Kanopy

Kanopy is a platform designed to enhance community engagement, provide operational insights, and streamline the search and application process for vendors and event organizers.

Project Outline

Problem

There is currently no centralized platform that helps vendors find local markets to sell at while also assisting organizers in screening and approving quality vendors.

Goal

To design an accessible and centralized platform that simplifies the process of searching for events, signing up, and obtaining application approval for vendors and event organizers.

Deliverables

Courtney Carlos

Madison McCrory

Method

Time

UX/UI Design Thinking

4 weeks

Mid-Fidelity Prototype

Team Members

Yachica Williams

Mariah Salinas

Lauren Dunn

Adam Leon

Pitch Your Tent

"Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works." — Steve Jobs

Our team was assigned this project to complete over four weeks, culminating in a mid-fidelity mobile prototype and a presentation of our design process. The primary objective was to gain hands-on experience using Figma to develop a mobile prototype while applying the Design Thinking process.

Kanopy was envisioned as both a mobile app and website, combining elements from Instagram and Yelp to improve the experience for vendors and event coordinators. The goal was to create a platform that facilitates vendor applications, supports quality event hosting, and strengthens the small business community.

Many vendors struggle to find local events that align with their target audience, while event organizers often face challenges in verifying vendor quality. By developing a centralized platform, Kanopy aims to foster a thriving small business ecosystem and capitalize on the growing vendor marketplace economy.

“Resale activity represents a $24 billion industry and poses a challenge to both traditional brick-and-mortar retail and e-commerce. This market is projected to grow to $51 billion by 2023.”

— United Flea Markets

“Over the years, shopping has become an experienceless transaction. A day at a flea market, however, offers more than just discounts—it’s an opportunity for discovery and community engagement.”

— Ali Longwell, ColoradoBiz

Design Thinking

Phase 1: Empathize

Defining Our Users: Vendors & Organizers

We began by brainstorming user traits and behaviors, identifying two primary archetypes:

  • The Vendor: Individuals seeking to sell their products at local markets.

  • The Organizer: Event coordinators looking to attract quality vendors.

Due to time constraints, we focused on the vendor experience for this project.

Surveying the Market: Understanding Vendor Challenges

To gain insights into vendor needs, we conducted a Google survey targeting experienced flea market vendors. Our research focused on four core themes to better understand user motivations, challenges, and expectations.

Design Thinking

Phase 1: Empathize

Analyzing the Market: The Gap in Vendor Planforms

Our analysis revealed a gap in the market—no large-scale platform effectively connects vendors with event opportunities. The closest competitor, Vendorz, is no longer active, while other platforms have outdated interfaces and limited event listings.

Making Sense of User Feedback: Key Discoveries

After collecting survey responses, we structured our data into an affinity map. By categorizing key insights, we were able to visualize user needs, identify pain points, and translate data into actionable insights.

Creating Addison Jones: A Vendor Persona

Based on our research, we developed Addison Jones, a fictional representation of our target vendor. Addison frequently sees local markets on Instagram but struggles to determine which ones align with her business and target audience.

Visualizing Thoughts & Feelings: The Empathy Map

To deepen our understanding of Addison’s perspective, we created an Empathy Map, summarizing her thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. This helped us step into her shoes and design a user-centric experience that improves engagement and retention.

Design Thinking

Phase 1: Empathize

From Discovery to Success: Addison’s Journey

We mapped out Addison’s journey from discovering Kanopy to successfully setting up her first market stall. This process highlighted key user touchpoints and areas for improvement, such as incentivizing continued app usage. One idea we explored was a vendor rating system that rewards highly-rated users with priority application approvals.

A Visual Narrative: How Vendors Use Kanopy

To further illustrate Addison’s experience, we created a user scenario storyboard in comic format. This helped communicate the product’s impact in a clear and engaging way.

What Matters Most? Prioritizing Kanopy’s Features

With a strong understanding of user needs, we brainstormed potential app features and ranked them based on feasibility and impact. This matrix allowed us to focus on high-value features while setting aside less essential or impractical ideas.

Delivering Value: How Kanopy Meets User Needs

To demonstrate Kanopy’s market potential to future stakeholders, we created a Value Proposition Matrix. This visual framework connects user pain points with the benefits Kanopy provides, reinforcing the platform’s long-term value.

Design Thinking

Phase 1: Empathize

Information Architecture

Before designing our prototypes, we outlined the information architecture to establish a clear navigation path. Our design focused on guiding users through the following steps:

  1. Opening the app

  2. Navigating to the events page

  3. Filtering events by type

  4. Selecting an event

  5. Submitting an application

Prototyping Kanopy: Version 1

Each team member created a mid-fidelity prototype in Figma, following the defined user flow. After evaluating our designs, we selected Mariah’s prototype for presentation. Her design effectively implemented our research findings, offering an intuitive and visually appealing interface.

Design Thinking

Phase 1: Empathize

Usability Testing Plan

A Usability Testing plan was put together to guide us as we observed volunteers using our prototypes. words heres as welll XXXX

Our goal for users was to complete the following tasks:

1. Navigate to Events page

2. Filter events by “Children’s”

3. View event details

5. Apply

Prototyping Kanopy: Update based on iterations?

Our project began with a jam session in Figma to brainstorm traits and behaviors that we believe our users would have for our app. Initially, Community Compass was focused on being a resource for the unhoused or for those of very low socioeconomic status and our Proto Persona reflected that perception.