Ukuu

Goals:

• Capitalize on the gig economy by providing new income streams.
• Foster community relationships through shared resources.
• Create an intuitive and visually appealing platform.

Target Audience:

• Individuals seeking additional revenue streams.
• Users looking to monetize household items they are not frequently using.
• Users trying to avoid expensive item purchases for one-time projects.

Ukuu began with recognizing the disjointed experiences of individuals seeking used or temporarily needed items, such as power tools for one-off projects. Noticing that these essential tools were prohibitively expensive to purchase for short-term use, the idea for Ukuu was born.

The team saw an opportunity to streamline the process of renting items like these within local communities, making it more convenient and cost-effective than traditional methods like purchasing from stores or online marketplaces.

The initial phase of Ukuu’s development involved moving from this conceptual understanding to a tangible product. A rough mockup of the app was created, laying the foundational blueprint of what Ukuu was set to become. This version, although functional, was somewhat basic in its design and user experience. It served as a functional beta version that was essential for gathering initial user feedback and understanding the practical dynamics of peer-to-peer lending.

User feedback revealed the necessity for a trustworthy platform—one that looked more polished and in turn, secure. Moreover, practical issues such as insurance, liability, and the process for dealing with damaged items came to the forefront. These insights were instrumental in guiding the next steps of development.

As the lead designer for Ukuu, I was responsible for elevating the initial app design from basic concepts to a polished, professional interface. I joined the project when it was still in the early stages, defined by functional but unsophisticated mockups.

My primary focus was on creating detailed, pixel-perfect mobile designs and prototypes that would serve as a blueprint for the development team. Beyond design, I played a key role in product iteration, actively participating in ideation sessions to refine UX flows and address specific challenges.