Role
UX/UI Designer
Project Type
Add a Feature
Timeframe
5 Weeks
Tools
Figma
WHAT IS DEPOP
Depop is a social shopping app where users can buy and sell secondhand fashion, from vintage pieces to trendy streetwear. With over 35 million registered users worldwide, it has become a leading platform for buying and selling unique fashion items.
THE PROBLEM
Currently, Depop only shows shipping costs after an item is added to the bag, which creates unnecessary friction in the buying process. Since shipping fees vary by location, this lack of transparency can lead to frustration, hesitation, and ultimately abandoned carts. This creates a lose-lose situation where buyers face a back-and-forth experience, while the business risks losing potential sales.
How might we make the checkout process easier and more seamless for users?
How might we prevent users from abandoning their cart?
THE SOLUTION
Adding a feature to Depop that shows estimated shipping costs in the item description would allow for more transparency for users and make the check out process a lot smoother.
COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS
To explore how other resale platforms approach shipping costs, I analyzed Etsy, Mercari, Poshmark, and eBay to compare how each calculates and displays shipping information.
KEY INSIGHTS
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Etsy and eBay provide zip code-based shipping estimates upfront, making pricing more transparent and helping users feel confident before checkout
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Mercari and Poshmark simplify shipping with fixed rates, but offer less flexibility or accuracy, which may not reflect the true cost for every buyer
OPPORTUNITIES
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Make shipping costs more visible and accessible upfront
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Simplify how users check shipping costs with fewer clicks
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Encourage more completed purchases by showing total costs earlier
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When it comes to shipping transparency, Depop falls short. Users must add items to their cart just to see shipping costs, which interrupts the browsing flow. This lack of transparency can frustrate shoppers, leading to abandoned carts and missed sales.
CONDUCTING USER INTERVIEWS
To better understand how users feel about Depop’s shipping experience, I interviewed people who have used the app in the past or are currently using it. The focus was on how shipping costs are shown, what users find frustrating, and how the process could be improved.
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From the insights gathered, I created the persona Kelly.
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WHAT DID WE LEARN
From our user interviews, I identified key insights about how people manage stress and process emotions:
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1. Shipping costs affect buying
Shipping costs play a major role in whether users decide to buy an item or not.
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2. Frustrating check out
Many found it annoying to add items to their bag just to view shipping fees.
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3. Want transparency
Users want clearer shipping details earlier in the shopping journey as higher-than-expected shipping costs that caused them to back out of purchases.​
CRAFTING THE SOLUTION
The goal was to incorporate a feature that allows users to view estimated shipping costs directly on the item page. By entering their zip code, users can see accurate shipping fees upfront without needing to add items to their bag. This feature helps simplify the shopping experience, improve transparency, and make it easier for users to commit to a purchase.
USER FLOWS
I created a flow that maps a buyer’s journey from account creation to order confirmation. It highlights a new step on the item page where users can enter their zip code to view estimated shipping costs to boost transparency.
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HIGH FIDELITY WIREFRAMES
Using feedback from testing and my mentor, I created high-fidelity wireframes. These reflect a more polished version of the feature, including the updated shipping calculator where users can enter a zip code directly on the item page to view estimated shipping costs.
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REFLECTION
I really enjoyed working on this project! Since I use Depop myself, it was exciting to improve a feature I’d actually use. One of the main challenges was designing screens with a lot of elements and making sure everything matched Depop’s existing style. It pushed me to get creative with layout and icon choices. Overall, this experience taught me the value of keeping designs simple and how helpful early feedback can be for making smart improvements.
Added a white background for better visibility
REFLECTION
Working on this project taught me how meaningful even small, thoughtful design choices can be especially when it comes to helping people manage their emotions. I really enjoyed turning an idea into something that feels both useful and comforting. If I could go back, I’d spend more time testing different design styles earlier on and exploring more diverse user feedback. This was a great learning experience, and I look forward to growing even more in my next projects.