RE: sourse
At RE:sourse, we collect second-hand items from graduates and offer them to new students in the form of Lucky Dip. Our goal is to encourage students to enjoy second-hand shopping while also making a positive impact on the environment. By choosing to shop second-hand, students can reduce waste and contribute to a more sustainable future.
RE: sourse
At RE:sourse, we collect second-hand items from graduates and offer them to new students in the form of Lucky Dip. Our goal is to encourage students to enjoy second-hand shopping while also making a positive impact on the environment. By choosing to shop second-hand, students can reduce waste and contribute to a more sustainable future.
RE: sourse
At RE:sourse, we collect second-hand items from graduates and offer them to new students in the form of Lucky Dip. Our goal is to encourage students to enjoy second-hand shopping while also making a positive impact on the environment. By choosing to shop second-hand, students can reduce waste and contribute to a more sustainable future.
Scope
Problem framing
Concept development
Validation
User testing
Duration
My role
Scope
Problem framing
Concept development
Validation
User testing
Duration
My role
Scope
Problem framing
Concept development
Validation
User testing
Duration
My role
WHAT'S THE CONTEXT?
When international students first arrive in the UK, they often buy brand-new home furnishings, such as bedding, to get through the first few days. However, this can be an unnecessary financial burden since lower-priced second-hand items could serve the same function equally well.
It is a common practice for departing students to find incoming students to take their pre-owned belongings. However, in most cases, their second-hand goods and valuable items are abandoned, contributing to landfill and pollution.
WHAT'S THE CONTEXT?
When international students first arrive in the UK, they often buy brand-new home furnishings, such as bedding, to get through the first few days. However, this can be an unnecessary financial burden since lower-priced second-hand items could serve the same function equally well.
It is a common practice for departing students to find incoming students to take their pre-owned belongings. However, in most cases, their second-hand goods and valuable items are abandoned, contributing to landfill and pollution.
WHAT'S THE CONTEXT?
When international students first arrive in the UK, they often buy brand-new home furnishings, such as bedding, to get through the first few days. However, this can be an unnecessary financial burden since lower-priced second-hand items could serve the same function equally well.
It is a common practice for departing students to find incoming students to take their pre-owned belongings. However, in most cases, their second-hand goods and valuable items are abandoned, contributing to landfill and pollution.
THE CHALLENGE
We designed a second-hand platform specifically for international students, which needed to address the following issues:
• Not much quality guarantee on used products
• Lack of interactive storytelling to establish trust
• Inability to order in advance before arriving in the UK
• No direct delivery to new accommodation
• Complicated donation process
• No doorstep collection
THE CHALLENGE
We designed a second-hand platform specifically for international students, which needed to address the following issues:
• Not much quality guarantee on used products
• Lack of interactive storytelling to establish trust
• Inability to order in advance before arriving in the UK
• No direct delivery to new accommodation
• Complicated donation process
• No doorstep collection
THE CHALLENGE
We designed a second-hand platform specifically for international students, which needed to address the following issues:
• Not much quality guarantee on used products
• Lack of interactive storytelling to establish trust
• Inability to order in advance before arriving in the UK
• No direct delivery to new accommodation
• Complicated donation process
• No doorstep collection
WHY IS THIS A PROBLEM?
Buyer - Newly arrived international students
• Waste of money on brand new items.
80% of interviewees went shopping at IKEA once they arrived. The expense is not worth it for items that won't be used for long.
• Lack of access to reliable platforms.
Unfamiliarity with local platforms and time differences between graduates and new students impede second-hand transactions.
• Questionable quality.
Lack of detailed descriptions on flaws makes it a gamble to buy second-hand items.
Donor - International students about to leave the UK
• Nowhere to donate items.
Charity shops recycle only certain categories of second-hand goods.
Giving everything away to friends actually creates more stress.
• Small used items of low value that few people want to buy alone,
such as peelers or knives.
WHY IS THIS A PROBLEM?
Buyer - Newly arrived international students
• Waste of money on brand new items.
