Designing for a Sustainable Marketplace 🛋️ 🌱
Furnifuture is a student-oriented furniture marketplace app based on our vision to encourage the adoption of pre-loved furniture amongst students. Through conducting research with the student community in NYC, I discovered that there was an opportunity to set up a system of furniture disposal & acquisition between students moving out and students moving in.
I designed Furnifuture to connect these students, giving pre-loved furniture a fresh start.
Consumer Product
Visual Design
Designing for a Sustainable Marketplace 🛋️ 🌱
Furnifuture is a student-oriented furniture marketplace app based on our vision to encourage the adoption of pre-loved furniture amongst students. Through conducting research with the student community in NYC, I discovered that there was an opportunity to set up a system of furniture disposal & acquisition between students moving out and students moving in.
I designed Furnifuture to connect these students, giving pre-loved furniture a fresh start.
Consumer Product
Visual Design
MY ROLE
MY ROLE
MY ROLE
Product Designer +
Product Strategy
Product Designer +
Product Strategy
Product Designer +
Product Strategy
SKILLS
SKILLS
SKILLS
User Experience Design / Visual Design / Design Systems / Prototyping / Collaboration
User Experience Design / Visual Design / Design Systems / Prototyping / Collaboration
User Experience Design / Visual Design / Design Systems / Prototyping / Collaboration
Over my 4 years as a student in New York…
Over my 4 years as a student in New York…
Over my 4 years as a student in New York…
📦 I've packed up and moved a lot of times.
📦 I've packed up and moved a lot of times.
📦 I've packed up and moved a lot of times.
Every time I moved, I faced the same issue.
Every time I moved, I faced the same problem.
Every time I moved, I faced the same problem.
I had furniture that took up too much space to take with me, but I also didn't want them to go to waste.
I had furniture that took up too much space to take with me, but I also didn't want them to go to waste.
I had furniture that took up too much space to take with me, but I also didn't want them to go to waste.
KEY INSIGHTS FROM INTERVIEWS
KEY INSIGHTS FROM INTERVIEWS
KEY INSIGHTS FROM INTERVIEWS
Motivated by my own experiences, I explored how I could improve the process of disposing/selling furniture during moves. I interviewed 10 students based in New York about their methods, satisfaction, pain points and timing for this process. These were the main interview insights:
Motivated by my own experiences, I explored how I could improve the process of disposing/selling furniture during moves. I interviewed 10 students based in New York about their methods, satisfaction, pain points and timing for this process. These were the main interview insights:
Motivated by my own experiences, I explored how I could improve the process of disposing/selling furniture during moves. I interviewed 10 students based in New York about their methods, satisfaction, pain points and timing for this process. These were the main interview insights:
Delay planning for disposal/selling items,
until move is imminent
Delay planning for disposal/selling items,
until move is imminent
On average, students moved every 1.5 years, bringing smaller, transportable items to their new place and disposing of/selling larger items. They typically started planning for disposal/sale of furniture about a week before moving.
On average, students moved every 1.5 years, bringing smaller, transportable items to their new place and disposing of/selling larger items. They typically started planning for disposal/sale of furniture about a week before moving.
Various methods of disposal/selling items
Various methods of disposal/selling items
There were various methods of disposal, including putting items in disposal bins, messaging friends to see if they were interested, selling items on marketplace platforms, putting items out on the curb, etc.
There were various methods of disposal, including putting items in disposal bins, messaging friends to see if they were interested, selling items on marketplace platforms, putting items out on the curb, etc.
Prefer to have known contacts pick up furniture
Prefer to have known contacts pick up furniture
Interviewees preferred pickup for convenience over shipping. Students, especially women, preferred to avoid selling on online marketplaces due to safety concerns and preferred selling/ giving items to people they knew or had mutual friends with.
Interviewees preferred pickup for convenience over shipping. Students, especially women, preferred to avoid selling on online marketplaces due to safety concerns and preferred selling/ giving items to people they knew or had mutual friends with.
