Glasshaul
Timeline
6 Weeks
Tools Used
Figma, Notion, Zoom
Solo Project
Designing a used camera marketplace to solve the fragmented buying experience and improve buyer & seller communication.
The camera reselling industry
Buying a used camera today is a fragmented experience.
Purchasing a used camera can be quite a headache in today’s market. With a limited number of platforms exclusively for used cameras, buyers frequently find themselves navigating across various channels in search of their ideal camera.
Design Goal
How might we build a camera marketplace that streamlines communication and cultivates inherent trust between buyers and sellers?
Funnel analysis
Understanding the buyer and seller process
To identify the key challenges in buying cameras, I interviewed individuals who regularly purchase or sell used camera equipment.
“The most annoying part of Facebook marketplace is the number of scam accounts. They’ll try to send you a fake paypal invoice to get you to ship the items out.”
“I’ll first go off of the listing description and then look at the photos in detail. If there’s anything missing then I’ll directly message the seller.”
“The overall public threads or forum format isn’t really meant for selling camera gear but we’ve adapted. Moderators will have rules and requirements to format selling post.”
Broken record player
Sellers were stuck answering the same question over and over again for a specific item.
Sketchy sale listings
Buyers were afraid of scam listings and subjective ratings on the condition of the used camera equipment.
Outside inspiration
Looking beyond the camera industry
I decided to reference platforms outside the camera industry. For example, cars are very similar to cameras and have an even more complex buying or selling process. I wanted to intake how other platforms foster good communication between buyers and sellers.
Comprehensive specs & history
Reputable auto websites follow strict guidelines for photos and videos to give a thorough rundown of a car's condition and upkeep.
Strict content guidelines
Item descriptions will always provide buyers with complete specs and seller details.
Public question & answer thread
Buyers can ask sellers question in a public forum to reduce the number of repeated questions.
User Goals
Consolidating user goals
I then decided to take my learnings and map out goals for buyers, sellers, and the camera marketplace business to understand how the Glasshaul marketplace could support all three groups.
The marketplace
Trusted platform for buyers and sellers
Robust inventory for buyers to browse from
Streamline selling platform for sellers to easily list their items
The sellers
Easily list and promote their used equipment for sale
Clear line of communication with the buyer
Receive positive feedback from buyers
The buyers
Find a used camera that fits their needs
Spend less time browsing and more time creating content
Purchase from a trustworthy seller so they don’t have to worry about scams
Insights from user testing
Real world, real problems
I decided to test with a mid fidelity prototype to flush out navigation flows and semantics before committing time to a high fidelity.
While user testing revealed a few minor micro-interactions and navigation issues, feedback from both buyers and sellers for all three flows was generally positive.
At this point I was ready to jump into the high fidelity screens!
Find the tools you need to create your stories at Glasshaul.
Public Q&A threads
Avoid redundant inquiries and answer all your buyer questions in a public and centralized format.
In-depth product information
Our product listing flow requires detailed information so there’s never a discrepancy between what buyers view online and what they receive in person.
Stories not just tools
Amazing bodies of work have been created using cameras as the tools for storytelling. Glasshaul celebrates expression through photography by highlighting inspiring artists and their work.
Discover new artists and purchase the same equipment they use to create your own stories.
Final Prototype
Learnings and next steps
I came into this project somewhat confident given my familiarity with e-commerce marketplaces.
However, the feedback from the user testing phase proved to be humbling. No matter how well you understand your target audience, there's no substitute for placing the product directly in their hands.
As for next steps, I would love to actually build out a camera marketplace someday. It’s a topic near and dear to my heart. At the end of this project I still feel strongly about the market opportunity for a new camera marketplace.
