Case Study - Buy and sell locally with confidence

Overview

Local marketplace apps struggle with trust—buyers worry about scams, sellers fear no-shows, and both parties struggle with fragmented communication across multiple platforms.

MarketConnect approached solve this through thoughtful UX design that builds confidence at every interaction.

The research revealed users were juggling between marketplace listings, text messages, and social media to complete single transactions. It consolidated the entire buyer-seller journey into one seamless experience with built-in chat, profile verification, and transparent activity feeds.

What we did

Solving what was needed

Usability testing revealed our biggest vulnerability: 60% of users failed to find specific exercises during workout creation. This wasn't a minor inconvenience—it blocked the entire workflow and sent users back to pen and paper. The problem was simple: users searched for "chest press" but the app only recognized "bench press." Equipment variations weren't discoverable. When search failed, users hit a dead end with no recovery path. We designed a three-tier solution: intelligent search with fuzzy matching and synonyms, smart categorization with horizontal filter chips for muscle groups and equipment, and prominent custom exercise creation with just three fields. The "Can't find it? Add custom" button transformed search failures from dead ends into personalization opportunities.

Integrated Communication That Converts

Usability testing revealed our biggest opportunity: 67% of marketplace inquiries never received responses due to communication friction. Users were copying phone numbers, switching to external apps, and losing context about specific items. We built real-time messaging directly into the listing experience with contextual information always visible—item photos, price, and seller details remained accessible during chat. Auto-suggested responses for common questions ("Is this still available?", "What's your best price?") reduced response time from hours to minutes. Smart notifications distinguished between casual browsers and serious buyers, preventing seller fatigue while ensuring genuine inquiries received immediate attention. Message templates for scheduling meetups, payment reminders, and post-transaction feedback streamlined the entire process.

Mobile-First Design Principles

MarketConnect users were primarily mobile (87% of sessions), often browsing during commutes or making quick decisions between tasks. We designed for thumb-friendly navigation with bottom tab placement, single-hand operation prioritizing common actions, and quick actions accessible via swipe gestures.