Freelance project · Mobile apps
Buy and sell with people nearby, with trust built into every step
A local marketplace app where people buy and sell second-hand items close to home. I designed the listing, messaging and meet-up flows for iOS and Android, with trust and safety built into each one.
01The problem
Buying and selling locally depends on trust between strangers, and listing an item is often slow enough that people don’t bother. Buyers need confidence in the item and the seller, while sellers want to list in moments and avoid endless messages that go nowhere.
Who it’s for
Casual sellers
To list unwanted items quickly and get a fair price.
Bargain hunters
Good items close by and a fast way to reach the seller.
Small local sellers
Repeat listings and a reputation that builds over time.
Cautious buyers
Clear signs that a seller and an item are real.
02The main flow
01
Browses nearby items
02
Opens a listing
03
Messages the seller
04
Agrees price and place
05
Meets and marks sold
03Structure
Explore
Sell
Inbox
Profile
04Key decisions
Decision 01
Long listing forms make sellers give up before they post.
Considered
A form asking for title, category, description and price before any photos.
Chosen
Listing opens on the camera. After photos, the form asks only for title, price and category, with description optional.
Why it works
Photos are what buyers look at first and the step sellers most often skip. A short form gets items listed, and sellers can add detail later.
Decision 02
Open chat leads to long haggling threads and repeated is this still available messages.
Considered
Free text chat only.
Chosen
Chat with built-in actions to offer, accept, counter and propose a meet-up place and time, each shown as a card.
Why it works
Cards make the state of the deal clear to both sides at a glance, and the listing updates to reserved when an offer is accepted.
Decision 03
An exact pin can expose a seller’s home, but buyers still need to know how far away an item is.
Considered
Exact pins on a map for every listing.
Chosen
Listings show distance and neighbourhood only. The exact meet-up spot is shared in chat once both agree, with public places suggested.
Why it works
Sellers stay protected while buyers get what they need to decide. The map is less precise, which is fine for browsing.
05What’s inside
Items sorted by how close they are, with the neighbourhood on every card.
Photos first and a short form, so an item can go live in moments.
Offer, counter and accept as clear cards inside the conversation.
Feedback after each deal that builds a seller’s reputation.
Verification badges and easy reporting to help people trust each other.
06Outcome
Delivered
What I learned
In a local marketplace, trust signals are the product; they belong on every card, not only on the profile.
Privacy and convenience pulled in opposite directions on location, and showing distance instead of a pin was a fair middle ground.
Next step
Pick a time that suits you. You'll leave the call with a clear next step, whether we work together or not.
