Project Overview

Challenge: Simplify the process of travel discovery and bookings while inspiring users with beautiful destinations and personalised recommendations.

Solution: Develop a travel app that offers curated destination highlights, easy-to-use filters, and a visually engaging interface to enhance the travel planning experience.

Design Process

1. Research & Discovery

Objective: Understand user needs, identify pain points, and discover opportunities to create a unique travel experience.

• User Interviews: Conducted interviews with 15 participants, including frequent travelers and casual vacationers, to identify their challenges. Key insights included:

  • "I spend too much time switching between multiple apps for reviews, bookings, and destination research."

  • "I wish I had more personalised recommendations based on my interests and travel history."

• Competitive Analysis: Reviewed leading travel platforms like Airbnb, Booking.com, and Expedia. Findings:

  • Gaps in personalisation and localised content.

  • Overwhelming options without clear prioritisation.

Personas: Created two primary personas based on research findings:

• Sudhir Varma, The Luxury Seeker: A 35-year-old corporate executive who prioritizes high-end stays, detailed reviews, and premium experiences.

  • Sunnada pande, The Budget Explorer: A 28-year-old solo traveler who looks for affordable, offbeat accommodations and adventure-themed destinations. here...

2. Ideation & Planning

Goals: Define the app’s key functionalities and user flows to ensure an intuitive and delightful experience.

• User Journey Mapping: Designed pathways for users to:

  1. Discover destinations through curated lists.

  2. Apply filters (e.g., budget, theme, location) for personalised recommendations.

  3. Book accommodations seamlessly with minimal steps.

• Feature Prioritisation: Identified must-have features based on user needs and competitor analysis:

  • Destination highlights with images, ratings, and brief descriptions.

  • Comprehensive filters for trip themes (e.g., Mountains, Romantic, Adventure).

  • Detailed property listings with amenities, reviews, and booking options.

3. Wireframing & Prototyping

Approach: Translate ideas into tangible designs for usability testing and refinement.

• Low-Fidelity Wireframes: Created sketches for core screens:

  • Onboarding: Inspiring welcome screen with CTAs (“Start Exploring”, “Sign in with Email”).

  • Homepage: A search bar, carousel of popular destinations, and preference filters.

  • Detail Page: High-quality visuals, ratings, reviews, and a “Book Now” button.

• Interactive Prototypes: Developed clickable prototypes in Figma to test navigation, layout, and user flows.

• Iterations Based on Feedback:

  • Iteration 1: Users suggested clearer filter placement and enhanced visual hierarchy.

  • Iteration 2: Streamlined the onboarding flow to reduce drop-offs and added prominent icons for filters.

4. UI Design

Goal: Create a visually engaging and consistent interface that aligns with the app’s branding.

• Visual Identity:

  • Logo: A modern travel-themed design incorporating a plane and mountains to evoke adventure.

  • Color Palette: A mix of calming blues (trust and reliability) and vibrant greens (adventure and freshness).

  • Typography: Clean sans-serif fonts for readability and modern appeal.

• Screen Designs:

  • Onboarding Screen: Minimalist design with an engaging tagline (“Unfold Your Next Adventure”) and bold CTAs.

  • Homepage: Showcases popular destinations with a search bar, category filters, and user ratings.

  • Detail Page: Features high-quality images, detailed descriptions, pricing, and amenities icons. A “Book Now” button ensures quick action.

• Microinteractions: Integrated subtle animations for button clicks, transitions, and loading states to enhance user engagement. here...

5. Usability Testing

Objective: Validate the design with real users and identify areas for improvement.

• Participants: 12 users, including both frequent travelers and casual vacationers.

• Testing Methods: Conducted in-person and remote testing sessions. Key scenarios tested:

  • Searching for destinations and applying filters.

  • Navigating to the booking detail page and completing a mock booking.

• Feedback Highlights:

  • "The app feels premium and easy to use."

  • "Adding more filters like pet-friendly stays would be helpful."

  • "I loved the visual appeal of the destination carousel."

User Flow

1. Onboarding

• User opens the app for the first time.

• A visually appealing welcome screen with the tagline "Unfold Your Next Adventure" appears.

• User chooses between "Start Exploring" or "Sign in with Email" to proceed.

2. Homepage

• After logging in, the homepage showcases:

  • Search bar to find specific destinations or experiences.

  • A carousel of popular destinations with ratings and images.

  • Quick filter buttons (e.g., All, Mountains, Romantic, Adventure).

• User selects a category or searches for a destination.

3. Browsing Accommodations

• User selects a destination from the carousel or search results.

• A list of accommodations appears with thumbnail images, pricing, and ratings.

• User can apply additional filters (e.g., budget, amenities, property type).

4. Property Details

• User clicks on an accommodation.

• Detailed property page opens, showcasing:

  • High-resolution images.

  • Description of the property and amenities.

  • Pricing, ratings, and reviews from previous travelers.

  • Icons for amenities (e.g., Cafe, Free WiFi, Garden).

• User clicks "Book Now" to proceed.

5. Booking Flow

• User enters booking details: check-in and check-out dates, number of guests.

• Payment options are displayed.

• User completes payment and receives a booking confirmation.

6. Post-Booking Experience

• Booking confirmation screen appears with a summary of the stay.

• User can access their booking details from the "Bookings" tab in the navigation bar.

Key Features

• Curated Destination Highlights: A carousel showcasing top-rated destinations with user reviews.

• Personalized Filters: Quick access to categories like Mountains, Romantic, and Adventure.

• Seamless Booking Flow: A “Book Now” button ensures bookings can be completed within seconds.

• Detailed Property Listings: Comprehensive details, including pricing, amenities, and nearby attractions.

• Ratings & Reviews: Aggregated feedback from previous travelers to guide user decisions.

Conclusion

TravelMate successfully combines functionality and aesthetics to redefine the travel planning experience. By prioritising user needs, the app creates a seamless journey from inspiration to booking, empowering users to explore the world effortlessly.