Second Hand Shadows

A native mobile app for iOS and Android to buy and sell second-hand clothing from alternative and subculture scenes.

Key screens across iOS (iPhone 13)

Case Study Summary

Overview

Second Hand Shadows is a concept native mobile app for iOS and Android designed to let people buy and sell second-hand clothing from alternative and subculture scenes. The project grew from a personal desire to sell used clothing, with a deliberate visual identity – dark background, white text – that reflects the aesthetic of its target community.

The problem

Existing second-hand platforms like Vinted and Shpock serve a broad general audience and don’t cater to the specific tastes, aesthetics, or community norms of alternative and subculture fashion. There was no dedicated space for this niche where buyers and sellers could find relevant items without filtering through unrelated listings.

Key screens across Android (Google Pixel 5)

Research and discovery

Market analysis focused on Vinted and Shpock, examining navigation patterns, key listing screens, home, search, saved items, and profile across both platforms. This informed decisions about what conventions to follow and where Second Hand Shadows could differentiate through a more focused, community-specific experience.

Design process

The project followed a full UX process: market analysis, three user flow maps (account creation; searching for a specific brand; adding an item to the shopping cart), low-fidelity wireframes, mid-fidelity wireframes for both iOS and Android, and user preference testing. The dark background and white text direction was validated by user testing, confirming the visual approach matched user expectations for the subculture audience. Native Android design patterns were researched throughout using the Material Design Guidelines.

Key screens

Both iOS and Android versions were designed in full, with platform-specific patterns applied to each. Key screens include home, search by brand, individual item listing, and shopping cart — designed and mocked up on iPhone 13 and Google Pixel 5 respectively.

Retrospective

This was the most personally meaningful project in the course — a direct representation of personal style and the concept most wanted as a real product. The main challenge was the unfamiliar territory of native Android design, addressed by working closely with the Material Design Guidelines throughout, which also deepened understanding of platform-specific design patterns.

Splash screen background photo by Lee Avison. Other images from free-use stock photography. Clothing photos by Jennifer Rothrock.