A solution to avoid cluttering the home with many toys.
Design project- Adding a new feature to Vinted Application
Overview
The idea for the project came to me while doing spring cleaning. As a mother, I know from experience how many toys accumulate even with just one child. Some I sell on Vinted, some I give away, and some wait, crammed into closets, for the moment when the child might become interested in them. But what if we could exchange toys with other parents? Instead of buying a new toy that might turn out to be a flop, it would be better to first borrow it from someone in exchange for our unused one.
Individual
Product Design, Reasearch
90h
Figma, FigJam, Chat GPT
User Research, Ideation,
Interation Interation, Design,
Design, System, Wireframing,
Prototyping, Testing
TEAM
MY ROLE
DURATION
TOOLS
SKILLS
What’s more…
The toy industry faces significant environmental and economic challenges.
The problem
A limited amount of space for storing toys that the child no longer plays with, as well as often purchasing toys that do not capture the child's interest, yet have already been used and cannot be returned to the seller.
RESEARCH
Goals & Objectives
We want to find out how parents currently deal with excess toys or toys that turn out to be a poor choice so that we can understand how the exchange should work. For Vinted, this presents an opportunity to expand into a new category, so we want to explore how the business can benefit from introducing this new feature.
Identify pain points in traditional selling vs. swapping
Explore motivations for swapping instead of selling/buying
Evaluate how to integrate the swap feature into the existing platform
Define the most user-friendly swap process
Examine how a swap feature could enhance user engagement and retention
#1 ROUND OF INTERVIEWS
The original idea was to facilitate the exchange of used toys between users of the Vinted app, but…
During interviews with app users who also have children, it became clear that such an exchange would be too complicated if it relied solely on shipping, without the option for in-person pickup (Vinted currently does not offer pickup options other than shipping). There were also uncertainties about whether the exchange should be permanent or temporary. Participants preferred a temporary exchange, which introduced another challenge—both users would need to ship their items simultaneously.
Details
5 interviewed
Age: 30-53
All of them were Vinted and other selling apps users
The initial idea was abandoned due to feasibility challenges and low user interest during interviews. Based on user feedback, I pivoted the project to focus on allowing users to rent out used toys to others for a specified period and a set fee.
#2 ROUND OF INTERVIEWS- PAIN POINTS
From swapping to renting toys- second approach
80%
Toy Overload & Storage Issues
Lack of space to store unused toys.
Feeling overwhelmed by the sheer number of toys at home.
20%
Rental & Item Condition Worries
Concern about damaging rented toys.
80%
Suitability & Usage Concerns
Children engaging with only a few toys despite owning many.
Toys quickly becoming unsuitable or losing interest.
Fear of purchasing toys that go unused.
40%
Travel & Temporary Toy Needs
Need for toys specifically for travel or short periods away from home.
40%
Financial Considerations
Preferred high-quality or educational toys are very expensive.
Interest in renting as a cost-effective alternative for short-term use.
20%
Vinted-Specific Issues
Dissatisfaction with existing buyer protection not covering return shipping costs.
Analysis from a business perspective
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1. Business Opportunity & Value Proposition
The "Rent Toys & Games" feature on Vinted offers a significant business opportunity by expanding services into the circular economy. It addresses user pain points of managing "excess" toys and parents' need for temporary toy access. Vinted gains a competitive edge by leveraging its established logistics over other Polish toy rental companies with higher shipping costs.
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2. Revenue Model & Projections
Vinted generates revenue from a non-refundable rental fee and a customer protection fee paid by the renter. Owners list toys for a fixed period (e.g., one month).
Renter's Upfront Payment:
- Rental fee
- Refundable deposit (frozen during rental, returned to Vinted wallet upon safe return)
- Customer protection fee
-Double shipping costs
Illustrative Vinted Revenue:
Cheap Items (~20zł): 3.90zł
Medium-Priced Items (~100zł): 7.90zł
Expensive Items (~200zł): 12.90zł
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3. Key Challenges
Implementing a rental feature presents specific challenges requiring robust solutions for user satisfaction and operational efficiency:
Trust Issues: Ensuring the safe and undamaged return of rented items is a primary concern, necessitating clear policies for item condition.
Fixed Rental Duration: The predetermined rental period (e.g., one month) may lack flexibility for varied user needs, suggesting a need for future iterations with variable terms.
Complex Upfront Payment: The combined upfront payment (rental fee, deposit, protection fee, and double shipping) could deter new users; clear communication and streamlined flow are essential.
Deposit Management: The "frozen" deposit status and its refund process to the Vinted wallet require clear communication and efficient management for a positive user experience.
COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS
Main Takeaways from Market Comparison
I decided to separate OLX from other rental platforms due to a key difference: OLX is a peer-to-peer marketplace with minimal structure or support — low cost but high risk — while toy rental platforms are specialized services that offer structured, secure, and curated experiences, resulting in higher cost but also higher trust.
Polish Toy Rental Platforms (Figlisto, Toy Surfing, BeeLagom)
Limited flexibility – users often can't choose specific toys; they receive pre-curated sets.
High monthly costs – subscriptions (130–150 PLN) may not suit all family budgets.
No short-term rentals – most plans are monthly; not ideal for travel or occasional use.
Logistics hassle – packing, shipping, and waiting times can be inconvenient.
Lack of popular brands – few platforms offer licensed toys like LEGO or Barbie.
OLX Rental Feature
Not toy-focused – the rental category is broad and lacks filtering for children’s products.
Lower trust & security – risk of scams, unclear rental terms, and limited buyer protection.
No unified system – no rental flow, calendar, or deposit handling – everything must be arranged manually.
This distinction is actually a key opportunity for a platform like Vinted to offer a toy rental feature: combining OLX's peer flexibility with the structure and safety of a specialized platform.
USER PERSONA
For who am I designing?
Based on the information gathered from the research, I created two user personas — one representing a person listing a toy for rent and the other representing a person renting a toy through the platform.
Elena seeks a platform to monetize her unused toys, declutter her home, and benefit from items she doesn't want to permanently sell.
Sarah needs an affordable, eco-friendly way to access desired toys temporarily without cluttering her small home.
CUSTOMER JOURNEY MAP
Understanding the User’s Experience Step by Step
By mapping the customer experience, I identified critical points where the app needs to build user trust, ultimately leading to greater transaction satisfaction.
PROBLEM STATEMENT
Defining the scope
Based on the research results and users' needs, I identified the main problems and asked the questions.
INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE
Task flows & User flows
While creating the task flows, the user goes through the same steps that are currently required in the app to list a product for sale or to search for and purchase one. In the case of user flows, I anticipated the users' next steps after the rental period ends, as well as situations where the toy is returned damaged.
How other platforms do it
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Adding an ad
They are all similar. I like the tip on OLX in the Category box that says, 'Fill it in with the most important information when looking for such an item.' OLX and Vinted place photos first, while Marketplace prioritizes location.
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Search
OLX shows the last searched items, which is great. On Amazon, it’s possible to narrow the search by clicking on the arrow.
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Filters
Filters differ depending on the specifics of the platform. OLX has more suitable ones for a renting feature.
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Checkout
On OLX, you can choose whether you want the protection package or not, and shipping can be free. It is also clearly shown what the protection package offers to the user. On Vinted, there is no option to opt out of the protection package.
On Amazon, the Buy Now button at the top is misleading, as it often gets clicked automatically before reading all the order details. After clicking, it immediately redirects to the payment confirmation in the bank.
UI KIT
Following Vinted’s Design System
While working on the mid-fidelity wireframes, I also created the UI kit for the project. Since Vinted has an established design system, I researched its existing styles, typography, and components to ensure consistency. Using these insights, I carefully built the UI kit to support a cohesive and seamless integration of the new feature.
LOW FIDELITY WIREFRAMES
First drafts
While designing the initial wireframes, I had to keep in mind that I was introducing a new feature into an already well-known and widely used app . Therefore, I based my work on the existing patterns Vinted uses for buttons and item searches, adding and integrating the elements related to the new renting feature into the overall design. The main idea was to ensure that users would, first of all, notice the new feature, and secondly, be able to use it just as easily as they currently use the sell/buy functionalities.
FIRST USABILITY TESTING
Key insights
HIGH FIDELITY WIREFRAMES
It’s time to add some color
After implementing improvements based on usability testing, I moved on to designing the high-fidelity wireframes. I integrated the new feature into the app's existing color scheme and layout to maintain visual consistency.
The top row of wireframes illustrates the task flow for adding an ad, while the second row shows the process of searching for an item to rent. The first flow ends with publishing a listing, and the second concludes with confirming the rental and completing the payment.
It was important to me that each screen guides users through the process smoothly and intuitively, without unnecessary frustration — staying true to the user experience patterns familiar from Vinted, while remaining easy to follow for new users.
#2 USABILITY TEST
High-Fidelity Wireframes in Action: Testing
The goal
To validate whether users could seamlessly complete key flows — posting an item for rent and borrowing one.
Key insights
Terminology & Clarity
The term “borrow” caused confusion, especially for native English speakers.
