I'm a huge nerd, always have been. I find a lot of things interesting, and my parents have always supported whatever hobbies I have including collecting anime figures, manga (Japanese comics), pinned butterflies and moths, and some other oddities amongst other things. My interests and hobbies are a big part of who I am, and I embrace them openly. I wanted to create this app after struggling to find a place to keep track of what volumes of manga I owned, on top of my anime figures, and various other collectables. Especially after the third or fourth time of buying the same copy of a manga I already had. I wanted a place where it was easy to access and update what I did or didn't have that was also easy to use. ~Paola Sanchez
In the collecting hobby, there is a small problem of people accidentally buying an extra copy of a collection piece. One of the main ways to prevent this from happening is for the collector to keep track of what’s in their collection, especially as the collection becomes larger. Over time it can become a hassle if they collect different types of things, considering that most apps and websites dedicated to tracking collections are only for specific collectables which causes a “hopping” issue, having to switch back and forth over and over when collections get updated, or when trying to see what they have. Collexion plans to change this and become a new app used within the collecting hobby.
The Data
This data received goes to show that this is a genuine problem for collectors as a general whole, especially when considering that most of these surveys were sent out in communities revolved around collecting online. Many of these collectors (81.5%) collect more than one type of collectable as well.
The Solution
Collexion is partially inspired by its competitors, mainly the features they use that don't seem to work really well, and remove them. Collexion also tries to condense the search results to fit more on each page without becoming overwhelming, as well as implement features such as multiple filters to allow more precise filtering of search results, a submenu for variations of the same items, a more user friendly User Interface, scanning of barcodes to quickly upload things to a user’s personal database, and a place showing promotional partners as well as promoting of small businesses and shops who are partners. On top of this, there would be more of a community foundation to the app, and a bit of a cleaner layout. This sort of model would, in theory, help collectors make the information they have on their collections more organized, and available at their fingertips.
The main thing that makes Collexion different is that it aims to become a fusion between all of these apps in its own way. For example, users have the ability to create what essentially function as “albums” for each collection. This would be a new experience for a lot of potential users, and would essentially be a personalized filter for their own collections. Collexion also has a focus on making the app easy to navigate and use. These points were addressed in the design stage, and the consumer was kept in mind in order to achieve this, and cover some pain points brought up during surveys regarding the existing competition to refer to as well.
Prototype Preview
MyFigureCollection
One of the more successful indirect competitors of Collexion, MyFigureCollection (usually shortened to MFC), is a database for collecting anime figures, and other goods that originate from Japan, and more recently, China and Korea. They have a very community driven platform, with their community and forum posts working very well for them, however, interacting with posts on the site is very confusing for people who are new to the site. Collexion would like to have a similar structure to community posts, but make it easier for the user to understand how to interact with posts (such as simplifying the interface, and making it clear what each button does). Another feature MFC has is the option to make a “Hunting” post for users who are “hunting” for a figure they want to buy either secondhand, or new. Another interesting feature MFC has is that every user has the ability to create new entries to the database, but these entries get moderated or monitored by staff and community members. These posts are also able to be edited by any user.
Discogs
Discogs is another indirect competitor to Collexion that is used by people who collect vinyl, cassettes, CDs, etc. Discogs has some interesting features that inspire Collexion, such as the ability to scan barcodes in-app, decent filtering, having sub-menus for variations of vinyl pressings (the different colors), and a section dedicated to finding, and supporting different record stores, such as independently, and woman owned. Collexion will be adopting the barcode scanning, a filter for variations, and a section that will allow users to find and support small businesses and the like. However, the filtering is surely a bit different, since Collexion will not be as niche as Discogs. These features for Discogs are both useful, and supportive, in regards to both the user base, and in supporting small businesses.
