✦ CASE STUDY

ReFine — Peer-to-Peer Clothing Rental Platform

Community-driven fashion rental platform designed for trust, sustainability, and connection.

My Role

UX Designer & Researcher — user interviews, heuristic evaluation, usability testing, design iteration, and final prototype development

Team

3 members · University of Michigan · SI 582: Interaction Design
Sophia Lin · Reet Oberoi · Olivia Harris

Duration

Oct – Dec 2024

Methods

Figma · Usability Testing · Nielsen Heuristics · Competitive Analysis · Iterative Prototyping

Design Challenge

Many people own clothing they've only worn once but don't want to sell or donate. At the same time, others want stylish outfits for special events without buying new ones. Our challenge was to design a trustworthy, easy-to-use peer-to-peer clothing rental experience that promotes sustainability and community connection.

ReFine problem space and user research findings visualization — User research findings: trust barriers and sustainability motivations in clothing rental

Research Insights

Trust & Transparency: Renters want clear information about size, condition, and delivery; sellers want control and reliable transactions.
Convenience: Users value simple listing and rental flows with minimal friction.
Community: Verified profiles and shared experiences help foster credibility and repeat usage.

Key Features

For Sellers

Guided flow to list items with photos, price, and rental dates
Approve or reject rental requests
Track orders and payments easily

For Renters

Filter by category, size, brand, and rental date
Clear order tracking and notifications
Community posts for styling ideas and rental stories

For Everyone

Dual rating system for sellers and renters
In-app messaging for transparency and trust
Community hub for tips and engagement

Iteration & Evaluation

We conducted heuristic evaluations and usability tests to refine our prototype:

Added "undo" and confirmation pop-ups for key actions to prevent user errors.
Improved visibility of filters and date selection feedback for better clarity.
Simplified layouts and standardized font sizes for readability.
Prioritized trust-building features like reviews and community posts over non-critical elements.

Design Evolution

Our design evolved from paper sketches → wireframes → digital prototype in Figma. Two major changes shaped the final version:

ReFine design iterations from paper sketches to wireframes to final prototype — Design evolution: from initial sketches to refined wireframes and high-fidelity prototype

Community section revamp: Added interactive posts, polls, and user profiles to boost engagement and transparency.
Enhanced search and filters: Improved discoverability with detailed options for condition, size, and brand.

Guided by Don Norman's The Design of Everyday Things and Jenifer Tidwell's Designing Interfaces, we focused on clear visibility, intuitive feedback, and recognition over recall to build trust and ease of use.

ReFine final prototype showing key screens including home feed, item listing, and community features — Final prototype: browse, rent, and community features working together

Impact

ReFine promotes a sustainable, circular fashion economy by encouraging renting over buying. It reduces waste while helping users build meaningful community connections. Future iterations could include accessibility enhancements, onboarding guides, and automated error recovery features to further improve usability and inclusion.

View Prototype ↗

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