80% of interviewees went shopping at IKEA once they arrived. The expense is not worth it for items that won't be used for long.
• Lack of access to reliable platforms.
Unfamiliarity with local platforms and time differences between graduates and new students impede second-hand transactions.
• Questionable quality.
Lack of detailed descriptions on flaws makes it a gamble to buy second-hand items.
Donor - International students about to leave the UK
• Nowhere to donate items.
Charity shops recycle only certain categories of second-hand goods.
Giving everything away to friends actually creates more stress.
• Small used items of low value that few people want to buy alone,
such as peelers or knives.
WHY IS THIS A PROBLEM?
Buyer - Newly arrived international students
• Waste of money on brand new items.
80% of interviewees went shopping at IKEA once they arrived. The expense is not worth it for items that won't be used for long.
• Lack of access to reliable platforms.
Unfamiliarity with local platforms and time differences between graduates and new students impede second-hand transactions.
• Questionable quality.
Lack of detailed descriptions on flaws makes it a gamble to buy second-hand items.
Donor - International students about to leave the UK
• Nowhere to donate items.
Charity shops recycle only certain categories of second-hand goods.
Giving everything away to friends actually creates more stress.
• Small used items of low value that few people want to buy alone,
such as peelers or knives.
PERSONA
# We collected information on second-hand platforms used by international students in the UK and handed out questionnaires to 48 second-hand shoppers.
Based on these findings, we developed four personas to represent the different user groups identified in the interviews.
Abbie Zhang
Age : 23
Pronouns : She/her
Education : Full-time Postgraduate
Dream Job : Product Manager
Home : China
Zodiac Sign : Libra
“I want to find a way to donate my used items to other students in need”
Bio
Abbie is packing up to leave the UK and is eager to find friends or institutions to take what she cannot bring with her.
Motivation
•Accessibility
•Convenience
•Eco-friendly
Personality
#Social Being
#Positive #ENFP
Goals
•Easy platform for donating/receiving
•Connect students in need with donors
•Doorstep collection
•Save money
Frustrations
•Guilty about waste
•No efficient disposal method
•Lack of time to sell/donate items
Oni Tinubu
Age : 18
Pronouns : She/her
Education : Full time undergraduate
Dream job : Music Producer
Home : Nigeria
Zodiac Sign : Cancer
“I want a cheap, scam-free app that helps reduce waste and supports sharing among students”
Bio
Oni is a fresher at MMU studying Sound Design. She is about to arrive in the UK and is looking for a place to buy inexpensive household items that can be delivered to her accommodation in advance.
Motivation
•Cost-effectiveness
•Altruism
•Convenience
Personality
#Suppotive
#sympathetic #INFP
Goals
•Find affordable items
•Easy ordering and timely delivery
•Build local connections&community
Frustrations
•Scams and ads on existing platforms.
•Difficulty finding affordable household items.
•Desire to purchase items in bundles to save money.
Aadi Dhanda
Age : 28
Pronouns : He/him
Education : PhD Candidate
Dream Job : AI Researcher
Home : Pakistan
Zodiac Sign : Virgo
“I need to find an app which can easily find pre-owned academic resource"
Bio
Aadi is a married PhD student with a two-year-old son. While his wife does some online customer service work to support the family, they still need to save money as PhD programs don't offer a high salary.
Motivation
•Affordable price
•A wide range of items
•Supportive community
Personality
#goaloriented #learnmore #ISTJ
Goals
•Find affordable academic resources
•Save money on household items
•Get support from local community
Frustrations
•Limited time and income due to PhD studies to buy new things
•Limited access to resources related to donation
Diego Costa
Age : 26
Pronouns : They/them
Education : Part-time postgraduate
Occupation : Sales Assistant
Home : Argentina
Zodiac Sign : Aries
“I wish moving wasn't so much of a hassle with all these stairs.”
Bio
Diego is finishing his master's degree and seeking new internships in another city. He lives on the top floor of his apartment without a lift, making it difficult to move or donate large items.
