Kilana: A Social Marketplace

Three questions to the project team

What was the particular challenge of the project from a UX point of view?
A major challenge was integrating diverse features—social interaction, event discovery, and shopping—into a cohesive, intuitive user experience, all while managing limited resources and time. Designing user flows to help buyers discover local sellers, connect, and make purchases without feeling overwhelmed required careful planning and testing. We also balanced seller and buyer needs, ensuring features like sustainability, messaging, and product displays were effective and accessible. To keep the app user-friendly, we conducted competitive analyses, interviews, and surveys to understand user needs. These efforts helped us refine the design into a more intuitive, engaging experience tailored to our diverse user base.

What was your personal highlight in the development process? Was there an aha!-moment, was there a low point?
Our highlight in the development process was realizing how beneficial the app would be for both sellers and buyers. Sellers could more easily manage and grow their businesses, while buyers could better discover and support local communities. Research showed that millennials and Gen Z prefer shopping locally but struggle to find small businesses nearby. Further research confirmed the app’s potential to strengthen local economies as it would help connect the community more easily. Through surveys and interviews, we learned that a majority of sellers wanted a platform distinct from Etsy or Shopify—something that would help reduce the burden of managing their shops and promoting them on social media.

Where do you see yourself and the project in the next five years?
In the next five years, we aim to have built a strong and engaged following for Kilana. Our goal is to foster deeper, more authentic connections within communities, going beyond the typical online interactions. We also hope for the app to become a vital resource for small business owners, helping them manage stress and prevent burnout. By connecting users with local sellers, our goal is to reduce the carbon footprint of shipping and inspire small businesses to adopt eco-friendly packaging and materials, supporting sustainable practices. Ultimately, we want to see small businesses and their communities thrive, all while contributing positively to the planet in every way we can.