ecobuddies
ecobuddies
ecobuddies
ux / ui / product design
ux / ui / product design
Helping international students sell, buy or donate their belongings to make moving in-and-out easy.
Helping international students sell, buy or donate their belongings to make moving in-and-out easy.
time
time
4 weeks
4 weeks
role
role
uX research / uI design
uX research / uI design
tools
tools
figma
figma
Managing leftover items often leads to waste when students move out.
Managing leftover items often leads to waste when students move out.
When university ends and they move out, many hope to earn some money from their leftover belongings. Because of time constraints, they end up leaving everything behind or throwing it away leading to unnecessary waste.
When university ends and they move out, many hope to earn some money from their leftover belongings. Because of time constraints, they end up leaving everything behind or throwing it away leading to unnecessary waste.
Breaking down student behaviours in managing their belongings
Breaking down student behaviours in managing their belongings
Digital Platforms
Digital Platforms
Offline Methods
Offline Methods
No app brings student selling, buying, and donating into one.
No app brings student selling, buying, and donating into one.
A deeper look into the existing second-hand marketplaces, most platforms are designed primarily for either buying and selling or for donations. These platforms typically serve a broad user base, which makes it challenging to ensure trust and safety, particularly for students.
A deeper look into the existing second-hand marketplaces, most platforms are designed primarily for either buying and selling or for donations. These platforms typically serve a broad user base, which makes it challenging to ensure trust and safety, particularly for students.
criteria
criteria
facebook marketplace
facebook marketplace
freecycle
freecycle
kaidee
kaidee
second chance bangkok
second chance bangkok
ecobuddies
ecobuddies
student only network
student only network
buy/sell function
buy/sell function
automatic donation
automatic donation
scam protection
scam protection
focus on sustainability
focus on sustainability
Exploring item offloading habits among international students.
Exploring item offloading habits among international students.
I spoke with students to understand how they manage their belongings which is crucial in defining core MVP features. I went through a series of interviews with some international students to better understand how they figure out their unused items.
I spoke with students to understand how they manage their belongings which is crucial in defining core MVP features. I went through a series of interviews with some international students to better understand how they figure out their unused items.
Understanding the students' behaviours and needs
Understanding the students' behaviours and needs
To better understand the challenges students face, I create three representative personas based on user interviews. Each persona highlights common frustrations, and the temporary workarounds students use to manage their belongings—challenges that EcoBuddies is designed to solve.
To better understand the challenges students face, I create three representative personas based on user interviews. Each persona highlights common frustrations, and the temporary workarounds students use to manage their belongings—challenges that EcoBuddies is designed to solve.
“I only need things for a few months, so buying everything new feels like a waste.”
“I only need things for a few months, so buying everything new feels like a waste.”
budget saver berlin
budget saver berlin
Exchange Student
Exchange Student
pain points
pain points
workarounds
workarounds
Feels like buying new items is too expensive for short-term use.
Feels like buying new items is too expensive for short-term use.
Borrows from roommates.
Borrows from roommates.
Hard to find trust sellers on Facebook marketplace.
Hard to find trust sellers on Facebook marketplace.
Asks around and buys from mutual friends or in same university groups.
Asks around and buys from mutual friends or in same university groups.
Thinks it is not worth paying extra baggage to take back home when university ends.
Thinks it is not worth paying extra baggage to take back home when university ends.
Buys cheap new items and leaves them behind.
Buys cheap new items and leaves them behind.
"I just want to make a little money from my leftover stuffs, or at least have it gone to someone who actually needs it."
"I just want to make a little money from my leftover stuffs, or at least have it gone to someone who actually needs it."
Graduating girl Gigi
Graduating girl Gigi
Final Semester Student
Final Semester Student
pain points
pain points
workarounds
workarounds
Unsure about what to do with last minute leftovers.
Unsure about what to do with last minute leftovers.
Leaves items in the hallway or throws them into trash.
Leaves items in the hallway or throws them into trash.
Overwhelmed by packing and sad about waste.
Overwhelmed by packing and sad about waste.
Tries giveaway postings on student LINE groups and WhatsApp.
Tries giveaway postings on student LINE groups and WhatsApp.
Not enough time to deal with multiple buyers.
Not enough time to deal with multiple buyers.
Bundles items together at low price in Facebook marketplace.
Bundles items together at low price in Facebook marketplace.
"I wanted to donate my things, but I honestly had no idea where to bring them or who to contact."
"I wanted to donate my things, but I honestly had no idea where to bring them or who to contact."
donation seeking Dylan
donation seeking Dylan
Student Volunteer
Student Volunteer
pain points
pain points
workarounds
workarounds
Tries Googling but hard to understand about donation process.
Tries Googling but hard to understand about donation process.
Asks around in LINE or WhatsApp student groups.
Asks around in LINE or WhatsApp student groups.
No transport or time to drop things off.
No transport or time to drop things off.
Leaves donation bags near dorm common areas or hands off to friends.
Leaves donation bags near dorm common areas or hands off to friends.
Unsure about which local organizations accept what kind of items.
Unsure about which local organizations accept what kind of items.
Keeps items packed and stored away in his rooms.
Keeps items packed and stored away in his rooms.
How might we help graduating gigi offload her items without stress?
How might we help graduating gigi offload her items without stress?
The user journey begins with student verification. Sellers can list items, set a donation timer, or donate directly. Buyers can browse items by nearby university. Each step is designed to support a simple, student-friendly experience.
The user journey begins with student verification. Sellers can list items, set a donation timer, or donate directly. Buyers can browse items by nearby university. Each step is designed to support a simple, student-friendly experience.
