This research thesis explores how user experience (UX) design can empower home bakers in Kerala by strengthening connections with customers through a dedicated hyper-local digital platform. The study investigates the operational, legal, and trust-related challenges faced by home bakers, including fragmented order management, delivery coordination, customer acquisition, and compliance with food safety regulations. Situated within the context of Kerala’s growing home-baking ecosystem, the research examines how digital design interventions might support small-scale entrepreneurs while maintaining the trust-based relationships that characterize many home-based businesses.

Using a mixed-methods approach that combines surveys, semi-structured interviews, case study analysis, literature review, and participatory user testing, the research identifies key stakeholder needs and evaluates existing tools commonly used by home bakers. Insights from the research informed the development of a UX-driven platform concept and a series of low-fidelity prototypes designed to support customer discovery, trust-building, order management, delivery coordination, and regulatory guidance. User testing with home bakers and customers along with the consultation with a lead engineer provided feedback that informed subsequent design refinements and revealed both opportunities and challenges related to platform adoption.

The findings suggest that while digital systems may help improve visibility, communication, and operational workflows, they also raise important questions concerning platform dependency, user adoption, governance, and the preservation of personal customer relationships. The project therefore positions the proposed platform not as a definitive solution, but as a design exploration that investigates how digital tools might support localized entrepreneurial ecosystems. By connecting practical design work with theoretical perspectives on hyper-local economies, trust, and sustainability, the thesis contributes to a broader understanding of the opportunities and limitations of digital platforms in supporting community-based entrepreneurship.

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