GEAR XCHANGE

⋆ UX/UI ⋆ BRAND DESIGN ⋆ UX RESEARCH ⋆

“This is the Airbnb of sporting gear!”

Role: Product Designer (Research, UX/UI Design, Testing) 

Duration: 6 Months 

Objective: Create a unified marketplace for outdoor enthusiasts to buy/sell used sporting gear, rent equipment, and monetize skills (e.g., guiding, repairs).

Iphone screen displaying market place app called gear xcange

85%

of outdoor enthusiasts reported struggling to find affordable, high-quality used gear in their local area

62%

of gear owners said they'd rent out their equipment if a secure platform existed

75%

of users cited "fear of scams" as their top concern on existing platforms

80%

expressed interest in renting gear if a trusted system existed

FOCUS GROUPS

RESEARCH

Problem

Solution

Outdoor enthusiasts face a fragmented, unreliable experience when trying to buy affordable gear, rent equipment for trips, or monetize their skills. Existing platforms like Facebook Marketplace and eBay lack:
Trust: Scams and counterfeit gear erode confidence in peer transactions.
Specialization: No tools for renting gear or advertising services like guiding.
Fair Pricing: High fees (e.g., eBay’s 15% commission) discourage casual sellers.

GearXchange is a trusted all-in-one marketplace for buying, renting, and booking outdoor services, solving fragmentation in the industry. Users can seamlessly browse gear by sport, condition, and location; rent equipment with calendar syncing, damage deposits, and insurance; or book certified guides and repair services. Built-in trust features—like ID verification, escrow payments, and gear condition templates—ensure safety, while lower fees (5–10%) and a “Carbon Saved” tracker make transactions affordable and sustainable.

two phone screens displaying different screens of the Gear Xchange marketplace app

iphone screen displaying checkout screen for marketplace app

wireframes for the gear xchange mobile marketplace app

01

Typography

Avenir

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

SFPro Display

02

Colours

03

Logo

#040404

#F6F6F6

#29DCEB

#A9E8ED

#FFFFFF

EMPATHY MAP

Thinks

Says

Feels

Does

“I don’t trust strangers on Craigslist to handle my expensive gear.”

"eBay’s fees eat into my profits – it’s not worth selling my old kayak.”

“Why isn’t there an app where I can rent gear AND book a guide?”

“I’d pay extra for a platform that verifies users and gear condition.”

“What if my rented gear gets damaged? Will I lose money?”

“Listing gear takes too much time on multiple platforms.”

“Are these reviews even real? This seller feels sketchy.”

“My repair skills could earn me side income, but where do I start?”

Frustrated by fragmented platforms and hidden fees.

Anxious about scams and safety during transactions.

Excited by the idea of earning extra income from unused gear.

Overwhelmed by poorly filtered search results.

Compares prices across Facebook Marketplace, eBay, and forums.

Avoids high-value transactions online due to distrust.

Rents gear through friends or specialty shops (costly).

Uses Instagram/Social to advertise guiding services informally.

Opportunities

Build trust with verification and transparency.

Simplify earning opportunities (rentals + services).

Reduce friction with all-in-one search and booking.

Pain Points

Distrust in peer transactions

Fragmented workflows

High fees

prototyping the gear xchange marketplace app different mobile screens

DESIGN SYSTEM

Titles & Text

Subtitles

SITEMAP

WIREFRAMES

USER TESTING