Industry

Industry

B2C

B2C

Client

Client

SquadSave

SquadSave

Role

Role

Product Designer

Product Designer

Year

Year

2026

2026

Standardizing Trust in the Informal economy

A B2C marketplace experience that helps users safely discover, trust, and pay service providers - while clearly handling uncertainty, payment failure, and disputes.

My story -> Research

Last year, I moved into a new city. I couldn’t enjoy my new apartment from the get go because there were technical issues to fix; the lamp holders were non-existent, no socket to plug my phone, and the window net were torn.

I spent hours asking neighbors for numbers, tracing artisans homes and workplaces; only to be met with "ghosting," technicians who arrived hours late without the right tools, and haggling over prices before, during, and after the work even began.

Frustrated from this experience, I did a survey speaking to about 30 young people who have move into new cites and they stated having faced similiar problems. Their responses alongside my experiences brought about Fixa

Goals

Goals

A fintech mobile app

A fintech mobile app

For homeowners, hiring a technician is a high-anxiety event. There is no price transparency, no accountability for techncal failures, and a constant fear of being overcharged or scammed.

Business Goals

Business Goals

The informal service is highly fragmented. Without standardization, its impossible to scale. How do you create a marketplace where quality is a measurable metric and payment is guaranteed only upon satisfation?

Business Objectives

Business Objectives

The goal was to build Fixa: a B2C marketplace that provides technical and home maintenance services.

  1. Standardize pricing: Remove the 'haggle tax".

  2. Ensure safety: 100% verified technical specialists.

  3. Guarantee quality: An escrow -backed payment system that protects both parties.

My story -> Research

Last year, I moved into a new city. I couldn’t enjoy my new apartment from the get go because there were technical issues to fix; the lamp holders were non-existent, no socket to plug my phone, and the window net were torn.

I spent hours asking neighbors for numbers, tracing artisans homes and workplaces; only to be met with "ghosting," technicians who arrived hours late without the right tools, and haggling over prices before, during, and after the work even began.

Frustrated from this experience, I did a survey speaking to about 30 young people who have move into new cites and they stated having faced similiar problems. Their responses alongside my experiences brought about Fixa

My Process

My Process

Discovery

After struggling to find reliable artisans in a new city, I identified a core problem: trust. I mapped user anxiety against business goals to create a scalable B2C product that standardizes home repairs.

After struggling to find reliable artisans in a new city, I identified a core problem: trust. I mapped user anxiety against business goals to create a scalable B2C product that standardizes home repairs.

Define

I narrowed the scope to a high-impact MVP, pioritizing the "Itemized Service Cart" and escrow-backed payments that directly solve the core trust problem. This stage is about filtering the the noise to focus on what really matter for both users and artisans.

I narrowed the scope to a high-impact MVP, pioritizing the "Itemized Service Cart" and escrow-backed payments that directly solve the core trust problem. This stage is about filtering the the noise to focus on what really matter for both users and artisans.

Design

My design phase starts with logic-testing and flow iteration using Google AI Studio to simulate various use cases and edge cases. This allowed me to stress-test the product's architecture before moving into Figma for high-fidelity execution.

My design phase starts with logic-testing and flow iteration using Google AI Studio to simulate various use cases and edge cases. This allowed me to stress-test the product's architecture before moving into Figma for high-fidelity execution.

AI-first workflow

I used AI to quickly generate visuals assets and create thoughtful copy for difficult moments like payment failure. This significantly accelerated design speed without sacrificing quality.

I used AI to quickly generate visuals assets and create thoughtful copy for difficult moments like payment failure. This significantly accelerated design speed without sacrificing quality.

Testing

I test the high-fidelity prototype with users to ensure the product felt secure and intuitive for both home-owners and artisans. And that a product can have complexities but still be simple to use.

I test the high-fidelity prototype with users to ensure the product felt secure and intuitive for both home-owners and artisans. And that a product can have complexities but still be simple to use.

Wireframes

Wireframes

I started the first wireframming of the product using Google AI Studio

I started the first wireframming of the product using Google AI Studio

Approach & Rationale

Approach & Rationale

Discovery

Discovery

The app makes discovery for new artisans easy, with segmented categoies.

The app makes discovery for new artisans easy, with segmented categoies.

Building trust

Building trust

For B2C products, trust is key to drive sales. And that's why for this product, for each artisan, users get clear details about them. Pictures of their works, ratings with context and review, Also, there's a store feature to create a multi trust system.

