Designing for two distinct user groups

Marketplace Strategy & UX

Solve the chicken-and-egg problem with flawless UX.

Building a marketplace requires satisfying two entirely different audiences simultaneously. We design cohesive, trustworthy user experiences that drive both supplier onboarding and buyer conversion.

  • Map complex two-sided user journeys before writing a line of code
  • Design high-converting trust markers and verification flows
  • Establish a clear monetization and feature roadmap
01 · Reduced FrictionClearer pathways for users to list and buy services.
02 · Higher TrustUX that establishes safety for both sides of the transaction.
03 · Faster Time to ValueHelping users achieve their goals immediately upon signing up.
04 · Scalable DesignDesign systems that adapt as you add new product categories.

Marketplaces fail when one side of the transaction is ignored.

Founders often focus entirely on the buyer experience, leaving the suppliers with clunky tools, or vice-versa. We ensure both sides get a premium experience.

01

High Vendor Churn

Suppliers are leaving the platform because the dashboard to upload and manage their listings is confusing and slow.

02

Low Buyer Trust

Buyers are abandoning carts because the platform doesn't adequately communicate vendor verification or guarantee dispute resolution.

03

Conflicting Priorities

Your team is struggling to balance features that benefit buyers versus features that benefit sellers.

The deliverables

A complete blueprint for a balanced platform.

We deliver comprehensive design systems and strategy roadmaps that prove the concept works before development begins.

01 · Strategy

Two-sided User Journeys

Mapping out the exact step-by-step experience for a supplier joining the platform versus a buyer finding them.

JourneysMappingFlows
02 · Design

Trust & Verification UI

Designing the specific visual cues (badges, reviews, identity checks) that give users the confidence to transact.

TrustUI DesignBadges
03 · Structure

Information Architecture

Organizing complex taxonomy so categories, sub-categories, and filters make sense to both the person listing and the person searching.

TaxonomyIAStructure
04 · Prototyping

High-Fidelity Prototypes

Clickable Figma prototypes of both the buyer app and the supplier dashboard to test with real users.

FigmaTestingPrototypes

Featured UX Build

Redesigning a service marketplace to increase booking conversions by 40%.

See how we overhauled a local service platform to dramatically reduce buyer hesitation and increase supplier retention.

Marketplace DesignFigma Prototyping

Service Marketplace Redesign

Building trust on both sides.

The platform had plenty of traffic, but buyers were nervous about booking unvetted professionals, and professionals hated the clunky scheduling interface.

ChallengeThe existing platform lacked trust markers, making it look like a generic directory rather than a secure marketplace.
BuildWe redesigned the supplier profiles to prominently feature background check badges and structured reviews. We also overhauled the supplier scheduling UI to be mobile-first.
ImpactBy clearly displaying trust markers, buyer conversions jumped 40%. The new mobile scheduling interface reduced supplier churn by 25% in the first quarter.
View All Projects

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Marketplace UX.

Answers covering the chicken-and-egg problem and balancing priorities.

Should we build the buyer side or the supplier side first?

You must design both simultaneously to ensure they connect, but during go-to-market, you generally need to acquire supply (vendors) before you can attract demand (buyers).

How do you handle trust and safety in the design?

We design clear verification flows (e.g., uploading ID or licenses) and create visual badges that appear on approved profiles so buyers feel safe transacting.

Do you design for mobile or desktop?

Both. For many marketplaces, the buyer side is heavily mobile (booking on the go), while the supplier side might be more desktop-heavy (managing inventory and finances).

Can we just use a marketplace template?

Templates are fine for testing an initial idea, but they quickly break down when you need to introduce complex business logic or unique workflows specific to your industry.

What happens after the design phase?

Once the strategy and Figma prototypes are approved, our engineering team takes over to build the custom frontend and backend architecture.

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Design a platform users
actually want to use.

Ready to map out the perfect journey for your buyers and sellers? Let's discuss your marketplace strategy.

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