TripConnect-Recommendation App
ROLE
UX Researcher, UI Designer
TOOLS
Adobe Illustrator, Figma, Miro
OVERVIEW
TIME
5 weeks
Brief
According to research, our personal experiences and feelings are significantly influenced by the environment in which we live. Nevertheless, hearing about the travel experiences of friends can offer unique insights, presenting new activities and perspectives that may have otherwise gone unconsidered. Studies suggest that beyond personal experience, traveling satiates our inherent drive to learn and explore. However, the travel industry is heavily reliant on a network of systems, including hotels and restaurants, which can present challenges for travelers. In fact, nearly 79% of American travelers have reported experiencing at least one "travel-related problem." In light of this, I am deeply committed to improving travelers' ability to learn about and experience the cultures of the places they visit. To achieve this goal, I propose creating a tool that fosters deeper connections between travelers and the destinations they visit, making a valuable contribution to the travel industry.
Problem Statement:
How might we innovate the travel experience for young urban adults, so that they can manage their plans anytime and anywhere, even in the event of unexpected disruptions?
Research 1 - Understanding Existing Factors
The unpredictability of travel (second hand)
- annoying travel problems are never welcome
- missed transfers to routes that have temporarily changed with a note posted in a language you don’t understand, there are tons of ways transportation issues can botch your journey.
- Unpack suitcase-don’t know where to get all the materials
- Figuring out where and when to get food and water
- Gaps between check-out and check-in times
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/summer-travel-costs-airports-flying-driving-inflation-survey/
Traveler problems (second hand)
- Approximately 79% of American travelers experienced at least one "travel-related problem" in 2022, according to a summer travel survey.
- 12% of adults traveling for business. Of this polled group, 79% of travelers said they experienced at least one problem that affected their travel considerations.
- At least 14% of traveling Americans lost money due to canceled or disrupted plans.
- Only 21% of 2022 travelers said they did not experience any travel-related problems in the Bankrate poll, which surveyed 3,378 U.S. adults on June 15-17, 2022.
https://www.goabroad.com/articles/common-travel-problems-and-solutions
History of traveling (second hand)
- different ways of traveling: land, water, sky
- Mid-19th century definitely marks a real beginning of modern tourism.
- people mostly traveled on foot (budget travel) or by water (the first-class travel at that time)
- Thomas Cook in England, was established at that time, too. He was using recently developed trains together with a network of hotels to organize his first group trips
- idea of traveling and gaining
- travel for enjoyment
https://culturetourist.com/cultural-tourism/history-of-travelling-how-people-started-to-travel/
“The traveling part is fun, but the planning part sucks.” -Kevin
USER RESEARCH
Research 2 - User Interviews
INTERVIEW GOALS
I want to understand common challenges people have during the process of a traveling trip. Furthermore, I want to learn their behaviors and actions through out unique situations.
INTERVIEWEE
I interviewed 8 undergraduate and graduate students in New York and California. During this process, I tried to understand the why, the what, the when, the where, and the who in the context of traveling. All of the interviewers are frequent travelers.
INSIGHT
In an effort to organize the notes from my interview, I grouped them according to similarities. I focused primarily on the responses I received to "what" and "why" questions and categorized them into five groups: emotion, problem, plan, comfort, and view. Within these groups, it became clear that people have the most concerns during the planning process of their trips. Additionally, they pay close attention to potential problems they might encounter and things that could cause discomfort.
Research 3 - Understand Different Users
BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS
This is a process of grouping similar behaviors that were noted during my interviews. By grouping these behaviors, I am able to define clear personalities and identify common needs and concerns among them.
The yellow circle represents individuals who are more dependent on others' decisions and are willing to follow current trends.
The green circle represents individuals who prioritize relaxation during their travel and are less concerned about intensive planning.
The blue circle represents individuals who have a strong desire to visit a particular place or view and are willing to invest a significant amount of time in planning to achieve their desired outcome.
People have varying concerns when it comes to balancing time management and planning. While some believe that planning is essential, others do not share the same view. Nevertheless, the main objective is to maximize the value of the time spent during the trip.
Ideation
Emotion break down due to unexpected
Whether or not there is a concise plan, unpredictable situations are bound to occur. When an accident happens, it creates imbalanced emotions and an unpleasant experience.
Time management
During a packed trip, people often stress about managing their time effectively. They don't want to waste time on the road or struggle to make decisions in the moment. Additionally, time management is important both for individuals and groups. Communication is essential within a group, as everyone may have a different understanding of time.
Planning ahead with untrusted sites
When going on a free trip, it is important to have plans in place. However, the mass media is filled with too many untrustworthy recommendations. People often end up spending more time than necessary to decide on the right plan.
Of the three pain points, I have chosen to focus on concerns related to time management during travel trips because time is always precious when it comes to travel. Effective time management can help prevent people from getting lost or confused in an unfamiliar environment, and it can enable them to make the most of every moment of their trip.
SYNTHESIZING IDEA
DESIGN
MOOD BOARD - Calm and Relax
Traveling is a break from our busy lives. It should flow like water and float like a cloud. Utilizing negative space in the design can help users feel more relaxed and provide a break from their media-saturated lives.
MOOD BOARD -Passionate
Traveling is a fun and exciting experience that sparks a strong desire for exploration and curiosity. The design should inspire people to feel energized and ready for a passionate trip. It should also evoke a sense of progress towards their dreams.
FLOW CHART
My proposition:
The product I am offering incorporates features such as an "on the road" recommendation system and a randomized pop-up idea. These features have been strategically designed to enhance the user experience, particularly during unpredictable situations. By utilizing these features, users can devote more time to their meaningful trip, rather than wasting it on the road.
On the road recommendation:
To address the challenge of finding nearby recommendations, I have developed a feature that enables users to search for suggestions based on their starting point and destination. This feature offers users the flexibility to select their desired options based on the time available for each location, thus enhancing the user experience.
Location filter:
Incorporating an intuitive and readily accessible filter enhances user navigation and expedites app usage. This feature serves to eliminate hidden filters and effectively filters out undesired results.
Location Recommendation:
Within each recommendations list, a concise description of the location and its activities is available to users. Furthermore, users can access basic statistics regarding the place, including the average duration spent, likes from other users, and current weather conditions. User reviews are also accessible, offering valuable insight to individuals seeking to evaluate the suitability of the activity based on their preferences.
Random shake:
Decision-making can be challenging for some individuals, resulting in wasted time and effort in identifying the "best" option. In order to address this challenge, my product includes a random shake feature that provides users with fresh ideas and offers a respite from the monotony of traditional recommendation lists.
ENCOUNTERING MEANINGFUL CHALLENGES!
Overall, this project was both challenging and therapeutic. Researching the history and backgrounds of travel was inspiring; however, finding innovative ways to reinvent features that enhance people's travel experiences proved to be a challenging task.
Moreover, designing an app from scratch was an extremely rewarding experience. I had the opportunity to conduct research, interview users, analyze collected data, and create high-fidelity interfaces. Throughout the process, I learned that a successful product must be supported by qualitative data, a clear user flow, and extensive user feedback.
Retrospective