Helpmate is a mobile marketplace that allows users in Canada to find and hire verified artisans and handymen. The platform includes identity verification and an escrow payment system to protect both clients and service providers.

This project was built as an MVP to validate product market fit, test trust mechanisms, and streamline the hiring experience for home services.

My Role: UX Product Designer Tools Used: Figma, LottieFiles, Miro, FigJam

Hiring local artisans often comes with uncertainty. Users struggle with trust, unclear pricing, and payment risks. Artisans face delayed payments and unreliable clients.

The challenge was to design a simple, trust centered experience that reduces friction while protecting both sides of the marketplace.

• Validate demand for a verified artisan marketplace • Build trust through verification and escrow • Simplify the booking and payment process • Ensure clarity for both users and artisans • Deliver a lightweight, scalable first version

Using Miro and FigJam, I mapped:

• User journeys for both clients and artisans • Pain points in existing service marketplaces • Trust triggers and decision making moments • Key drop off risks in booking and payments

Key Insight: Trust and transparency were more important than feature depth at MVP stage.

Verification badges were prominently displayed on artisan profiles. Identity and skill verification were clearly explained to reduce anxiety.

Why: Trust drives conversion in service marketplaces.

Trade Off: We limited profile customization in MVP to focus on clarity and verification signals.

The booking flow was reduced to essential steps: Choose service → Select artisan →Confirm details → Send Request→ Escrow Funded.

Why: Reducing cognitive load increases completion rates.

Trade Off: Advanced scheduling and negotiation features were postponed to keep the flow clean.

The escrow system was visually explained using simple progress states and micro animations created with LottieFiles in Figma.

States included: Payment secured → Service in progress → Work completed → Funds released.

Why: Clear system status builds confidence for both parties.

Trade Off: Complex dispute management flows were simplified in MVP.

I used Lottie animations for:

• Payment confirmation • Verification success states • Booking completion • Error and feedback states

Why: Subtle motion improves clarity and perceived quality.

Impact: The app feels modern, responsive, and trustworthy without adding heavy visual noise.

• Limited development resources • Focus on core features only • No advanced rating analytics • Basic communication system

The priority was validation, not feature completeness.

• Created a clear and friction reduced booking experience • Established trust through visible verification and escrow transparency • Delivered developer ready interaction systems • Designed scalable UX foundations for future feature expansion • Positioned Helpmate as a secure alternative to informal hiring channels

The MVP successfully balanced usability, trust, and simplicity while laying the groundwork for future iterations such as in app messaging upgrades, dynamic pricing, and dispute resolution flows.

• Trust mechanisms must be visually obvious in marketplace products • Escrow systems require clear status communication • Micro interactions significantly improve perceived reliability • Simplicity is critical in early stage marketplace MVPs