CATEGORY
Product Design · UI/UX · Marketplace Interaction
ROLE
Desk research · Competitive review · Product concept · Information architecture · UX/UI design
TOOLS
Figma · Illustrator
CONTEXT
Individual student project · FH Aachen
Locly is a mobile marketplace that helps people borrow, rent, give away, or sell everyday items within their local community.
THE PROBLEM
People who need an occasional-use item may find one nearby, but availability, condition, trust, pickup, and return still have to be coordinated through uncertain messages.
THE GOAL
Design a clear local exchange flow where a seeker can find and request an item, a provider can review and accept the terms, and both parties can see the same exchange status.
Proto-personas and journey hypotheses
Based on desk research into moving, renting, and local exchange in Germany, plus a review of Kleinanzeigen, nebenan.de, and Facebook Marketplace, I created two proto-personas to map both sides of the exchange. Mia and Leon are fictional synthesis profiles—not interview participants—and their journeys remained design hypotheses because the original concept was not usability-tested.
Mapping Priorities, Building the Flow
Provider listing
The provider adds photos and item details, chooses whether to lend, rent, give away, or sell, and defines availability and handover preferences. A final review makes the terms clear before the listing is published.
Discovery and seeker request
The seeker searches for nearby items, compares availability and walking distance, and reviews the item and provider before choosing the exchange terms. Once sent, the request remains clearly pending until the provider responds.
Provider acceptance
The provider reviews the requested duration, pickup time, and handover conditions before accepting. Both people then reach the same confirmed exchange view, where the exact handover details are revealed.