HobbyDB
HobbyDB is one of the few direct competitors, and a collecting database for many different types of collectable items. HobbyDB is maintained by its users in regards to the product databases. However, it does not seem to get updated a lot, as well as it does not necessarily keep up to date with new releases, whether it be hired staff for the app, or a community appointed staff team. Considering that Collexion and HobbyDB both focus on different types of collectables, on top of being able to buy and sell collectables on the app are the main similarities. Also, like Discogs, HobbyDB lists retailers, both big chain, and independent. HobbyDB also gives an estimate to how much the user’s collection is worth. However, the filtering on HobbyDB is rather difficult to actually filter in and out different results, and the search function is a bit hard to use effectively since there are not a lot of results shown on each page, meaning that it’s a bit difficult to sort through the results, by default. Collexion tries to condense the results to fit more on each page without becoming overwhelming. On top of this, there is more of a community foundation to the app, and a bit of a cleaner layout. This sort of model helps collectors make the information they have on their collections more organized, and available at their fingertips.
The Explorer
Nicole is a representation of the avid collector, the primary target audience. She is a 23 year old female from Chicago, Illinois. She also represents the Explorer, which represents people who like to look for things around them in the world, and discover new things to enrich their lives, and enjoy it while finding things they like, and purposefully look for new things. Nicole considers herself a collector of vinyl records and shoes, having an expansive collection of both. However, as her collection grows, Nicole finds it difficult to remember what she already owns in her collection, such as which variants of vinyls she owns. She has been looking for an app that can keep track of both of her collections that works for her, and has not been happy with any of the preexisting collecting apps. Nicole wants a platform where she can track both of her collections in one place, and with ease. Her collection is important to her, and she wants to keep it organized, and personalized. She also wants a place that can lead her to verified vendors or secondhand sales of shoes.
The Everyman
Jacob is a 26 year old male from Merrick, New York. He represents The Everyman, which is the average individual. He is an accountant who enjoys his free time doing what he enjoys after work, playing video games with his Internet friends. His goal currently is to save up for his dream car. When he hangs out with his college friends, they typically stop by their local comic shop, where he looks for a specific comic that he collects, and some trading cards. As an accountant, and wanting his dream car, Jacob has some interest in seeing how much his collection of trading cards have any value. He just wants to find an easier way of doing it, where he can see the value of both collections in one place, considering the rising value of trading cards currently, and he would not necessarily mind finding someone else who likes the same comic as him. When he used a card value checking website that already exists, it was a bit hard to use. His other main reason for looking for a platform to add his collection to is to prevent himself from buying a duplicate copy of an issue of the comic by accident again, he had happened once before already, and does not want it to happen again.
Relevance
Collecting has been a hobby for people for a very long time, however it mostly consciously started in the 1970s according to the research conducted beforehand. There have been some studies done since then that prove that collecting makes people generally happy, and hold some sort of sentimental value to the collector. Having collections also makes people feel truly at home, and comfortable in their own living environments or spaces. Human’s typically have an urge to collect something. However, the reasons people collect things can range from many different things. There has been a trend of people using collectible items as an investment, as they have a chance of gaining value over time, for example. 32% percent of collectors actually collect things to sell them later on. This is because people, being people, have different feelings and opinions on the topic. As a matter of fact, people can legally insure their collectibles in case something were to happen to them. The market in collectibles has always been relatively successful, in regards to profit. Even things that are considered daily items, like PEZ candy dispensers, or garden gnomes can be considered collectibles by someone, and usually, the older or rarer it is, the more value it has within those surrounding collecting communities. A lot of people actually have valuable collection pieces in their homes and have no idea. However, there has been a recent issue with a hike in bootlegs, or fake recreations of collectibles. And they have gotten rather good at looking almost exactly like the original. This becomes a problem because these bootlegs or recreations decrease the value of the authentic pieces as buyers will become skeptical and less willing to spend money if they know about these bootlegs. Also, for specific markets, the purchasing of these collectibles supports artists, and things they create, or help give people jobs they wouldn’t have otherwise.