Motivitions
•Easy donation process
•Reduce waste
•Save time
Personality
#Empathetic #Creative
#Open-minded #INFP
Goals
•Free up space
•Easier way to transport things
•Make some extra money
Frustrations
•Not easy to donate furniture due to stairs
•Financial constraints of his current situation to buy new things
Pros:
Convenient for students and locals, with nearby sellers
Easy to list items for sale
Precise customer base
Cons:
High risk of scams due to lack of information
No real-time stock information
Limited availability of products
Pros:
Wide range of products and easy search options
Real-time tracking of orders
Great online shopping deals
Easy to purchase/pay for items
Cons:
Sellers may not always reply promptly
Long delivery times may not be suitable for urgent needs
Limited postage options
82.1 %
purchased second-hand items when studying in the UK
eBay, Facebook Marketplace, and Vinted are the preferred channels for international students to trade second-hand goods in the UK.
604,178
international students arrived in the UK in 2022
43.2%
purchased more than 10 pre-owned products
# The second-hand market for international students in the UK has the potential to grow.
KEY FINDING
Pros:
Convenient for students and locals, with nearby sellers
Easy to list items for sale
Precise customer base
Cons:
High risk of scams due to lack of information
No real-time stock information
Limited availability of products
Pros:
Wide range of products and easy search options
Real-time tracking of orders
Great online shopping deals
Easy to purchase/pay for items
Cons:
Sellers may not always reply promptly
Long delivery times may not be suitable for urgent needs
Limited postage options
82.1 %
purchased second-hand items when studying in the UK
eBay, Facebook Marketplace, and Vinted are the preferred channels for international students to trade second-hand goods in the UK.
604,178
international students arrived in the UK in 2022
43.2%
purchased more than 10 pre-owned products
# The second-hand market for international students in the UK has the potential to grow.
KEY FINDING
Pros:
Convenient for students and locals, with nearby sellers
Easy to list items for sale
Precise customer base
Cons:
High risk of scams due to lack of information
No real-time stock information
Limited availability of products
Pros:
Wide range of products and easy search options
Real-time tracking of orders
Great online shopping deals
Easy to purchase/pay for items
Cons:
Sellers may not always reply promptly
Long delivery times may not be suitable for urgent needs
Limited postage options
82.1 %
purchased second-hand items when studying in the UK
eBay, Facebook Marketplace, and Vinted are the preferred channels for international students to trade second-hand goods in the UK.
604,178
international students arrived in the UK in 2022
43.2%
purchased more than 10 pre-owned products
# The second-hand market for international students in the UK has the potential to grow.
KEY FINDING
User Needs - New Student
Buy cheap second-hand products to save on unnecessary expenses
Use reliable platforms to ensure payment and personal information safety
Detailed product information is provided on these platforms
No longer deal with the annoyance of traveling to IKEA
Trust needs to be established between buyers and sellers
- a culture of sharing and giving within the student community
User Needs - Doner
Avoidance of rowdy groups and sketchy buildings
Accessible transportation
Navigation assistance for vision impairment
USER INSIGHTS
User Goals
Convenient transportation with door-to-door pick-up/drop-off service for purchased items
Simple and easy donation process
Local exploration and browsing function
Real-time tracking of orders
Reward mechanism to encourage buying and selling of second-hand items
Option to purchase combination bundles
User Needs - New Student
Buy cheap second-hand products to save on unnecessary expenses
Use reliable platforms to ensure payment and personal information safety
Detailed product information is provided on these platforms
No longer deal with the annoyance of traveling to IKEA
Trust needs to be established between buyers and sellers
- a culture of sharing and giving within the student community
User Needs - Doner
Avoidance of rowdy groups and sketchy buildings
Accessible transportation
Navigation assistance for vision impairment
USER INSIGHTS
User Goals
Convenient transportation with door-to-door pick-up/drop-off service for purchased items
Simple and easy donation process
Local exploration and browsing function
Real-time tracking of orders
Reward mechanism to encourage buying and selling of second-hand items
Option to purchase combination bundles
User Needs - New Student
Buy cheap second-hand products to save on unnecessary expenses
Use reliable platforms to ensure payment and personal information safety
Detailed product information is provided on these platforms
No longer deal with the annoyance of traveling to IKEA
Trust needs to be established between buyers and sellers
- a culture of sharing and giving within the student community
User Needs - Doner
Avoidance of rowdy groups and sketchy buildings
Accessible transportation
Navigation assistance for vision impairment
USER INSIGHTS
User Goals
Convenient transportation with door-to-door pick-up/drop-off service for purchased items
Simple and easy donation process
Local exploration and browsing function
Real-time tracking of orders
Reward mechanism to encourage buying and selling of second-hand items
Option to purchase combination bundles
Opportunity
How might we connect the second-hand goods between graduates and new students seamlessly and make the shopping experience more delightful?
