Brainstorming process

After our initial brainstorming session, we revisited the mural from last week (Brainstorming detail MS2) to refine our ideas. With a few days of perspective, we noticed that some concepts could be reorganized and that certain ideas were repeated. As a result, we made slight adjustments to the structure and introduced the red boxes seen in the next image to highlight the features that best define and encapsulate each section. This process provided us with a clearer and more structured vision of how we want our solution to evolve.

Decision process

For this section, we used the decision-making technique called "The four lenses framework". This approach helped us categorize ideas based on different perspectives and criteria to ensure a well-rounded solution.

• The Rational Choice: Applying filters based on the price and ranking for each category -> This idea is categorized as the Rational Choice because it's the most straightforward and achievable option given the current resources and conditions. Students often have limited budgets, so filtering by price allows them to find materials within their financial means quickly. Additionally, ranking-based filters help users identify the most reliable and high-quality items, reducing uncertainty when purchasing second-hand materials.

• The Most Likely to Delight: Including e-pay, a “Follow Seller” button with notifications for new products, and a comment section for each product -> This ideas are likely to delight users because they offer a more personalized and engaging experience. E-payment integration enhances convenience and security by allowing seamless transactions without requiring cash exchanges. The ability to follow a seller and receive notifications ensures that users stay updated on new listings from trusted sources, helping them secure materials before others. The comment section adds transparency, allowing buyers to ask questions and see feedback from previous purchasers.

• The Darling: Hiding unavailable products, enabling a chat feature for buyers and sellers to arrange meetups, and restricting access to university members via institutional email verification -> This ideas are our team's favorites because they align with personal preferences and possibly the values of the team (e.g., be a trustfull app for our users). Automatically removing unavailable items prevents users from wasting time on listings that are no longer relevant. The in-app chat feature simplifies the negotiation and coordination process, making transactions smoother. Restricting access to university members ensures a trusted and secure environment, reducing the risk of scams and fostering a community-driven marketplace.

• The Long Shot: Encouraging students, teachers, administrative staff, and university workers to buy and sell through the platform -> This idea is placed in the Long Shot category because it involves significant complexity and risk. Even though expanding the user base beyond students increases the availability and variety of items, sellers and customers, creating a user-friendly platform that effectively caters to such diverse personas—each with different needs, behaviors, and levels of tech proficiency—would be extremely difficult. Balancing accessibility, usability, and relevance for all these groups adds a layer of complexity that makes this idea ambitious but challenging to implement successfully.

Empathy maps

Personas

Evidence

As additional evidence of our classwork, we have included an image showcasing the creation of the latest persona during our session.

Solution description

To promote a circular economy, reduce environmental impact, and meet students' financial needs, we propose a dedicated university marketplace for buying and selling academic materials. Unlike general second-hand marketplaces, this platform would provide a secure, university-exclusive environment, ensuring trust among buyers and sellers. The marketplace will be especially beneficial for students looking to save on study expenses or generate extra income by reselling materials they no longer need.

The solution will take the form of a mobile app, allowing students to easily create an account and access two main functionalities: browsing available products and listing their own materials for sale.

Key Features & Functionality

• Secure University-Only Access: A standout feature of the app is its exclusive access, requiring a Uniandes email for registration. This measure enhances security and ensures all users are verified members of the university community, increasing trust in transactions.

• Comprehensive Product Listings: Students can view product names, descriptions, images, and seller contact information (email and optional phone/WhatsApp). Efficient Search & Filtering: Users can find academic materials by searching through keywords, filtering by program, category, or course, making it easier to locate specific items.

• Transaction Confirmation & Inventory Management: Once a sale is completed, both buyers and sellers can confirm the transaction, removing the item from the marketplace to keep listings up to date.

By addressing financial constraints and sustainability concerns, this marketplace will provide a reliable, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly alternative for academic material exchange within the Uniandes community.