Pakt
An online platform facilitates easy donation and acquisition of gently used packing supplies for individuals and businesses post-relocation.
(Student project)
SCOPE
Research

UX/UI Design

Branding

Prototyping

Usability Testing
TIMELINE
March 2024 - July 2024
(4 Months)
*Working on a part-time 20hr/week schedule
OVERVIEW
As someone who has moved 4 times in the last 3 years, I sympathize with the difficulty people have during a move. From scheduling your move, to packing, to the day of the actual move, it’s not uncommon to just want it to all be over. Reflecting on my own experiences, I set out to uncover the difficulties people experience during their moves and develop a product that can help ease some of the pain points of moving.
PROBLEM
Moving is expensive. According to Forbes, these are the average costs of moves in the USA:
$300 - $6,900
Short distance moves
$3,200 - $17,000
Long distance moves
On top of these base costs, you must factor in the customary 15-20% tip and the cost of packing materials. When totaled up, the price of a move can be very steep. Another consideration is the time required to prepare and pack an apartment or house of any size. Typically, packing a 1-bedroom apartment alone can demand up to two full days of dedicated time.
THE RESEARCH
With this problems in mind, I set out to discuss with users and hear first hand the problems they dealt with during moves of their own. Here are the 3 research methods I employed:
1. Competitive analysis
Evaluating companies within the moving market to understand their strengths, weaknesses, strategies,
and market positioning.
2. User interviews
Gathering qualitative data through one-on-one conversations with people who have experience with
and insight on the packing process.
3. Secondary research
Drawing insights and information from online sources, publications, and cutting-edge technology to enhance understanding of the packing process.
THE USERS
5 Participants / 2 Men, 3 Women / Ages 23-33
A total of 22 moves
THE KEY LEARNING
From my research, a key learning that stuck with me was that cost matters. The cost of the packing process significantly impacts the selection of resources people opt to utilize.
Important cost related findings from affinity mapping
USER PERSONAS
After conducting user interviews, I developed two personas to capture the personalities, challenges, and goals of my users. Ethan and Lila exemplify users from diverse age groups and income brackets united by a common objective: saving money. Creating two personas was essential for me to cater to individuals from various backgrounds, all striving towards a shared goal.
POV & HMW STATEMENT
By crafting personas and analyzing my research data, my goal was to tackle a specific issue posed by this question:
How might we help people packing for a move save money on packing supplies?
THE BIG IDEA
With this question in mind, I began to think of possible solutions. Here’s the one that stuck:
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An online platform where individuals or businesses who have recently relocated can easily donate their gently used packing supplies, while also allowing others to conveniently acquire the packing materials they need.
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A platform like this would save both individuals and businesses money, while satisfying the goals of user personas like Lila and Ethan who seek cost-effective solutions and sustainability in their moving endeavors.
SITE MAP
The site map below attempts to satisfy the idea of a two sided marketplace, with both “create listing” and “browse listing” pages, allowing users to participate in every part of the donation cycle. Ultimately reducing their expenditure on packing supplies.​
USER FLOWS
Referring to the site map, I created user flows to break down the steps users need to complete in order to sign up, post a listing, and find packing materials.
The 'Post a listing' page was split into two pages due to the increasing amount of required information. Additionally, within this flow, I incorporated an option to save as a draft, accommodating users who may not have all the necessary information ready at the time of creation.​
TASK FLOWS
When creating the task flows, I prioritized ensuring smooth transitions between different user tasks. It was crucial for me to integrate the 'Dashboard' page into each flow, allowing users to seamlessly switch between posting and browsing as needed.
WIREFRAMES
After mapping out the site and determining the most logical user and task flows, I began building the low and mid-fidelity wireframes. I incorporated user research insights to design in a way that appeals to younger, tech-savvy audiences.
BRANDING
To challenge the stereotypes surrounding the mundane topic of moving and packing, I designed the branding of Pakt on a tight timeline, incorporating vibrant colors, relaxed typography, and an eye-catching logo.
HIGH FIDELITY WIREFRAMES
With the branding established, the next step was to integrate it seamlessly into the design.
HOME PAGE
The primary goal of the home page was to enable users to find and donate supplies according to their needs.
It was essential to provide an overview of the site's functionality so that users could grasp its capabilities. For example, there are buttons throughout the page where users can either donate or find supplies.
CREATE A LISTING
Users who wish to donate are encouraged to create a listing from the homepage, but they must first create an account to proceed.
These pages offer donors various options for items they can contribute and provide fields to input essential information such as zip code, quantity, and photos, facilitating seekers in filtering their requirements effectively.
Users are also able to save their listing as a draft to post later.
BROWSE LISTINGS
The browse listings page features a map displaying the user's zip code and nearby areas. With its search and filter functions, users can navigate listings more effectively.
Users can also share and save listings, and message the lister directly to claim advertised items.
In cases where availability doesn't align, users can utilize the Uber Connect feature to transport items securely without needing direct contact with the other party.
PROTOTYPE
The working prototype can be found here.
USER TESTING
Two tasks were asked to be completed by the users in the testing phase: list an item and find an item. 100% of users rated the tasks a 5/5 in terms of ease of completion, 5 meaning very easy. However, a few suggestions were made:
ITERATION
Once the feedback from the user testing was received, I went back to the wireframes and added their suggestions.
QUANTITY INPUT
3 of the 5 users pointed out that a quantity input would be helpful on the second page of the create a listing form.
The purpose behind this edit was to:
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Streamline the user experience, eliminating the need for users to hunt for quantities within the item descriptions.
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Allow those making donations to list multiple items more efficiently.
SEARCH BAR
One user explained the need for a search bar in the browse listing section, as she felt the filter button wasn’t efficient enough.
The purpose behind this edit was to:
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Help users find their intended item more quickly.
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Give users more than one way to look for items.
MOVING FORWARD
There are numerous opportunities for further iteration and expansion of Pakt. Imagine incorporating sustainability metrics, integrating social media for listing sharing, or implementing a savings tracker for users to monitor their savings during their move. With endless possibilities ahead, I am eager to continue testing with users to enhance the platform's utility and delightfulness.