Poshmark App: Usability & Social Discovery Redesign
UX Research & Interaction Design — Kent State University
UX Research & Interaction Design — Kent State University
Overview
An independent redesign proposal exploring how Poshmark could improve product discovery, seller credibility, and social connection within its existing app experience. The project focused on four core user tasks — browsing curated trends, shopping and searching, evaluating seller trustworthiness through reviews, and connecting with other local users — culminating in a new "Connect" feature concept.
An independent redesign proposal exploring how Poshmark could improve product discovery, seller credibility, and social connection within its existing app experience. The project focused on four core user tasks — browsing curated trends, shopping and searching, evaluating seller trustworthiness through reviews, and connecting with other local users — culminating in a new "Connect" feature concept.
Problem
Poshmark's current navigation buries valuable social and trust-building features, making it harder for users to find sellers they can trust or discover people with similar style. There was also room to improve accessibility for older users and those with fine motor limitations.
Poshmark's current navigation buries valuable social and trust-building features, making it harder for users to find sellers they can trust or discover people with similar style. There was also room to improve accessibility for older users and those with fine motor limitations.
Process
I started with rough sketches to work through initial ideas, then built a low-fidelity paper prototype to test the core structure of each task flow, iterating twice based on peer usability feedback before moving to digital wireframes.
I started with rough sketches to work through initial ideas, then built a low-fidelity paper prototype to test the core structure of each task flow, iterating twice based on peer usability feedback before moving to digital wireframes.
First iteration focused on establishing the core structure:
Renamed "Feed" to "Trends" — the original read more like a social scroll than a shopping experience
Introduced a toggle for Posh Shows/Parties, since these features frustrated users and led to accidental bids
Simplified product categories into a swipeable row rather than a long scroll
Second iteration responded directly to peer feedback:
Moved the search bar back to the top of the page — a peer noted that bottom placement, while reducing continuous scroll, broke user expectations for where search "should" be
Consolidated all social features into a single new "Connect" page, rather than scattering toggles and social icons across every section — reducing clutter and giving users one place to opt into the social side of the app
Removed "My City" and "My College" as filters, replacing them with a simple opt-in toggle for viewing local users, to better respect user privacy
Added recognizable platforms (Instagram, TikTok, Facebook) as friend-finding options within Connect, alongside existing contacts
Designed the review/seller page to lead with "About" and "Follow," shifting toward "See what others love" — reframing it around trust-building rather than generic seller info
From there, I moved into annotated digital wireframes, refining details like button size for accessibility and simplifying the icon set based on further peer testing, including:
Enlarging the "Categories" navigation buttons for improved accessibility
Removing a redundant heart icon from the Connect navigation to simplify the icon set
Adding visual clothing icons to Shop Categories to increase scannability
Introducing a seller review/ratings page (accessed via "View Profile") so buyers can evaluate credibility before purchasing
Designing a new "Connect" flow allowing users to opt into finding local sellers and buyers with similar style, including a social-proof confirmation moment
Outcome
The final flow demonstrates a lightweight but meaningful set of improvements: a trust-building seller reviews page, a more accessible navigation structure, and a new social discovery feature — all designed to fit naturally within Poshmark's existing visual language and information architecture.
The final flow demonstrates a lightweight but meaningful set of improvements: a trust-building seller reviews page, a more accessible navigation structure, and a new social discovery feature — all designed to fit naturally within Poshmark's existing visual language and information architecture.