Participants preferred “rent” as it clearly implies a paid transaction.
Listing Controls & Filtering
Participants wanted the ability to edit listings directly from the ad preview.
They suggested adding a field to show the item’s condition.
A filter to separate rental items from items for sale was recommended to simplify browsing.
Participants
5 in total,
diverse in age
not all were familiar with Vinted.
Usability & User Experience
Vinted users quickly recognized the app’s structure and entry points.
New users took slightly longer but navigated without major issues.
Overall, the app’s look and feel were well received.
Feature Clarity & Feedback
Setting rental periods and fees was the most confusing step.
After saving, it wasn’t clear if the data had been stored.
Key Iterations
OUTCOME
The term "Borrow" caused confusion during usability testing, as users associated it with free lending. To improve clarity, it was replaced with "Toys & Games", making the category label more intuitive and aligned with user expectations.
OVERCOME
The summary of rental period, fee, and deposit was added after users reported uncertainty about saved inputs. This change improves clarity and confirms that details were successfully entered.
OVERCOME
The "Edit" button was added after users requested an easy way to make changes before publishing, improving flexibility and control.
Although I indicated the presence of filters on the search results screen, I initially didn’t design a full filtering option — assuming that the "For Rent" icon on the product card would be sufficient.
However, users clearly missed having a dedicated filter, and expected a more direct way to sort listings by availability type.
OVERCOME
Filtering search results – users can easily apply filters to view only items for sale or for rent, making the search process more efficient and tailored to their needs.
#3 USABILITY TEST
Test, Learn, Improve: Key Insight
Following the changes implemented after the second usability test, I conducted a third round to evaluate whether users could navigate the entire process smoothly. I had a suspicion that certain elements might still be lacking, and the test results confirmed this.
“When selecting 'blocks' in the category tab and clicking the radio button, I'm immediately taken to the page for preparing my listing. I feel like there's a missing 'OK' button so I can take a moment to reconsider before confirming and moving on..”
— User
ITERATION
A small detail that makes a big difference.
Adding a tick icon in the top-right corner is a subtle change that significantly improves the experience.
Let’s now take a look at the final design.
Final Design
This new feature enables users to rent out and rent second-hand toys directly through the platform. It addresses a growing need among parents for affordable, flexible access to toys without accumulating clutter at home. Instead of purchasing new items, users can choose to rent toys for a period of 3 to 6 weeks, making it ideal for short-term use or trying out new play options.
The process is simple and secure: users can publish a toy rental listing, set availability, fees, and a refundable deposit. Those renting pay a rental fee and a small platform service fee, ensuring a safe and transparent exchange for both sides.
Beyond its convenience, the feature promotes ecological responsibility by extending the lifespan of toys and reducing unnecessary consumption. For the business, it not only supports sustainable practices but also introduces a new revenue stream and increases user retention through added functionality and value.
Add an item
Search for an item
REFLECTIONS
Takeaways
This was my first project involving the integration of a new feature into an existing product — in this case, the well-established and widely recognized Vinted app. I had to adapt my concept and vision to fit within Vinted’s existing design system and user expectations.
The choice to design a toy rental feature was inspired by both my own experience as a parent and the needs expressed by other parents, combined with the app’s strong presence in Poland.
What I liked the most
Working on the Vinted toy rental feature was one of the most rewarding projects I’ve done — both creatively and strategically. Here’s what stood out:
1. Designing with Purpose
This feature directly responded to real user needs while promoting sustainable consumption. It felt meaningful to contribute to a solution that helps parents reduce clutter and encourages reuse over buying more.
2. Letting Research Shape the Direction
One of the most valuable takeaways was learning to pivot. My original idea was completely redefined through user interviews, showing me how essential research is in building the right thing — not just building it right.
3. Creating Within Real Constraints
Integrating a new feature into an existing product like Vinted required discipline. I had to align with their established design system, which taught me how to innovate while respecting brand consistency.
Although I began with a clear initial idea, research quickly challenged and reshaped it, showing me just how powerful user and market insights can be in influencing the direction of a project.
To propose a meaningful solution, I also needed to explore Vinted’s business model, along with similar platforms, to ensure the feature would bring value not just to users, but also to the business itself.
4. Balancing User & Business Goals
Beyond user experience, I explored the business side — including monetization, platform trust, and logistics. I aimed to design a feature that benefits both users and Vinted’s long-term strategy.
5. Iterating Based on Usability Testing
Seeing real users interact with the prototype brought the design to life. Their feedback directly shaped the final solution, and it was incredibly rewarding to implement improvements that made the product smoother and more intuitive.