A unified digital space where collectors connect, trade, and celebrate vinyl culture through shared passion and sound.
Role: Co-Designer with Doğa Deniz Çıkman
Tools: Figma, Miro, User Interviews, Empathy Mapping, Paper Prototyping
Duration: 12 Weeks
Focus: Community Building, Marketplace Design, Music Culture
Overview
Vinyl record collecting is growing across generations—but digital tools haven’t caught up. Enthusiasts use separate platforms to buy records, chat with fellow collectors, and showcase their setups. This fragmentation weakens the sense of community and adds friction to a joyful hobby.
ViN is a social platform built specifically for vinyl collectors, combining marketplace features, collection sharing, personalized discovery, and community interaction—all in one place.
The platform is designed to:
🎧 Simplify the collecting journey
🛍️ Build a secure space to buy/sell records
💬 Bring collectors together through forums, messages, and shared stories
Whether you’re trading a rare pressing, posting your shelf setup, or just chatting about jazz, ViN gives vinyl culture the digital home it deserves.
System Architecture
Core Users
Collectors (Beginners to Experts) – Looking for safe buying, social validation, and music discovery
Sellers – Need trustworthy, easy-to-manage tools to reach like-minded buyers
Casual Listeners – Curious to explore vinyl culture in a welcoming space
Key Platform Features
Home Feed – Social sharing of collections, videos, setups, and finds
Marketplace – Peer-to-peer selling with trust systems and record tagging
Community Forums – Threads for genres, eras, gear, care tips, and more
Messaging System – Private chats for buyers, sellers, and friends
Smart Recommendations – Discover records based on tastes and collection behavior
Impacts
Cultural
Celebrates and preserves the culture of analog music collecting
Fosters global connections between vinyl lovers
Social
Creates a vibrant, trusted space for meaningful interaction
Encourages peer-to-peer learning and advice
Economic
Supports small sellers and collectors monetizing their collections
Drives ethical trading through transparent community systems
User Flow Examples:
Prototype:
*if the prototype is not working click here.
Reflection
ViN taught me that sometimes the best design isn’t about inventing something new, it’s about stitching together what already exists in people’s habits and desires. By unifying trading, showcasing, and discussion into a single space, we gave vinyl collectors what they were missing: digital warmth for their analog love.
Berk Yiğit Demirel 