Share and Care

Enhancing Community Engagement

A UX case study on solving donation & transportation challenges

Problem Statement

Often, people place large furniture and other household items outside their homes, hoping someone in need will take them. However, these items frequently go to waste due to a lack of awareness or transportation barriers.

Many individuals consider donating to thrift stores, but logistical issues like transportation costs and time constraints prevent them from doing so.

The Share and Care project aims to bridge this gap through an intuitive and accessible digital platform that facilitates donation and collection efficiently.

Illustration showing donation challenges

Research & Insights

User Interviews

Surveyed over 20 donors and recipients

  • Transportation difficulties
  • Lack of awareness about donations
  • Inconvenient donation process

Competitive Analysis

Analysis of existing platforms revealed:

  • Limited pickup options
  • Poor real-time connectivity
  • Complex user interfaces

Key Findings

  • Users prefer mobile-friendly interface
  • Need for pickup assistance
  • Location-based search important

User Interview Notes

1️⃣

Donor: Sarah (35, Homeowner)

"I have an old couch in good condition, but no way to transport it to a thrift store."
"I tried listing it online, but no one picked it up, so it sat outside for days."
Pain Points:
  • No easy transport option for large furniture
  • Doesn't know which organizations accept donations
  • Wants a hassle-free pickup service
2️⃣

Thrift Store Manager: James (45, Store Owner)

"We get calls daily from people wanting to donate, but we don't have a truck to pick up items."
"We need a better system to match donations with our needs."
Pain Points:
  • Limited storage space for unplanned donations
  • No organized system to track incoming items
  • Needs better coordination with donors
3️⃣

Potential Recipient: Maria (28, College Student)

"I just moved and need furniture, but buying new is expensive."
"If I knew where to get free second-hand items, I'd definitely use it."
Pain Points:
  • No easy way to find free donated furniture
  • Wants a searchable online catalog of available items
  • Needs help with transportation

Key Insights from Interviews

  • Lack of transportation is the biggest barrier for both donors & recipients
  • Thrift stores struggle with storage & organization of incoming items
  • Users want a simple digital platform to donate & request items

Wireframing & Prototyping

Design Process

Low-Fidelity Wireframes

I created hand-drawn wireframe sketches using pencil and paper, focusing on easy navigation and clear categorization of donation items. This traditional approach allowed for quick iteration and exploration of different layout ideas.

High-Fidelity Prototypes

After sketching, I developed a fully functional web interface with:

  • One-click donation posting for quick item listing
  • Request tracking system for monitoring donations
  • Location-based resource matching

👉 Click on the interface image to view the live website

Low-fidelity wireframe sketch High-fidelity prototype

User Testing & Feedback

Improvements Made

  • Enhanced search functionality with category filters
  • Integrated pickup scheduling system
  • Improved categorization system

Final Outcome

Streamlined Listings

Clear item descriptions and images for efficient donation posting

Final design - Listing page

Pickup Coordination

Integrated system connecting donors with local transport volunteers

Final design - Pickup scheduling

Interactive Search

Map-based search for finding nearby donations

Final design - Search interface

Real-World Impact

🌍

Environmental Waste Crisis

  • Millions of tons of reusable furniture end up in landfills yearly
  • Large furniture items take years to decompose
  • Cities spend thousands on removing dumped furniture
👥

Unmet Needs in Communities

  • Low-income families struggle to afford furniture
  • Lack of organized donation systems
  • Thrift stores lack inventory due to transport issues
🏙️

Cluttered Public Spaces

  • Abandoned furniture creates unmaintained neighborhoods
  • Cities spend taxpayer money on furniture disposal
  • Illegal dumping creates safety hazards

The Positive Change "Share and Care" Brings

✔️

Less waste through furniture reuse

✔️

Improved accessibility for low-income families

✔️

Cleaner city streets and sidewalks

✔️

Reduced waste management costs

Conclusion & Lessons Learned

User Feedback is Essential

Continuous testing and iteration led to a better, more user-friendly platform.

Accessibility Matters

Designing for all users, including those with mobility or digital literacy challenges, improves adoption.

Logistics Consideration

Addressing transportation barriers significantly enhances the donation experience.

Future Scope

🚛

On-Demand Pickup & Delivery

  • Partner with local moving companies and volunteers
  • Real-time tracking system for scheduled pickups
📱

Mobile App Integration

  • Mobile app for listing donations and requesting pickups
  • AI-based donation matching with thrift stores
🛠️

Smart Donation Stations

  • Community drop-off points with digital check-ins
  • QR code scanning for efficient item management
🔄

Incentives & Gamification

  • Reward system with points for contributions
  • Local business partnerships for donation rewards
🌎

Expansion to More Cities

  • Scale platform to different communities
  • Partner with municipalities & NGOs