mechmarket home screen
Product page
Market listings
Offer screen
View current market trends to get a better estimate of current prices before buying and selling
Effortlessly streamline transactions by sending and receiving offers, simplifying your deal-making process for optimal efficiency
Effortlessly locate the products you desire with convenient access to filters that refine and customize your search criteria
In the initial phase, I assessed the ability of 8 participants to navigate the mechmarket subreddit. Testing two distinct user flows, I aimed to determine their proficiency in completing a purchase or listing an item for sale. It's important to highlight that participants had no prior experience with the mechmarket subreddit in this specific test.
Approximately 13% of the users were able to complete both tasks. This insight suggests that the user flow may be too difficult for new users.
"I wasn't too familiar with buying and selling on Reddit. I only use it to browse content surrounding communities that pique my interests. Reddit is the last place I'd look at for marketplace activities"
"Exploring community guides and rules provided insights, but as a new user, the numerous steps felt overwhelming, making a smooth experience seem intricate, especially on mobile
The buying and selling process on Reddit is not user friendly and poses challenges to new users
Reddit's platform is primarily designed for discussion rather than commerce. As a result, features and tools are limited compared to dedicated e-commerce platforms.
Amy is new to the mechanical keyboard hobby. She wants to acquire a new keyboard with a budget cap of $500. However, she finds the current lack of price filtering options quite frustrating on the subreddit. The absence of this feature makes it cumbersome for her to navigate through various products, as they may not align with her specific budget constraints.
Alex is a veteran on mechmarket. He loves building and collecting keyboards. He wishes there was a dedicated mobile app where he can easily track and view market data. This would spare him the effort of needing to consistently sift through numerous posts on the subreddit, making it seamless to obtain an accurate overview of prevailing market prices.
I conducted a comprehensive analysis of top marketplace apps to inspire enhanced design concepts for mechmarket. This involved a evaluation of their user interfaces and userflows, aimed at gaining deeper insights into staple design principles.
These leading marketplace platforms offer users the capability to sort by crucial metrics like price range. In contrast, mechmarket lacks this functionality, resulting in notable limitations in its filtering options
These platforms empower users to effortlessly upload and capture images of their products for sale, eliminating the need for third-party image hosting services currently required on mechamarket
These platforms allow users to propose a price for a product, a feature currently unavailable on mechmarket. Currently, users must engage directly with sellers to discuss pricing options
Given the confined space in mobile design as opposed to desktop, I had to carefully consider actions that are touch-friendly and effortlessly tappable. My goal was to create a streamlined user flow that offers easy navigation.
Sitemap
User purchases a product
User sells a product
User edits a submitted offer
These initial designs mark the beginning stages of mechmarket's development journey. Informed by user surveys and ongoing design iterations, the evolution of the design reflects a collaborative effort driven by real-world feedback and continuous refinement
In a first-click test with the same 8 participants, I evaluated their grasp of the mechmarket prototype, emphasizing the same initial phase tests. My aim was to determine if there were any enhancements in user experience compared to their previous interactions with the mechmarket subreddit. Below were the results.
With the completion rate exceeding 88%, the findings strongly suggest that the mechmarket prototype excels in intuitiveness and user-friendliness when compared to the Reddit platform. Unanimously, all participants agree that the concept of a dedicated mobile app for mechmarket is highly favorable.
Developing the mechmarket app was my first personal project after completing the Google UX Design course. This endeavor provided invaluable insights into the needs of both novices and seasoned users within the keyboard community, fostering my growth as a Product Designer. Moreover, it served as a platform for honing my skills in Figma, where I delved into techniques like crafting scrollable content, constructing components, and leveraging the auto-layout feature. This enriching journey not only elevated my design proficiency but also enriched my understanding of delivering user-centric experiences
Reflecting on the project, I recognize the importance of investing more time in brainstorming and refining the project's direction during the planning phase. This would have prevented the need for frequent adjustments during the implementation of new features. Moving forward, these insights will inform my approach, leading to a more streamlined and effective execution in future projects.