ZAKKI is a social tech non-profit organization that focuses on empowering marginalized people, especially the elderly and people with disabilities, to get better livelihoods to build an inclusive community in Indonesia. ZAKKI #ForYou marketplace is part of a larger project, aimed to help local communities crowd-share resources in Indonesia.
Driven by ZAKKI's social mission to promote sustainability and a circular economy by encouraging users to recycle different resources, I was motivated to contribute my skills to bring this vision to life. I was chosen as one of four product designers for this project, collaborating on information architecture, feature brainstorming, final designs, and prototypes. I led the design of the landing page, message inbox, and item posting page for both web and mobile experiences.
The project ultimate goal was to design a crowd-sharing marketplace to empower marginalized groups in Indonesia with easy access to free essential items, enabling the giving away of unwanted items to those in need, regardless of their financial situation. The target users are categorized into two groups of people.
I started the project by syncing with our research team and did a literature review based on surveys to understand the goals we can help users to achieve, and how to achieve them.
I analyze the survey results from the perspective of the donor.
Donors
From competitor research of alternative platforms like Facebook Marketplace, ThreadsUp, and Preloved, I learned that:
Create a crowd-sharing marketplace to empower marginalized groups in Indonesia with easy access to free essential items, enabling the giving away of unwanted items to those in need.
ZAKKI#ForYou marketplace conveys values of sharing and giving to others. Such a platform will also be a window to Zakki’s work to help communities and trigger more interest from a broader range of people. Furthermore, Zakki would like to campaign and embed the mindset of giving-away to support the bigger cause which is helping the elderly and people with disabilities.
I met with my team to conduct a feature brainstorming including allow donors and recipients to create accounts, edit and post items, recipients can search / filter items by categories and locations, leave reviews, message inbox that enabled communication, request items and contact & help page. Working with three other designers, I was the lead designer for the Communications piece, onboarding, and posting flow.
By offering account creation options, we can ensure a seamless experience when users want to manage their listings and quickly access their favorite items.
The user research also suggested users expect less steps on creating account and simply sign-in flow. Place the sign-in button prominently on the landing page, preferably in the upper-right corner, making it easily noticeable and accessible.
I received feedback from fellow designers and project managers on how to improve the efficiency of bundle posting. After considering their suggestions, I settled on a design layout that seamlessly integrates with the posting process. In the initial version, users were required to scroll down to add pictures and perform other actions, which was not very user-friendly. However, in the final design, donors can easily switch tabs between different items and enter necessary details to create a posting all at once, just like the single item flow. This creates a smooth and uninterrupted posting experience that eliminates the need to constantly scroll up and down or navigate between different pages.
Our platform includes an integrated messaging system that allows donors and recipients to communicate conveniently with each other. This feature allows for real-time communication, file sharing, and asking questions or providing updates throughout the donation process.
I made significant alterations to the message system iterations not only to experiment with different layouts but also to enhance user efficiency. During the initial iterations, I incorporated the inbox model from Gmail which included options like inbox, sent, trash and compose email. However, this model didn't really enhance the user's communication experience when they needed to inquire about a specific item. Therefore, I decided to display the listing summary in the conversation to help both parties quickly clarify information.
When we started the project, we had a hard time ensuring all the designs looked the same. Initially, we only got limited color palette and wasn't really a clear guide to follow. I came up with this design system that brings together different design elements like fonts, colors, and layouts. This make sure that everything looks consistent and easy to use for everyone.
I focus on simplicity, ease of use, and security by minimizing the steps required to sign in and providing clear instructions. Potential users might abandon the account creation process altogether if the process is cumbersome and time-consuming.
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Including key information such as location, categories, item condition, and the ability to post multiple images help potential receiver make informed decisions and reduces the likelihood of misunderstandings or disputes. An optimized item posting feature can also streamline the moderation and approval process.
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Allowing our donors to easily input a thoughtfully curated donation item list in one simple step. This seamless experience not only saves time, but also encourages repeat visits to our platform.
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The message system enables direct communication between givers and receivers, facilitating smooth interactions. It can also send users notifications and alerts, keeping them informed throughout the donation process. This includes donation updates, listing approval status, or policy changes. Such notifications contribute to a more engaging and user-friendly experience.
Using research to understand users' needs is crucial when making design decisions. Although we faced challenges refining screens and working with teammates remotely during the pandemic, we overcame them using video and voice calls. To improve in the future, I suggest adding a share feature allowing donors to promote their listings outside of the platform. This would help spread the idea of giving and sharing, benefiting everyone involved. Additionally, on the listing page, we could offer preset options for delivery methods, such as carrier and local pick-up, to make transactions smoother.
Working on the project was a truly enjoyable and enlightening experience. I had the opportunity to collaborate with designers from diverse backgrounds, which broadened my perspective and made me more open-minded. Although I had to leave before the development stage, our unwavering efforts laid a strong foundation for future design improvements.
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