Catawiki

Designing the thrill of the bid

When I joined Catawiki, the company was already Europe’s leading platform for rare and collectible objects. From art and watches to classic cars and comics, it was a place where passion met value. But the mobile experience didn’t yet capture that same excitement.

We wanted to change that.

I led the design of Catawiki’s mobile apps for iOS and Android, translating the energy of live auctions into something that felt fast, trustworthy, and distinctly human. The goal was simple: make bidding on the go feel as seamless and exciting as being in the room.

We built real-time auction interactions that kept users engaged without overwhelming them—clear hierarchies, intuitive feedback, and elegant motion that turned tense bidding moments into pure flow. The interface needed to feel alive yet stable, even as prices shifted second by second.

At the same time, I worked on redesigning the main web platform to unify the experience across devices. We refined discovery, simplified payments, and gave sellers better tools to manage their listings. Every detail was about confidence—knowing where you stand, what you’re bidding on, and when to act.

By focusing on speed, clarity, and emotion, we helped grow Catawiki’s mobile contribution from a small slice of traffic to the majority of user engagement. Bidding activity increased sharply, reviews improved, and the app became a core part of Catawiki’s international growth.

What started as a redesign became something bigger—a way to make online auctions feel less transactional and more like what they truly are: moments of anticipation, connection, and discovery.