OVERVIEW
2 UX Researcher
1 UX Designer
1 Visual Designer
2 Web Developers
TEAM
Wanderlust
Collaborated within a team to develop a mobile application centered around pre-made itineraries, aiming to empower individuals globally to share their travel experiences with like-minded individuals who share similar interests.
ROLE
TIMELINE
PROJECT
UX/UI Designer
5 weeks
Academic
Coursework
We decided to establish an inclusive and vibrant community where diverse travelers can craft itineraries, fostering an environment that encourages creativity and the sharing of common interests.
FRAMING THE PROBLEM
Brainstorming
As this course unfolded in the summertime, our focus revolved around the theme of travel. Delving into the perspective of travelers, we initiated a brainstorming session to identify potential challenges they commonly face.
AND SO WE ASK. . .
How might we enable novice and seasoned travelers to plan their day effectively to ensure seamless and enjoyable travel experiences?
A family man who needs to organize their vacation
A young individual new to traveling
RESEARCH
Scoping the project
In defining the scope of our project, we formulated a competitive analysis on a variety of websites/applications that emphasized both the travel experiences and fundamental requirements of travelers.
Encountering six other competitors, we conducted comprehensive research to grasp the objectives of each service and identify their unique attributes in comparison. We observed that our most formidable competitor is Airbnb. Despite lacking a specific itinerary feature, Airbnb stands out for its intuitiveness and comprehensiveness in terms of itinerary planning.
Target Audience
In an ideal scenario, our proposed app would serve the needs of all travelers. However, we opted to concentrate our focus on two specific groups: those managing large parties and individuals who are new to the world of travel.
VISUALS & BRANDING
Design System
Inspired from mountainous biomes characterized by a palette of cool colors.
MID-FIDELITY
Design Goals
Due to the time constraint of the course, we jumpstarted into the mid-fi prototype phase, getting a sense of branding and how our proposed app will be visually presented.
1. Integration with real-time information such as updates on local events and travel advisories
2. Personalization that allows users to tailor their itinerary search on individual preferences
3. Feedback and reviews to allow users to share experiences and insights
The Favorites and Discover pages cater to the user's preferences, focusing on personalized locations that directly connect to the available itineraries for those places.
Reviews provide valuable insights into others' experiences, empowering users to form their own judgments about planning a trip in a particular location or deciding whether to trust and follow a given itinerary.
Lastly, the Maps page aims to integrate real-time location data, conveniently accessible within the same app rather than requiring users to open a separate application.
✔️ As a traveler, it would be so useful for future travels
✔️ It's easy to read and navigate through the app
✖️ Discoverability on certain functions were unclear
✖️ Lack of descriptive labels makes it a bit confusing
FEEDBACK
Usability Testing
User feedback emphasized positive reactions to the overarching concept of a central hub for personalized itineraries, while also highlighting concerns regarding usability and interface design. In response to the feedback provided below, I will utilize it as guidance for further refinement.
High-Fidelity Prototype
Creating an Itinerary
Empowers users to create and share personalized itineraries, fostering customization and the exchange of travel experiences
Filter and Sort Function
Filter and sorting options based on recommended itineraries, ratings, prices, reviews, and distance to guarantee users receive valuable results.
Favorites
Allows users to "favorite" preferred locations, creating a handy list for easy reference and peresonalization.
Ratings & Reviews
Reviews are integrated to assess the validity and trustworthiness of an itinerary, providing insights into its utility and widespread usage.
IMPACT
Results & Feedback
Upon concluding our academic course, we participated in a mock Shark Tank session with the entire class and had two entrepreneurs as our judges. It was a challenging experience, considering Shark Tank's reputation for providing candid criticism of proposed products. Nevertheless, we successfully presented and pitched our product, receiving a significant amount of positive feedback.
💡 "I really like the idea of proposing this environment for people to share their experiences."
💡 "With further improvements, I believe this could be a successful product to pursue."
💡 "An exciting, new way of trying out new things from other people's perspectives."
KEYTAKEAWAY
What did I learn?
Product Thinking
I challenged myself to acquire the skills of brainstorming user-centered solutions for business challenges. It allowed me to examine the intersection of users, technology, and business goals to create products that not only benefit customers but also a positive investment outcome.
FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS
What are the next steps?
In depth user-testing
It would be beneficial to conduct additional rounds with targeted audiences to gain a deeper understanding of what travelers are looking for in such applications.
Narrowing the design scope
Because of the time constraints of the course, we couldn't go through the design process step by step, skipping over sketches and wireframes. I believe this caused us to overlook important components that could have enhanced the refinement and usability of our final prototype.