A solution to avoid cluttering the home with many toys.
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 rent toys from other parents? Instead of buying a new toy that might turn out to be a flop, it would be better to first borrow it for a small fee from someone whose child has already outgrown it.
TEAM
MY ROLE
DURATION
TOOLS
SKILLS
Individual
Product Design, Reasearch
90h
Figma, FigJam, Chat GPT
User Research, Testing
The problem
This project explores adding a new feature to the existing Vinted app, aiming to support more sustainable and flexible toy use. The challenge impacts three groups:
01. Toy Owners
Lack of space for unused toys
Gently used toys often go to waste
02. Toy Renters
High costs for toys with short-lived interest
Bought toys end up cluttering the home over time
Uncertainty if a toy will suit the child
03. Vinted as a Platform
Opportunity to expand into a new category
Proposed solution
To address these needs, I designed a toy rental feature within the Vinted app that allows users to rent or list second-hand toys for short-term use (3–6 weeks). It offers a simple, secure process with rental fees, deposits, and availability settings, making it easy for parents to try toys without long-term commitment.
The feature helps reduce household clutter, extends toy lifespans, and supports more sustainable consumption — while also opening a new category and revenue stream for Vinted.
The journey wasn’t easy — let me walk you through how I got there.
RESEARCH
Goals
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.
01. Evaluate how to integrate the swap feature into the existing platform
02. Identify pain points in traditional selling vs. swapping
Interviews
Details
Age: 30-53
All of them were Vinted and other selling apps users
#1 ASSUMPTION
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.
The initial idea was abandoned due to feasibility challenges and low user interest during interviews.
#2 ASSUMPTION
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 and refundable deposit.
#2 PAIN POINTS
From swapping to renting toys- second approach
Thanks to creating an affinity map, users' pain points became clearly visible.
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 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
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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
From a UX perspective, I decided to separate OLX from other Polish rental platforms due to a key difference in how users interact with each. OLX is a peer-to-peer marketplace with minimal structure or guidance — low cost but high cognitive load and risk. In contrast, toy rental platforms offer curated, secure experiences with clear flows and support, leading to higher trust but also higher costs. This difference significantly impacts user expectations, usability, and perceived safety.
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
Who am I designing for?
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. The most important information is marked with a circle.
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.
UI COMPARISON
How other platforms do it
I chose platforms like Amazon, OLX, eBay, and Facebook Marketplace for UI comparison because they all operate within a similar scope of services. They allow users to buy, sell, or rent physical items, often in a peer-to-peer or semi-professional context — just like Vinted.
By comparing Vinted’s UI with these platforms, I was able to identify best practices and UX gaps that informed my design decisions.
Adding an ad
These platforms share a similar structure and purpose, which makes them valuable for UI comparison. One detail I appreciated on OLX is the helpful tip in the category field: "Fill it in with the most important information when looking for such an item." It subtly guides user behavior without disrupting the flow.
Both OLX and Vinted prioritize visuals by placing photos at the top of the listing, enhancing engagement and clarity. In contrast, Facebook Marketplace leads with location, reflecting its hyper-local focus. These small UI differences reveal how platform priorities shape user experience.
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.
Landing page
Version 2 won.
In this case, I decided to stick with Vinted’s layout and keep the information box below the "Recommended for you" section.
Ad page
Version 2 won.
To avoid overwhelming the user, I used a rental icon on the product image and placed the explanation about how renting works at the bottom of the listing — allowing the product to capture attention first.
Payment page
Version 1 won.
Since the total price depends on the selected delivery option, it makes sense to display it underneath — where it can dynamically update as the user makes a choice.
#1 USABILITY TESTING
Key findings from low-fidelity wireframe testing
HIGH FIDELITY WIREFRAMES
Implementing improvements based on usability testing
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.
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.
Participants
5 in total,
diverse in age
not all were familiar with Vinted.
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.
OUTCOME
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.
OUTCOME
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.
OUTCOME
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. 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.
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.
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.
This project significantly contributed to my growth as a designer. It deepened my understanding of designing within real-world constraints — from adhering to an existing design system to aligning with business objectives. It also strengthened my ability to stay flexible, listen to users, and iterate with intention. More than anything, it taught me the importance of balancing creativity with strategy and how impactful user-centered thinking can be in shaping a valuable digital experience.
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.
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.