Problem
Why do Chinese college students prefer social platforms for selling used items instead of using a centralized trading platform?
As an international student, furnishing my first home in the U.S. was tough—new furniture was costly, and platforms like WeChat, Xiaohongshu, and Facebook Marketplace were unreliable or risky. I need a student-focused platform with secure, centralized features for a safer, convenient experience.
Solution
A centralized trading platform offering a secure online system, student identity verification, delivery and consignment services.
Project Type
UX/UI Design
Service Design
Role
UX/UI Designer
Tools
Figma
Photoshop
Duration
8 weeks
My Design Process
Research
Survey
To understand if other Chinese international students faced similar challenges, I surveyed 30 students about their practices and preferences in trading used items.
Types of used items(Multiple Choice)
75.86%
Furniture
40.00%
Electronics
3.33%
Clothes
20.00%
Cookware
30.00%
Study
13.33%
Accessories
Platforms used for trading(Multiple Choice)
62.07%
WeChat Group
10.34%
Facebook Market
6.90%
Online Forums
58.62%
Xiaohongshu
20.69%
eBay
Problems encountered(Multiple Choice)
89.72%
Scam
48.72%
Low Quality
?
67.33%
Unclear Price
33.49%
Delivery Issues
25.43%
Scheduling conflicts
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Findings
My research reveals Chinese international students trade used items on social platforms without identity verification, formal trading systems, or delivery services, causing significant challenges.
Problems Identified
Scam Risk
Unclear Price
?
Low Quality
No Delivery
Scheduling conflicts
Business Analysis
Competitive Analysis
My research shows most students trade used items mostly on WeChat Groups, Xiaohongshu, Facebook Marketplace, and eBay. I analyzed their models to highlight my platform's advantages.
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Findings
Lack of...
Clear price
Secure payment
Consignment options
Delivery services
After-sales service
Identity verification
Ideation
How to...?
A centralized trading platform with dedicated services, like those offered by Amazon, but tailored specifically for students, could significantly improve users' experience in trading used items.
Key Features
Student email and ID are required for registration
Trading system with clear price
Delivery services(Official Delivery, Seller Delivery, Self-pickup)
Consignment options
System Map
A centralized trading platform could involve different parties. To better understand their relationships, I designed the system map for the process.
Service Blueprint
Since I’m not familiar with the workflow of an online trading system, I did a research on eBay’s service blueprint and created one tailored to my platform.
Design
User Flow
To visually map out the paths users may take, I created a user flow chart for the app.
Size & Style
To ensure a consistent, user-friendly, and scalable design that meets usability standards, I finalized the app's size and style guidelines.
Wireframe
To evaluate the usability of the app's interactions and functions, I developed the first version of the app and conducted user testing to gather feedback and identify areas for improvement.
Prototype
I created a high-fidelity prototype to refine the user experience, ensure seamless navigation, and accurately represent the app’s visual identity for user testing.
Student Verification
First-time users are required to upload their USC ID card to complete the registration process and gain access to the app.
Browse Item and Seller’s Info
Users can browse items by category and view details like product specs, seller info, delivery options, and comments. Seller profiles include name, field of study, follower stats, ratings, account age, listings, and buyer/seller feedback. Users can follow or chat directly for seamless interaction.
Purchase
Users can purchase items by providing their address and selecting a delivery option: seller delivery, official delivery, or self-pickup.
Bookmark & Cart
Users can add items they are interested in to their bookmarks or shopping cart, where they can edit the list, remove items, or proceed with purchases.
Consignment
Sell items directly or via consignment by selecting a category, adding descriptions, uploading photos, and answering item-specific questions to publish to market or sell to us.
Iteration
Usability Test
To evaluate users' experience with the CampusCircle, I conducted usability testing with students, recording interactions, gathering feedback, and analyzing concerns to identify key issues.
Improvement
Based on the usability test results, I redesigned the UI interface to improve the user experience.
Before
After
Improved Visual Hierarchy & Layout
The revised design has better spacing, larger category icons, and a structured grid system, making navigation easier and visuals cleaner, enhancing user experience. Product images are more prominent, and text labels are better aligned, reducing visual clutter.
Before
After
Detailed Delivery Options
In the revised design, I added a price estimation step before listing to help sellers set informed prices. Users receive a suggested price based on product details, reducing uncertainty and increasing trust.
Before
After
From Text to Visual Categorization
The new design replaces text-heavy category selection with image-based product categorization, improving scalability, recognition, and ease of selection for a more intuitive consignment process.
Before
After
Adding Price Estimation
In the revised design, I added a price estimation step before listing to help sellers set informed prices. Instead of posting immediately, users receive a suggested price based on product details, reducing uncertainty and increasing trust.
Revised Prototype
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Takeaway
Reflection
