Trippin' Smart the Travel App for Young Adults
Overview:
The Problem:
In 2022, my 19 year old son was on his way home for Christmas from his first semester at an out-of-state school... he was exhausted after driving for almost 9 hours straight, he was cold and hungry and he almost had to sleep in his car.
It turns out that most hotels will not allow you to check in if you are under 21, or in some cases, 26! Not only that, but the ones that do sometimes charge an extra deposit that isn't always listed on the reservation site. He had been saving for months to make the trip, and you're worried about little things like where to stop for the cheapest gas, the last thing your wallet can handle is the unexpected shift in budget. Where can you cut back and still make it to your destination? Where can you stay?
The Solution:
Meet Trippin' Smart, the Travel App for Young Adults. This mobile app was my team's theoretical response to my son's very real scenario. It combines budgeting and planning tools with on-the-go itineraries and detour recommendations that help young adults travel independently for the first time, and have fun doing it. Even some of our adult testers loved it too!
The Impact:
While this project was theoretical, we tested our prototype with a group of young adults and found that they were able to plan and adjust their budget and plans much more quickly than by using their previously preferred method, and 100% of our travelers reported relief at how simple it was. 80 % actually asked (unprompted) if I would have it deployed before their next trip!
The Method
We completed this project from discovery to prototyping and testing in 4 sprints over 4 weeks. A general overview of our process and key insights are in the following slides. The full case study is available on request.
The Prototype
After completing our research, I decided to complete a high fidelity prototype of my project as it would appear for iOS utilizing Apples HIG standards. It was my first complete Figma prototype of this kind!
Final Thoughts
Was there room for improvement? Absolutely!
Did I learn a lot from the process? You bet I did!
Is there anything I'd like to do differently? 100% yes!
I love the look and feel of the prototype, but I still feel that it needs to be even more streamlined and minimalistic in order to really work well. I enjoyed the glassmorphic design, but I feel like simplifying it would really help. I also understand a lot more about WCAG standards, and while I don't think there are many color contrast issues, I can definitely see some spacing issues. I was also pressed to make the class deadline, and my partner quit mid-way through the project, leaving me to do the final 2 sprints alone on a project that could have really used another set of hands and eyes.
What do you think?
Like many designers who have had sudden and unexpected career changes, I am looking for a full time position while freelancing to make the bills and keep my son in school. If you or someone you know is looking for a fearless UX/UI Designer to tell your user's stories and engage in product design that appeals to both user and business, then please reach out, I'd love to talk!
Kate Novian
UX/UI Designer
(210)415-2542
#openforwork #appdesign #travelapp #freelance
