Project Overview

I created a conceptual travel app. designed to simplify the process of discovering and booking travel experiences based on user personas, family needs and adventure preferences. Referencing Airbnb (no affiliation), I saw the opportunity to streamline search, enhance map-based navigation and improve trust in reviews.

Problem Statement

Many travelers—especially families and last-minute travelers—find existing travel platforms overwhelming and impersonal. Generic filters and rigid itineraries fail to address targeted filtering based on user personas resulting in poor user engagement and incomplete bookings.

Target Audience

Based on preliminary travel behavior surveys and heuristics, I developed two proto-personas:

Adventure Traveler Sophia

User story: “As an adventure enthusiast, I want to find affordable places to stay in remote areas, so I can enjoy outdoor activities.”

“I’m always chasing that sweet spot where nature meets Wi-Fi. So when I landed on this travel app’s homepage, it instantly felt like it got me. I tapped on the ‘Map View’—because let’s be honest, I travel based on vibes and budget.”

Family Traveler Brian

User Story: “As a family traveler, I want to confidently find a suitable place for my family by reading reviews and recommendations, so I can plan a safe and enjoyable trip.”

“As soon as I opened the app, I was on a mission—find a place that checks the boxes for everyone in the family, including me and my wife. Right on the landing page, I saw a ‘Family Friendly’ option and tapped it without hesitation.

Design Exploration

Low-fidelity wireframes allowed me to quickly test layout ideas with peers, focusing on clarity, intuitive icons, and organizing content based on user personas while outlining key features like Search, Filter, and Map. To streamline iteration, I built a mini design system that included color-coded mood tags inspired by cognitive psychology, soft-rounded UI cards for accessibility, and responsive button and icon variants.

Usability Testing and Findings

In a Google Meet usability study with six participants, I tested five key tasks: finding a remote adventure stay, viewing accommodations on a map, reading reviews and booking, locating family-friendly options, and checking nearby activities or bundles. These tasks aligned with UX heuristics like system status visibility, real-world match, user control, and use efficiency. Results highlighted usability strengths and areas for improvement in navigation, clarity, and decision support.

Link to screener questions

To evaluate usability, I used key UX metrics: task completion, time on task, click accuracy, and verbal feedback. These measured navigation ease, task success, and real-time user experience, highlighting strengths and gaps.

Link to Prototype

Takeaway

User testing revealed challenges with map toggling and filtering, with 2 out of 6 participants unable to locate reviews and 4 expressing a desire for bundled booking options. However, 90% found the mood filter more intuitive than traditional genre filters, and 80% completed their task in under 20 seconds. Additionally, 70% preferred the trip card interaction over a calendar view. Users praised the experience, noting that “the color-coded moods felt intuitive” and appreciated the app for being “less rigid and overwhelming.”

Outcome & Reflection

Key design decisions included prioritizing map usability in response to repeated user struggles, refining category-based filtering to ensure relevance, and improving the way reviews were presented to build trust and enhance user engagement.

One Major Consideration that I believed was as important was the accessibility feature of having this UI felt in Dark mode

Final Thoughts

I quickly became proficient with Figma’s prototyping tools, allowing me to design, test, and iterate efficiently under tight timelines. By applying human-centered design and behavioral principles, I created an interface that feels both modern and highly usable.