With apps like Poshmark, Mercari, and Facebook Market Place gaining substantial ground as digital listing platforms, it’s getting harder for Craigslist (1995) to stay top of mind as a place to buy, sell, and trade. What it lacks in branding and product features might pave way for its competitors to the lead.

“Looks like a place made to get scammed”

After surveying the general public, a lot of hesitation towards using Craigslist stemmed from lack of credibility and security regarding the platform. Both website and app were described as looking “sketchy”, “unreliable,”and “unofficial.”



“I can’t even stand looking at it for more than 5 seconds”

‍Participants also reported feeling overwhelmed and claustrophobic when looking at the platform. Many felt that the disorganization added to the “shadiness” of the brand and that it was difficult to navigate through.



Position Craigslist as a trustworthy and safe platform by developing in-app security measures to promote more transparency and accountability among users.Create newly modernized designs to revamp Craigslist’s aesthetic while simplifying navigation and still promoting the platform’s many functions.