Across the Pond

UX Case Study

Project Overview

This UX case study delves into the design and development of a travel app aimed at revolutionizing international vacations. The app facilitates seamless travel planning by bridging the gap between travelers and locals in the destination country. By connecting users with local hosts, the app offers authentic, immersive, and personalized travel experiences.

Details

Duration: 4 weeks
My Role: UX Designer
Tools: Miro, Google forms, InVision, Figma

The Problem

The idea for this app was inspired by my parents, who are currently in the process of planning their first trip outside of the United States. I took note of their frustration with the amount of available information that didn't cater to their interests and lifestyle. During my research, I discovered that 95% of users have a dream vacation destination located outside of the US. This highlights the strong desire to travel internationally but many users feel overwhelmed when planning a trip to a foreign destination.

The Solution

Across the Pond is an app that helps individuals confidently plan their trips abroad by connecting them with locals from the destination who can guide them based on their interests. These locals can provide insider recommendations, suggest hidden gems, and offer a deeper understanding of the destination's culture and lifestyle. Across the Pond also assists users in organizing their itineraries and navigating new destinations once they have arrived.

My Process

Research

I began my research by conducting 6 interviews to better understand how people feel about international travel. I discovered that majority of people want to travel internationally but feel overwhelmed when planning a trip to a foreign destination. I also created an 8-question survey with 20 participants, discovering that 95% of users stated that their dream vacation destination was outside of the US, and 95% of users stated they have a strong desire to visit a foreign destination.

"I'm excited to see different parts of the world, to see how other people live."

"I want to tailor my experience and research to my preferences."

"I have the urge to travel abroad, and see the differences in culture."

Competitor Research

The competitor research conducted for "Across the Pond" involved analyzing three prominent travel app competitors: Viator, Wanderlog, and Lonely Planet. The research provided insights into their strengths and weaknesses. I evaluated their approaches to personalized travel planning, local interactions, and itinerary organization. This research equips the app with a competitive edge by leveraging successful strategies, addressing gaps, and refining its unique value proposition to ensure a superior travel planning and exploration experience for its users.

Definition

Through the user research, I developed a user persona and storyboard to represent a traveler segment. This helped guide design decisions and ideate app features that can cater to travelers in need of assistance when planning an international vacation.

In the development phase, I utilized my user research to help craft a comprehensive persona representing a specific traveler segment. This persona was informed by interviews, surveys, and data analysis, providing a deep understanding of the target audience. I also created a storyboard to visualize the user's journey and identify pain points and opportunities.

Ideation

Guided by the persona and storyboard, design decisions were aligned with user goals, ensuring an intuitive user experience. Leveraging this insight, I ideated app features catering to travelers requiring assistance in international vacation planning, addressing pain points and delivering tailored value. This process underlines the user-centered foundation shaping the app's functionality and enhancing its overall appeal.

Feature Prioritization

The feature prioritization for "Across the Pond" focused on enhancing the user experience and addressing key pain points in international travel. The top-priority features include connecting users with local guides who offer personalized recommendations, uncovering hidden gems, and facilitating cultural immersion. Additionally, the app streamlines itinerary planning and aids users in navigating unfamiliar destinations, ensuring a seamless travel experience. This approach aligns with the app's mission to empower travelers with local insights and create unforgettable, authentic travel journeys.

User Flow

Mid-Fidelity Wireframes

Prototype

The resulting travel app successfully addresses pain points associated with planning international vacations. It empowers users to engage with local experts who possess insider knowledge, ultimately enhancing the overall travel experience. The app is designed to be intuitive and easy to use, ensuring that users of all tech backgrounds can navigate it with ease.

Lessons Learned
and Next Steps

This UX case study showcases the transformation of a novel concept into a user-centric travel app that bridges the gap between travelers and locals. By fostering international connections and promoting cultural immersion, the app has the potential to reshape how people experience international travel.

Thinking ahead about next steps, the app could evolve to include on-the-ground assistance that helps users after they've arrived at their destination. Features could include real-time navigation, instant messaging with locals for last-minute questions or recommendations, and integration with mapping services.