Would like to sell, but would give away for free for convenience
Would like to sell, but would give away for free for convenience
Ideally, interviews wanted to sell items for money, but would give items away for free when they needed it gone urgently.
Ideally, interviews wanted to sell items for money, but would give items away for free when they needed it gone urgently.
METHODS OF DISPOSAL
METHODS OF DISPOSAL
METHODS OF DISPOSAL
Here is a summary of the disposal/sale methods, the reasons for choices, and pain points, from the interviews:
Here is a summary of the disposal/sale methods, the reasons for choices, and pain points, from the interviews:
Here is a summary of the disposal/sale methods, the reasons for choices, and pain points, from the interviews:
PROBLEM
PROBLEM
PROBLEM
Students in NYC frequently move and face challenges with bringing furniture to their new place, therefore prefer to quickly dispose or sell these items. Current student methods of disposal, such as messaging friends, selling online, or putting items on the curb, do not fully address user goals of efficiency of disposal, safety & sustainability.
Students in NYC frequently move and face challenges with bringing furniture to their new place, therefore prefer to quickly dispose or sell these items. Current student methods of disposal, such as messaging friends, selling online, or putting items on the curb, do not fully address user goals of efficiency of disposal, safety & sustainability.
How might we create a platform that connects students with an audience for quick and safe furniture sale/purchase, strengthening the practice of passing on/adopting pre-loved items?
How might we create a platform that connects students with an audience for quick and safe furniture sale/purchase, strengthening the practice of passing on/adopting pre-loved items?
U.S. STATISTICS - FURNITURE WASTE
U.S. STATISTICS - FURNITURE WASTE
U.S. STATISTICS - FURNITURE WASTE
FIRST ITERATION
FIRST ITERATION
FIRST ITERATION
CONCEPT TESTING
CONCEPT TESTING
CONCEPT TESTING
I used this early prototype of the buyer’s interface to gather feedback from students. I tested it with two groups of 5 students each—a group of buyers and a group of sellers. Here were some insights from the testing:
I used this early prototype of the buyer’s interface to gather feedback from students. I tested it with two groups of 5 students each—a group of buyers and a group of sellers. Here were some insights from the testing:
I used this early prototype of the buyer’s interface to gather feedback from students. I tested it with two groups of 5 students each—a group of buyers and a group of sellers. Here were some insights from the testing:
Appreciation for student-only community
Appreciation for student-only community
Appreciation for student-only community
Both buyer & seller groups liked the idea of a student-only community. Students stated that they felt more comfortable acquiring secondhand furniture from friends/other students instead of strangers from platforms like FB Marketplace.
Both buyer & seller groups liked the idea of a student-only community. Students stated that they felt more comfortable acquiring secondhand furniture from friends/other students instead of strangers from platforms like FB Marketplace.
Both buyer & seller groups liked the idea of a student-only community. Students stated that they felt more comfortable acquiring secondhand furniture from friends/other students instead of strangers from platforms like FB Marketplace.
Safety concerns
Safety concerns
Safety concerns
Despite being a student-only community, some student buyers still expressed concerns about picking up items from unfamiliar areas, so I aimed provide extra safety measures for both buyer & sellers during pickup.
Despite being a student-only community, some student buyers still expressed concerns about picking up items from unfamiliar areas, so I aimed provide extra safety measures for both buyer & sellers during pickup.
Despite being a student-only community, some student buyers still expressed concerns about picking up items from unfamiliar areas, so I aimed provide extra safety measures for both buyer & sellers during pickup.
Concerns over ability to sell fast
Concerns over ability to sell fast
Concerns over ability to sell fast
Some student sellers felt that this app didn’t fully address their needs of selling furniture quickly. From the initial interviews, it was found that students only start planning just a week before moving. Based on this, I decided to introduce more features that would help the sellers sell more quickly.
Some student sellers felt that this app didn’t fully address their needs of selling furniture quickly. From the initial interviews, it was found that students only start planning just a week before moving. Based on this, I decided to introduce more features that would help the sellers sell more quickly.
