LendItOut
A peer-to-peer marketplace app designed to make it easier to borrow everyday items instead of buying them. Many people purchase tools, equipment, or hobby items they only use once or twice, resulting in financial waste and clutter. LendItOut allows users to rent items for a set period of time (for example, borrowing a drill for one day), with an optional "try before you buy" feature that lets users purchase the item after rental if they like it.
Problem
People frequently need items only temporarily, such as tools, camping gear, or specialty equipment:
- Buying rarely used items is expensive and wasteful
- Borrowing from friends isn't always possible or convenient
- Existing rental businesses are often costly and limited in inventory
- Many items sit unused in homes, even though others nearby could benefit from them
These challenges revealed a clear gap: There is no easy, community-driven way to temporarily borrow everyday items and only purchase them if they're truly worth owning.
Solution
LendItOut addresses this need through a localized lending marketplace:
- Users can list items they own and rent them out for a daily/weekly fee
- Borrowers can rent instead of buying, saving money and storage space
- After the trial period, users have the option to purchase the item directly
- Built-in messaging and reviews support trust and safety between users
By combining renting and optional purchasing, LendItOut encourages sustainable consumption, reduces clutter, and makes access to useful items easier and more affordable.
Target Audience
- Students, renters, and young adults with limited storage space
- People who only need tools or equipment occasionally
- Budget-conscious users trying to avoid unnecessary purchases
- Environmentally-aware users interested in reuse and sharing economies
Persona
Alex — Budget-conscious student
- Age: 20
- Lives in small apartment with limited storage
- Often needs tools for DIY projects and school assignments
- Hesitant to buy expensive items he'll use once or twice
Goals
- Save money
- Avoid clutter
- Try items before committing to buying
- Find items nearby quickly
Frustrations
- Buying items he barely uses
- Rentals from big companies are too expensive
- Hard to know if something is worth buying without trying it first
Persona Image
User Stories
- •As a borrower, I want to rent an item for a short period so I don't have to buy it.
- •As an owner, I want to earn money by lending things I rarely use.
- •As a borrower, I want the option to buy an item after renting if I end up liking it.
- •As a user, I want to see reviews and ratings so I can trust the person I'm renting from.
- •As a user, I want clear pricing and timeframes so I know exactly what I'm paying for.
My Approach
UX Research
I led research activities to understand how people currently access rarely used items. Methods included:
- Surveys to identify borrowing vs buying behaviours
- Interviews exploring frustrations with purchases and rentals
- Affinity mapping to synthesize patterns
From research, I learned:
- Many users regret impulse purchases of tools and equipment
- Storage space is a major concern for renters and students
- People like "try before you buy" when committing to expensive items
These insights shaped the direction of our core features.
Conceptualization & Prototyping
Working with the team, I:
- Created task flows for item browsing, renting, and purchasing
- Designed low-fidelity wireframes in Figma
- Iterated to mid- and high-fidelity prototypes based on feedback
Every iteration focused on clarity:
- Simple pricing breakdown
- Clear rental timeframe selection
- Visible "Buy after trial" option
Usability Testing
We conducted testing sessions with peers and potential users to evaluate:
- Clarity of renting vs buying
- Trust and safety perceptions
- Ease of finding specific items
Key improvements after testing:
- Added clearer callouts for trial-to-purchase flow
- Simplified item listing form
- Added visual indicators of item condition & reviews
Low-Fidelity Wireframes
Mid-Fidelity Prototypes
High-Fidelity Prototypes
Task Flows
Key Features & Rationale
- Rent for a set time
Prevents unnecessary purchases. Ideal for one-time or short-term use items. - Try-before-you-buy option
Reduces buyer's remorse. Lets users test items realistically. - Peer-to-peer marketplace
Enables community sharing. Allows owners to earn passive income. - Messaging and reviews
Builds trust between users. Encourages responsible behaviour. - Transparent pricing
Shows rental cost vs purchase cost. Helps users make informed decisions.
Item Browsing
Rental Selection
Try-Before-You-Buy Flow
Messaging & Reviews
Item Listing
User Dashboard
Process Highlights
Research & Discovery
- Conducted surveys and interviews
- Identified user pain points
- Defined primary persona(s)
- Analyzed existing marketplace apps
Ideation & Design
- Brainstormed feature ideas with the team
- Designed core flows (borrow, lend, buy-after-trial)
- Created wireframes and clickable prototypes
Testing & Iteration
- Ran usability tests
- Collected qualitative feedback
- Improved clarity and navigation
Outcome
- Delivered a functional high-fidelity prototype in Figma
- Built a clear end-to-end user journey for renting and trial-purchase
- Strengthened my experience in UX research and marketplace design
- Practiced collaboration in a team of 7 with shared design responsibilities
Learnings
- Marketplace design requires balancing user trust and convenience
- Research insights are crucial for prioritizing core features
- Clear communication is essential when designing in a larger team
- Iteration through testing greatly improves usability