WanderCompass is a comprehensive mobile application designed to enhance user's travel experience by providing seamless itinerary planning, budget management, recommendations from experienced travelers, and convenient accommodation booking. This case study explores the UI/UX design process and showcases the key features that make WanderCompass a user-friendly and efficient travel companion.
Product Designer
Figma
January 2023 (3 weeks)
Solo travel has become increasingly popular, with many individuals seeking unique and personalized experiences. However, planning solo trips can be daunting and time-consuming. So the challenge is to design a mobile application that helps solo travelers plan their trips more efficiently and enjoyably.
To kick things off, I started to analyze some of the most commonly used travel application that exist in the market. By testing each platform, I was able to gather some features that I would possibly implement as well as identified others that presented usability challenges.
Furthermore, I conducted interviews with 12 individuals to uncover common user pain points and validate the findings from my audit of existing applications. Through these interviews, four critical problem areas were identified, which will be addressed in subsequent development stages. The following are the questions asked during the interviews:
After reviewing their responses, I consolidated them and identified four key points that need to be addressed.
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Many travel applications suffer from cluttered interfaces, offering a myriad of different travel services that can overwhelm users.
Lack of comprehensive itinerary planning features within existing applications, often requiring them to rely on a more complicated third-party tools to organize and edit their travel plans.
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Users encountered difficulties in efficiently planning their travel itineraries within their budget, resulting in financial uncertainties and limitations during their trips.
The absence of reliable information leads to confusion and uncertainty during the planning process.
After analyzing audit data and identifying common user frustrations with existing travel applications, my main goal was to design a user-friendly interface that integrates comprehensive itinerary planning capabilities, facilitates budget management, and delivers valuable insights and recommendations, all aimed at guaranteeing a smooth and hassle-free travel experience.
Once I had determined the core features that I would be integrating into the application, I crafted a series of information hierarchies to enhance my understanding and visualization of the product.
By using Figma, I proceeded to create a visualization of the application to achieve a more visually appealing and user-friendly prototype. These wireframes were my guidance in designing higher-fidelity prototypes that will be used identify any usability issues and to ensure the application fulfilled its intended purpose and is user-friendly.
While creating the wireframes for the destination page, I observed possible scenarios where users might input a specific city containing neighborhoods or districts. To address this, I developed an additional "destination page" featuring a horizontal list of all the neighborhoods within the city. Users can click on their desired neighborhood to explore and access reviews, restaurants, activities, and accommodations exclusively within that specific neighborhood.
I recruited a diverse group of 6 participants who represented our target user demographic. Each participant was provided with specific tasks and scenarios to complete while using the interface. I carefully observed participants' interactions, behaviors, and feedback, taking detailed notes and recording their sessions for further analysis.
After analyzing the results, I identified common patterns, usability issues, and pain points. I also asked some improvements that can be made to make the application more accommodating to their travel experience. These feedbacks were later used in making iterative design changes.
To streamline the text content in the "About" section, a "Read More" dropdown button was implemented, allowing users to hide excess text.
To assist users in planning their itineraries and travel dates, important information such as visa requirements, weather conditions, and the number of travelers is displayed to provide valuable guidance and facilitate informed decision-making.
The addition of a Notes section provide a more comprehensive and detailed explanation for each itinerary, ensuring better clarity and understanding.
Experience the convenience of multiple login options, with the account creation process streamlined for minimal time investment.
Explore new and undiscovered destinations that pique your curiosity and venture into uncharted territories you have yet to explore.
Manage your finances and optimize your time, so you can make the most of your budget and ensure a stress-free trip
Designing a travel application for my UI/UX study case has been quiet an experience. It allowed me to explore the complexities of creating an intuitive and engaging user experience in the context of travel. Through user research and iterative design, I gained insights into the unique needs and pain points of travelers, shaping the application to meet their needs in a short amount of time. This study case has deepened my understanding of the intricacies of designing for travel applications and has further fueled my passion for creating meaningful and impactful digital experiences for users in the future.