Some student sellers felt that this app didn’t fully address their needs of selling furniture quickly. From the initial interviews, it was found that students only start planning just a week before moving. Based on this, I decided to introduce more features that would help the sellers sell more quickly.
Misalignment of visual design with priorities
Misalignment of visual design with priorities
Misalignment of visual design with priorities
When asked to describe the visual design, students mentioned terms like “book-like” and “calming.” This feedback suggested that the visual design wasn’t aligning with the users’ main priorities (established in first user interview) - convenience/efficiency & security.
When asked to describe the visual design, students mentioned terms like “book-like” and “calming.” This feedback suggested that the visual design wasn’t aligning with the users’ main priorities (established in first user interview) - convenience/efficiency & security.
When asked to describe the visual design, students mentioned terms like “book-like” and “calming.” This feedback suggested that the visual design wasn’t aligning with the users’ main priorities (established in first user interview) - convenience/efficiency & security.
SECOND ITERATION
SECOND ITERATION
SECOND ITERATION
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NEXT STEPS & REFLECTION
NEXT STEPS & REFLECTION
NEXT STEPS & REFLECTION
Determine pickup logistics
Determine pickup logistics
Determine pickup logistics
If the seller lives in a walk-up, does the buyer carry their item down, or will the seller bring it down to the curb? Should the seller pack the item for the buyer for easier transport? For the next steps, I would need to think about how to make pickup easy for both parties.
If the seller lives in a walk-up, does the buyer carry their item down, or will the seller bring it down to the curb? Should the seller pack the item for the buyer for easier transport? For the next steps, I would need to think about how to make pickup easy for both parties.
If the seller lives in a walk-up, does the buyer carry their item down, or will the seller bring it down to the curb? Should the seller pack the item for the buyer for easier transport? For the next steps, I would need to think about how to make pickup easy for both parties.
Simplify whole move
Simplify whole move
Simplify whole move
Students selling furniture are often moving out and juggling many tasks. Furniture disposal is only one part of a move, they would have a long checklist of things that they have to do. Could we integrate our app with other moving-related apps to centralize and simplify this process for users?
Students selling furniture are often moving out and juggling many tasks. Furniture disposal is only one part of a move, they would have a long checklist of things that they have to do. Could we integrate our app with other moving-related apps to centralize and simplify this process for users?
Students selling furniture are often moving out and juggling many tasks. Furniture disposal is only one part of a move, they would have a long checklist of things that they have to do. Could we integrate our app with other moving-related apps to centralize and simplify this process for users?
Managing seasonal demand
Managing seasonal demand
Managing seasonal demand
There may be spikes in buying & selling. For example, many students move out in May when the academic year ends, so there may be less demand then/more supply then. How do I ensure that there is a steady demand & supply throughout the year?
There may be spikes in buying & selling. For example, many students move out in May when the academic year ends, so there may be less demand then/more supply then. How do I ensure that there is a steady demand & supply throughout the year?
There may be spikes in buying & selling. For example, many students move out in May when the academic year ends, so there may be less demand then/more supply then. How do I ensure that there is a steady demand & supply throughout the year?
Growing user base
Growing user base
Growing user base
To build the initial user base, it would be great to have campus ambassadors for Furnifuture to promote the app. Peer recommendations will help to increase trust in it. Once it’s more established, we can rely more on word of mouth to help it grow.
To build the initial user base, it would be great to have campus ambassadors for Furnifuture to promote the app. Peer recommendations will help to increase trust in it. Once it’s more established, we can rely more on word of mouth to help it grow.
To build the initial user base, it would be great to have campus ambassadors for Furnifuture to promote the app. Peer recommendations will help to increase trust in it. Once it’s more established, we can rely more on word of mouth to help it grow.
Got a few more minutes? Tune in to this project 🎵
Got a few more minutes? Tune in to this project 🎵
Got a few more minutes? Tune in to this project 🎵
