mechmarket | Andy Duong

Role

UX Design, User Research, Visual Design, Prototyping

Tools

Figma, Google Forms, Optimal Workshop, After Effects

Timeline

10 weeks (Mar - May 2023)

Overview

mechmarket is a dedicated marketplace app where users can buy and sell keyboard related products. mechmarket currently thrives as a subreddit with close to 300,000 members. Recognizing the potential for improvement, I believe the development of a dedicated mobile app would not only streamline the buying and selling experience, but also unlock a plethora of new features that were previously hindred by the traditional scope of Reddit's functionality.

Product Overview

Final Solution

Keyboard Market, Simplified

Simplfying the keyboard marketplace experience at your fingertips

Discover the latest market trends to stay up-to-date with current pricing dynamics and make informed decisions.

Effortlessly streamline transactions by sending and receiving offers, simplfying your deal-making process for optimal efficiency

Easily find the products you want with intuitive filtering options to refine and personalize your search

User Research

Evaluating the buying and selling experience on the mechmarket subreddit

First click test

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 complete 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 surrrounding 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 "

Problem Statement

How can our app redefine user experience beyond Reddit's challenges?

Lack of User Intuitiveness

The buying and selling process on Reddit is not user friendly and poses challenges to new users

Limited Functionality

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.

User Persona

Introducing Amy & Alex

Amy

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

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.

Competitive Analysis

Analyzing Popular E-commerrce Platforms

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.

Filtering Options

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

Direct Image Upload

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

Offers

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

Low fidelity prototypes

Usability Testing

Evaluating the mechmarket prototype

First click test

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 andn user-friendlessness when compared to the Reddit platform. Unanimously, all participants agree that the concept of a dedicated mobile app for mechmarket is highly favorable.

Information Architecture

Wrapping Up

Key Insights from the Project

Developing the mechmarket app marked a pivotal milestone for me after completing the Google UX Design course. It offered profound insights into the diverse needs of keyboard enthusiasts, significantly enhancing my role as a Product Designer. Throughout this project, I refined advanced skills in Figma, mastering techniques like crafting scrollable content and leveraging auto-layout. This journey greatly elevated my design proficiency and deepened my commitment to delivering exceptional user-centered experiences.

Reflective Insights

Upon reflecting on the project, I recognize the critical importance of extensive planning and refinement in establishing a clear project direction. This strategic approach would have minimized the need for frequent adjustments during feature implementation. Moving forward, these insights will guide me toward a more streamlined and effective execution in future endeavors.