For B2C products, trust is key to drive sales. And that's why for this product, for each artisan, users get clear details about them. Pictures of their works, ratings with context and review, Also, there's a store feature to create a multi trust system.

Itemized service cart

Itemized service cart

I moved away from vague bookings. By itemizing services (e.g. Fix sockets + AC Gas Refill), I created immediate proce transparency. The technician knows exactly what tools to pack, and the user knows exactly what they are paying for.

I moved away from vague bookings. By itemizing services (e.g. Fix sockets + AC Gas Refill), I created immediate proce transparency. The technician knows exactly what tools to pack, and the user knows exactly what they are paying for.

Escrow + Code bridge

Escrow + Code bridge

To solve the trust gap, I designed an escrow system. Funds are locked in safe until your work is done. The work process is tracked for transparency.

Funds are released when the user gives a 4-digit code to the artisan. This serves as a digital handshake and the signature of satisfaction.

To solve the trust gap, I designed an escrow system. Funds are locked in safe until your work is done. The work process is tracked for transparency.

Funds are released when the user gives a 4-digit code to the artisan. This serves as a digital handshake and the signature of satisfaction.

Designing edge cases and messy realities

Designing edge cases and messy realities

I n every product, things don't always go smoothly. Payment fails, or an artisan might be out of range.

My approach for Fixa:

  • Micro-copies that guides and reassures

  • Zero dead ends. I provide clear option for the user to continue.

  • Clear dispute and resolution tracker.

In every product, things don't always go smoothly. Payment fails, or an artisan might be out of range.

My approach for Fixa:

  • Micro-copies that guides and reassures

  • Zero dead ends. I provide clear option for the user to continue.

  • Clear dispute and resolution tracker.

Impact

Impact

By standardizing the interaction between home owners and technical and service professionals, the projects achieves three major pillars of impact

By standardizing the interaction between home owners and technical and service professionals, the projects achieves three major pillars of impact

Impact 1

Restoring the "Trust Dividend"

Restoring the "Trust Dividend"

In Nigeria, the "Trust Tax" is high. Users spend extra time, money and emotional energy vetting strangers. Fixa eliminates this. By implementing the Escrow-to-Code handover, the user feels a psychological shift form anxiety to agency. There is a system that now holds artisan accountable.

In Nigeria, the "Trust Tax" is high. Users spend extra time, money and emotional energy vetting strangers. Fixa eliminates this. By implementing the Escrow-to-Code handover, the user feels a psychological shift form anxiety to agency. There is a system that now holds artisan accountable.

Impact 2

Economic Empowerment for Technical Specialists

Economic Empowerment for Technical Specialists

For the artisan, the impact is life-changing:

  • Liquidity & Growth: By removing haggling, specialists are paid the true value of their skill.

  • Reputation as Currency: The reviews transforms an unknown plumber into a Top-Rated Technical Specialist, allowing them to build a digital resume that exists outside of neighborhoodword-of-mouth.

For the artisan, the impact is life-changing:

  • Liquidity & Growth: By removing haggling, specialists are paid the true value of their skill.

  • Reputation as Currency: The reviews transforms an unknown plumber into a Top-Rated Technical Specialist, allowing them to build a digital resume that exists outside of neighborhoodword-of-mouth.

Impact 3

Formalizing the Informal Sector

Formalizing the Informal Sector

By itemizing services into a Service-as-a-Cart model, we move from a chaotic informal market to a standardized,data-driven ecosystem. This provides the business with the metrics needed to scale.

By itemizing services into a Service-as-a-Cart model, we move from a chaotic informal market to a standardized,data-driven ecosystem. This provides the business with the metrics needed to scale.

Key Insights

Key Insights

In emerging markets, Security is the primary feature. The most beautiful UI in the world won't save a marketplace if the user doesn't believe their money is safe.

By making the Escrow Vault, a visible, persistent part of the experience, Fixa transforms from an app into a trusted partner.

Learnings

Learnings

This project taught me that design is business logic made visual.

Fixa required me to think like a mediator, a user, and a technician all at once.

I learned that standardizing an informal economy isn't about changing how people work; it’s about providing a digital framework that makes being reliable the most profitable option.

More UI Screens

More UI Screens

Create a free website with Framer, the website builder loved by startups, designers and agencies.