Opportunity
How might we connect the second-hand goods between graduates and new students seamlessly and make the shopping experience more delightful?
Opportunity
How might we connect the second-hand goods between graduates and new students seamlessly and make the shopping experience more delightful?
INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE
Based on user insights, we ideated various solutions and evaluated each of them using four dimensions: feasibility, relevancy, uniqueness, and impact.
INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE
Based on user insights, we ideated various solutions and evaluated each of them using four dimensions: feasibility, relevancy, uniqueness, and impact.
INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE
Based on user insights, we ideated various solutions and evaluated each of them using four dimensions: feasibility, relevancy, uniqueness, and impact.
In the end, we decided to prioritize features that scored highly, such as supporting female users to travel in groups with other females or within their circle of friends and family.
In the end, we decided to prioritize features that scored highly, such as supporting female users to travel in groups with other females or within their circle of friends and family.
In the end, we decided to prioritize features that scored highly, such as supporting female users to travel in groups with other females or within their circle of friends and family.
THE SOLUTION
Onboarding
Convenient login with social media accounts
Building trust with our users
Our mission to empower safe and easy co-commuting
Our mission to empower safe and easy co-commuting
THE SOLUTION
Onboarding
Convenient login with social media accounts
Building trust with our users
Our mission to empower safe and easy co-commuting
Our mission to empower safe and easy co-commuting
THE SOLUTION
Onboarding
Convenient login with social media accounts
Building trust with our users
Our mission to empower safe and easy co-commuting
Our mission to empower safe and easy co-commuting
Home Page
Building trust with our users
Our mission to empower safe and easy co-commuting
Home Page
Building trust with our users
Our mission to empower safe and easy co-commuting
Home Page
Building trust with our users
Our mission to empower safe and easy co-commuting
lucky dip
Building trust with our users
Our mission to empower safe and easy co-commuting
lucky dip
Building trust with our users
Our mission to empower safe and easy co-commuting
lucky dip
Building trust with our users
Our mission to empower safe and easy co-commuting
Lucky Dip Details
Building trust with our users
Our mission to empower safe and easy co-commuting
Lucky Dip Details
Building trust with our users
Our mission to empower safe and easy co-commuting
Lucky Dip Details
Building trust with our users
Our mission to empower safe and easy co-commuting
Social Page
Building trust with our users
Our mission to empower safe and easy co-commuting
Social Page
Building trust with our users
Our mission to empower safe and easy co-commuting
Social Page
Building trust with our users
Our mission to empower safe and easy co-commuting
Selling/donation Form
• draggable emergency widget
• float on most of screen
Selling/donation Form
• draggable emergency widget
• float on most of screen
Selling/donation Form
• draggable emergency widget
• float on most of screen
Reward Page
• draggable emergency widget
• float on most of screen
Reward Page
• draggable emergency widget
• float on most of screen
Reward Page
• draggable emergency widget
• float on most of screen
FINAL THOUGHTS & TAKEAWAYS
TBC
FINAL THOUGHTS & TAKEAWAYS
TBC
FINAL THOUGHTS & TAKEAWAYS
TBC