The Problem and Motivation Behind
“I realised that buying second-hand books was frustrating. You had to search through WeChat groups, contact multiple sellers, and there was no way to check the book’s quality. We thought—why not create a platform that simplifies this process?” Tian Ye.
Tian Ye (21-year-old) and her team are university students. They experienced firsthand a common problem among their classmates—buying or selling second-hand textbooks was much harder than it needed to be. Information was scattered across many online chatting groups, and there was no single place to check book availability or condition. As a result, many students gave up and ended up buying new books instead. For Tian Ye and her team, the problem was not only about convenience but also about sustainability. Printing new books uses a lot of paper and resources, even though many second-hand books are still in good condition and can be reused. “Students don’t use books much, yet new ones are printed every year—wasting resources. Many are willing to buy used ones to save money,” Tian Ye explained.
The Innovative Solution
“We want to create a platform where students can buy the second-hand books they want in one go .. this platform will consolidate all the information and make the process easier for everyone.” – Tian Ye
When Tian Ye and her team joined the Youth Innovation Lab, they chose to work on a solution that minimises the time and energy students spent searching for second-hand books, and reduces waste in producing new books. Using the Design Thinking process, they began by identifying pain points through their own experiences and their peers. They conducted interviews with a sample of students at their universities from different detartrates. They generated different ideas for developing an online platform tailored for students to buy and sell used second-hand books within their campus. They then developed a prototype for this platform, including its interface and features, such as searchable listings, user ratings, and books’ condition disclosures to ensure transparency and ease of use.
Their prototype received positive feedback from the mentors and judges in the Youth Innovation Lab (YIL) for its practicality and environmental benefits. They planned to ask support from university and other green organisations in developing this platform. However, their solution remained as a prototype due to the lack of financial resources. “When we finished with the YIL event, the project ended. We didn’t have enough funding, or the support to continue … We needed funds to buy some initial books, conduct field research, and cover basic operational costs. Without that, it was hard to keep going,” Tian Ye explained. Additionally, COVID-19restrictions did not enable the team to continue developing their solution.
Lessons Learned and Addressing Challenges
“Before YIL, I had no idea how to design a product from the user’s point of view. I learned how to identify pain points, and how important that is when you’re trying to solve a real problem,” Tian Ye.
Through the Youth Innovation Lab, Tian Ye and her team received training and mentorship support that introduced them to Design Thinking and enabled them to practice it in a real-world setting. They also go chance to visit a company committed to sustainability-focused businesses and observe how they integrate social and environmental goals in their strategies. “That was a big opportunity. I got to see how sustainable businesses are run,” Tian Ye added.
Personally, Tian Ye found that developing this solution aligned perfectly with Tian’s background in environmental engineering and sociology. “This project helped me connect my major with real-world impact. I now want to continue working in environmental protection and green development,” Tian Ye explained.
Tian Ye and her team faced multiple challenges that prevented them from fully launching the platform, including
- COVID-19 restrictions – The final stages of the project were supposed to be developed on-campus, but due to pandemic restrictions, the YIL event moved online, making implementation difficult
- lack of funding – The team needed initial capital to buy and resell a small stock of second-hand books to kickstart the marketplace.
Next Steps and Future Aspirations
While the second-hand book platform hasn’t progressed beyond its initial stage, Tian Ye is determined to revive working on this solution with new team. She intent to recruited new team members who have skills in developing online platforms and they can train rest of the team how to manage it. She hopes to revisit the platform idea in the future or develop similar initiatives that connect everyday actions with larger sustainability goals. “It made me think differently about the future. Now, I look at problems and think: what’s the real need here, and how can I meet it in a sustainable way?” Tian Ye added.
Additionally, Tian Ye continued her journey in environmental advocacy. Inspired by this solution, she joined another initiative focused on water pollution and sustainable community development. Her vision remains grounded in the values that shaped this solution: community service, green innovation, and digital solutions.