people and eventually led to the creation of Airbed and Breakfast.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The speaker tells a story about almost getting kidnapped but ultimately decides to trust a stranger and let them stay in their home, which changes their perspective on hosting people.

• The speaker and their friends start a business called Airbed and Breakfast, which allows people to stay in strangers' homes. They face challenges but learn how to build trust through design, such as reputation systems and encouraging the right amount of disclosure.

• The sharing economy is about commerce with the promise of human connection, and the speaker envisions a future where cities embrace sharing and homes are designed for sharing from the ground up. They believe design can help overcome deeply rooted biases and wonders what else can be designed for next.