Domain Search and Secure Transfer
Design a marketplace where founders can find an available domain or make a protected offer on one already owned.
The brief
Understand the problem
Background
A domain may be available at a standard registration fee, listed by an owner, or unavailable with no sale path. Buyers need transparent renewal costs and transfer status, while sellers must prove control without exposing account credentials.
User context
Andre is naming a new studio and has a fixed budget. His first choice is seller-listed, so he wants to compare alternatives before making a protected offer.
Product problem
Domain transactions mix search, ownership verification, negotiation, recurring fees, and technical transfer steps that are easy to misunderstand.
Objective
Design domain discovery, listing evaluation, offer and escrow, and transfer tracking for one purchase.
What to design
Define the experience
Required experience
- Search a name across supported extensions
- Compare registration, resale, renewal, and transfer costs
- Make or accept an offer through protected payment
- Track registrar transfer and confirm control
Screens and states
- Domain search results
- Listed domain detail
- Offer and checkout
- Transfer tracker
Core user flow
Follow the critical path
- 01
Andre searches his preferred studio name
- 02
He compares the listed domain with three available alternatives
- 03
He submits an expiring offer within budget
- 04
After acceptance, he follows the transfer checklist until control is verified
Product rules
Requirements and constraints
Requirements
- Distinguish registration inventory from owner-listed domains
- Expose first-year, renewal, brokerage, escrow, and transfer fees
- Verify seller control without requesting passwords
- Provide a staged transfer tracker with dispute support
Constraints
- A search result cannot guarantee trademark clearance
- Funds remain protected until defined transfer conditions are met
- Offer expiry and counteroffer rules must be explicit
Reality check
States worth considering
Finish line
What to deliver
- Four desktop-first screens spanning search through verified transfer
Optional direction
Visual resources
Use these as a starting constraint if you want one. They are not part of the required solution.