Context
Relocating is a universal challenge, especially when it comes to handling large items. Without enough time or convenient options to keep, store, or pass on belongings, perfectly usable items are often discarded. Meanwhile, others struggle to find affordable and sustainable essentials. Having experienced these challenges firsthand through frequent relocations for schools and internships, I was inspired to create a practical, sustainable solution.
Problem Statement
With limited time and resources, managing large, reusable items during a move can be challenging. The need to completely clear out a space, combined with a lack of convenient options, often results in perfectly usable items being discarded.
This issue raises a key question: how can leftover items be handled more effectively in the moving process?
User Interviews and Surveys
To gain a better understanding of the factors influencing users' decisions around buying and selling second-hand items, we conducted surveys with over 20 participants, created customer journey maps, and analyzed their interactions with existing second-hand marketplaces.
Research Insights
Marketing Research
I conducted market research of current resale solutions to identify gaps in the market. While these platforms offer convenience for listing items, they often have unpredictable selling times and lack a sustainability focus. Most rely on users’ individual efforts to manage listings and transactions, which can be time-consuming and inefficient, especially for students with limited time to offload items before moving.
Here’s a summary of the limitations and frustrations with current solutions.
Customer Journey Map
Based on the user journey mapping, we identified key touchpoints where students face challenges in offloading items quickly, especially during high-stress move-out periods. We observed that the "waiting & uncertainty" stage is a critical area, where users feel anxious about selling items in time.
We hypothesized that a simple, step-by-step process for submitting items, along with timely approval, would ease this concern. This structure helps students feel reassured that their items are being managed effectively, giving them clear next steps for disposal or sale and reducing last-minute stress.
User Flow
The user flow outlines the key actions for buyers, platform processes and sellers. Buyers can browse, purchase, and track orders, while sellers submit items and receive updates. The platform efficiently manages listings, quality checks, and order fulfillment to keep transactions smooth and straightforward.
This case study highlights the customer-facing side (B2C), focusing on both buyers and sellers. If you're interested in exploring a business-facing (B2B) project centered on the platform, click the arrow below to learn more.
Site Maps
The site map provides a structured overview of Thrifty Warriors, organizing key pages for buyers and sellers. Buyers have access to essential sections like the landing page, product details, cart, and order history, while sellers can manage listings, track product status, and view their wallet.
How might we make it easier for users to sell or dispose of items with a tight timeline?
Design Exploration
The goal of Thrifty Warriors is to address the challenges of clearing out large items during relocation. The platform offers a consignment-based model where users upload items for review and drop them off for resale. Sellers earn 75% of the payment for sold items, with 25% retained as a maintenance fee. For unsold items, users can reclaim them, donate to the platform, or choose eco-friendly recycling for a small fee.
Design 01
Users can switch between buyer and seller modes using a toggle at the top right corner, allowing them to manage listings and browse items within the same app. This simplifies the experience for users who are both looking to sell and buy items.
Design 02
Category Navigation
Intuitive icons make it easy to explore categories, while the like button helps users save favorite items for later. These features work together to create a smoother, more enjoyable experience for buying, selling, and managing items.
Design 03
Add to Cart
The item detail page diplays essential product information, such as condition, size, and price prominently, making it easy for users to review at a glance. The prominent 'Add to Cart' button reduces cognitive load, making it easy for users to quickly add items without effort or distractions.
Design 04
Checkout
The checkout process is designed with a clear step-by-step structure, guiding users through order review, payment, and confirmation. Call-to-action buttons and transparent order summaries ensure clarity, while success messages provide instant feedback, keeping users informed at every step.
Design 05
Upload Items
The item upload process is designed with onboarding to guide users through each step, input guidance to provide clarity and assist decision-making, and a progress bar to track progress seamlessly. These elements work together to create an intuitive and efficient user experience.
Design 06
Claim Payment
The claim payment process provides users with a clear and efficient way to finalize their transactions. The "slide to deposit" interaction prevents accidental actions, offering a deliberate and intuitive way to confirm the payment.
Highlight 01
Price Adjustment Suggestions
The claim payment process provides users with a clear and efficient way to finalize their transactions. The "slide to deposit" interaction prevents accidental actions, offering a deliberate and intuitive way to confirm the payment.
Highlight 02
Flexible Disposal Options
For items that remain unsold, users have three options—reclaim the item, donate it to Thrifty Warriors, or opt for responsible recycling for a small fee. Each choice supports a more sustainable community by reducing waste and giving items a second chance.
Final Design
Try the Thrifty Warriors prototype and explore its design and features!
Design System
Try the Thrifty Warriors prototype and explore its design and features!
Usability Testing
Using our final prototype, we invited participants from our initial user research for usability testing. They were guided through tasks focused on the core functionalities of Thrifty Warriors and encouraged to share their feedback throughout the process.
Takeaways
This project taught me the importance of designing with empathy and purpose. Through user interviews and usability testing, I gained valuable insights into the challenges people face with moving—especially the need for a simple, sustainable way to manage their belongings. These conversations shaped the direction of Thrifty Warriors, from its user-friendly onboarding process to features like price adjustment suggestions and flexible disposal options.
As the sole designer, I refined my ability to balance user feedback with project goals, ensuring every feature served a real purpose. For example, the toggle between buyer and seller modes was a direct response to users needing a seamless way to switch roles. Similarly, the progress bar in the item upload process helped address frustrations by providing clarity and transparency.
This project reinforced why I love design—creating solutions that genuinely help people. Knowing that Thrifty Warriors could make moving less stressful and more sustainable was a rewarding experience that motivates me to keep designing with impact.