Graduating Gigi plans to sell and donate her belongings since the semester has come to end.
Graduating Gigi plans to sell and donate her belongings since the semester has come to end.
She opens EcoBuddies app and verify student identity.
She opens EcoBuddies app and verify student identity.
She lists her unused furniture on EcoBuddies with a limited-time sale.
She lists her unused furniture on EcoBuddies with a limited-time sale.
She also sets any unsold items to be automatically donated afterward.
She also sets any unsold items to be automatically donated afterward.
Budget-Saver Berlin, whose study lamp just broke, is on the hunt for an affordable replacement.
Budget-Saver Berlin, whose study lamp just broke, is on the hunt for an affordable replacement.
He opens EcoBuddies, filters items by his university, and starts browsing listings. He spots a lamp being sold by Gigi — who happens to attend the same university.
He opens EcoBuddies, filters items by his university, and starts browsing listings. He spots a lamp being sold by Gigi — who happens to attend the same university.
Berlin messages her through the app and they arrange the exchange.
Berlin messages her through the app and they arrange the exchange.
He picks up the lamp in person — smooth, safe, and affordable.
He picks up the lamp in person — smooth, safe, and affordable.
Once Gigi’s sale period ends, her unsold items are automatically donated through the platform.
Once Gigi’s sale period ends, her unsold items are automatically donated through the platform.
Gigi earns some extra cash and feels good knowing her leftovers helped others. She moves out stress-free.
Gigi earns some extra cash and feels good knowing her leftovers helped others. She moves out stress-free.
Berlin gets what he needs without breaking the bank.
Berlin gets what he needs without breaking the bank.
Structure of EcoBuddies
Structure of EcoBuddies
As a student-to-student platform, EcoBuddies begins with student verification to ensure a trusted network. The app is structured into three core sections: sell with auto-donation for unsold items, buy, and donate. Wireframes were designed to support a simple, intuitive flow aligned with student behaviours, making key features easily accessible.
As a student-to-student platform, EcoBuddies begins with student verification to ensure a trusted network. The app is structured into three core sections: sell with auto-donation for unsold items, buy, and donate. Wireframes were designed to support a simple, intuitive flow aligned with student behaviours, making key features easily accessible.
Student Verification
Student Verification
Onboarding3
Onboarding3
Onboarding2
Onboarding2
Onboarding1
Onboarding1
Explore
Explore
Donate
Donate
Sell
Sell
Cart
Cart
Profile
Profile
Item Detail
Item Detail
Donate Item Upload
Donate Item Upload
Sale Item Upload
Sale Item Upload
Cart Details
Cart Details
Check Donation Progress
Check Donation Progress
Chat Message
Chat Message
Choose Donation Place
Choose Donation Place
Set Limited Time
Set Limited Time
Checkout Process
Checkout Process
0.0
0.0
A1
A1
A2
A2
A3
A3
A4
A4
1.0
1.0
2.0
2.0
4.0
4.0
5.0
5.0
1.1
1.1
2.1
2.1
4.1
4.1
5.1
5.1
5.2
5.2
1.1.1
1.1.1
2.1.1
2.1.1
3.0
3.0
3.1
3.1
Colors for reflecting sustainable solutions
Colors for reflecting sustainable solutions
EcoBuddies is built around the idea of turning unused belongings into shared value—creating meaningful, sustainable impact.
EcoBuddies is built around the idea of turning unused belongings into shared value—creating meaningful, sustainable impact.
#015927
#015927
Primary dark green represents sustainability, renewal, and trust.
Primary dark green represents sustainability, renewal, and trust.
#FFC857
#FFC857
Secondary golden yellow symbolizes positive action, reward, and the warmth of doing good for others.
Secondary golden yellow symbolizes positive action, reward, and the warmth of doing good for others.
Sans-serif font for friendly and serious tone
Sans-serif font for friendly and serious tone
A clean sans-serif font is used throughout the app to reflect a tone that is sustainable, serious, yet friendly—aligned with the platform’s student-first, purpose-driven mission.
A clean sans-serif font is used throughout the app to reflect a tone that is sustainable, serious, yet friendly—aligned with the platform’s student-first, purpose-driven mission.
Darkmode Off CC
Darkmode Off CC
Regular/ Medium/ Bold
Regular/ Medium/ Bold
Header
Header
20px Medium
20px Medium
Subheader
Subheader
18px Regular
18px Regular
Title
Title
16px Regular/ Medium
16px Regular/ Medium
Body, Paragraph
Body, Paragraph
14px Regular
14px Regular
Label
Label
12px Regular/ Medium
12px Regular/ Medium
What I have learned from this project
What I have learned from this project
Working on EcoBuddies taught me the value of grounding design decisions in both industry and user research—especially around how international students manage belongings, budget for short-term use, and prepare to move out. I learned to balance user needs with business goals while strengthening my skills in user flows, competitor analysis, and rapid prototyping. Most importantly, I realized how thoughtful design can create evergreen solutions for students everywhere.
Working on EcoBuddies taught me the value of grounding design decisions in both industry and user research—especially around how international students manage belongings, budget for short-term use, and prepare to move out. I learned to balance user needs with business goals while strengthening my skills in user flows, competitor analysis, and rapid prototyping. Most importantly, I realized how thoughtful design can create evergreen solutions for students everywhere.
let's work together
let's work together
let's work together
I have a background in branding design, web design and mobile app interfaces. I have a strong focus on UX research and translate them into meaningful user experiences.
I have a background in branding design, web design and mobile app interfaces. I have a strong focus on UX research and translate them into meaningful user experiences.
© 2025 Rina. All Right Reserved.
© 2025 Rina. All Right Reserved.