Mobile Application UI / UX
Mobile Application UI / UX
Mobile Application UI / UX
UX/UI Design
UX/UI Design
UX/UI Design
Service Design
Service Design
Service Design
NearTrip is a mobile application that suggests nearby trips to help users relieve stress caused by the COVID-19 quarantine. Breaking away from the conventional idea that travel means going far away, the app offers personalized travel recommendations based on users' interests and goals, providing a fresh travel experience.
Project
Individual Project
Project
Individual Project
Role
UX/UI
Designer
UX Research
Role
UX/UI
Designer
UX Research
Timeframe
September 2021 - December 2021
Timeframe
September 2021 - December 2021
Tools Used
Figma
Adobe Illustrator
Tools Used
Figma
Adobe Illustrator
Challenge
Challenge
The Impact of Covid-19 on Stress Relief Through Travel
The Impact of Covid-19 on Stress Relief Through Travel
After the outbreak of Covid-19, many people began experiencing depression due to reduced physical activity and social interactions. In particular, those who typically relieved daily stress through travel lost a key way to cope with stress.
After the outbreak of Covid-19, many people began experiencing depression due to reduced physical activity and social interactions. In particular, those who typically relieved daily stress through travel lost a key way to cope with stress.
After the outbreak of Covid-19, many people began experiencing depression due to reduced physical activity and social interactions. In particular, those who typically relieved daily stress through travel lost a key way to cope with stress.
Research
Research
Research
Background Research
Research Goals
Evaluating the stakeholders
Examining the changes in people's lives during quarantine linked to stress relief
Understanding the demands of people
Research Goals
Evaluating the stakeholders
Examining the changes in people's lives during quarantine linked to stress relief
Understanding the demands of people
Research Goals
Evaluating the stakeholders
Examining the changes in people's lives during quarantine linked to stress relief
Understanding the demands of people
In-depth Interview
In-depth Interview
In-depth Interview
To gain deeper insights into the shift in people's travel experiences during quarantine, I conducted three in-depth interviews: two with people who traveled during the COVID-19 period and one with someone who only made travel plans. Using a semi-structured format allowed me to ask relevant questions about their overall travel experiences, uncovering insights that could inform potential design solutions.
To gain deeper insights into the shift in people's travel experiences during quarantine, I conducted three in-depth interviews: two with people who traveled during the COVID-19 period and one with someone who only made travel plans. Using a semi-structured format allowed me to ask relevant questions about their overall travel experiences, uncovering insights that could inform potential design solutions.
After the interview, I summarized the answers and sorted the important information for further analysis.
Analysis
Analysis
Analysis
After the interviews, I conducted card sorting using data from background research and in-depth interviews to gain insights.
After the interviews, I conducted card sorting using data from background research and in-depth interviews to gain insights.
Key Findings
Through the card sorting, I gained diverse perspectives on what defines a trip as a "travel experience," insights into the key factors people prioritize when planning a trip, and reflections on their experiences afterward.
Through the card sorting, I gained diverse perspectives on what defines a trip as a "travel experience," insights into the key factors people prioritize when planning a trip, and reflections on their experiences afterward.
Through the card sorting, I gained diverse perspectives on what defines a trip as a "travel experience," insights into the key factors people prioritize when planning a trip, and reflections on their experiences afterward.
Insights
How Might We?
How Might We?
How might we provide users with a memorable trip experience, even with the reduced range of activities due to COVID-19?
How might we provide users with a memorable trip experience, even with the reduced range of activities due to COVID-19?
How might we provide users with a memorable trip experience, even with the reduced range of activities due to COVID-19?
Ideation
Ideation
Ideation
Based on the key findings, I focused on reframing users' everyday activities into nearby travel experiences by replicating the essence of a trip.
Based on the key findings, I focused on reframing users' everyday activities into nearby travel experiences by replicating the essence of a trip.
Based on the key findings, I focused on reframing users' everyday activities into nearby travel experiences by replicating the essence of a trip.
Persona and Journey Map
Persona and Journey Map
Persona and Journey Map
To visually identify the problems and pain points users experience with existing applications, I used a Journey Map. By analyzing the persona's interaction with the application, I was able to uncover valuable insights into user needs and areas for improvement.
To visually identify the problems and pain points users experience with existing applications, I used a Journey Map. By analyzing the persona's interaction with the application, I was able to uncover valuable insights into user needs and areas for improvement.
To visually identify the problems and pain points users experience with existing applications, I used a Journey Map. By analyzing the persona's interaction with the application, I was able to uncover valuable insights into user needs and areas for improvement.
Possible Solution Ideation
Utilizing Content Recommendation
Utilizing Content Recommendation
Utilizing Content Recommendation
E-commerce and content platforms already use recommendation systems to provide users with personalized content. Similarly, if trip-planning applications could show reviews and content tailored to individual preferences instead of generic feedback from all users, wouldn't this enhance user satisfaction?
E-commerce and content platforms already use recommendation systems to provide users with personalized content. Similarly, if trip-planning applications could show reviews and content tailored to individual preferences instead of generic feedback from all users, wouldn't this enhance user satisfaction?
E-commerce and content platforms already use recommendation systems to provide users with personalized content. Similarly, if trip-planning applications could show reviews and content tailored to individual preferences instead of generic feedback from all users, wouldn't this enhance user satisfaction?
Additional Research
Based on additional research, I selected collaborative filtering and knowledge-based systems for personalized recommendation experience. These methods allow the app to suggest personalized content by encouraging users to provide feedback through reviews and directly input their preferences. This strategy not only enhances the relevance of recommendations but also fosters user engagement by customizing experiences to individual needs and behaviors.
Based on additional research, I selected collaborative filtering and knowledge-based systems for personalized recommendation experience. These methods allow the app to suggest personalized content by encouraging users to provide feedback through reviews and directly input their preferences. This strategy not only enhances the relevance of recommendations but also fosters user engagement by customizing experiences to individual needs and behaviors.
Based on additional research, I selected collaborative filtering and knowledge-based systems for personalized recommendation experience. These methods allow the app to suggest personalized content by encouraging users to provide feedback through reviews and directly input their preferences. This strategy not only enhances the relevance of recommendations but also fosters user engagement by customizing experiences to individual needs and behaviors.
Collaborative Filtering
Knowledge-Based Systems
Final Designs
Final Designs
Final Designs
Trip and Missions
Offering a guided travel experience
Trip and Missions
Offering a guided travel experience
When asking people about the process of their travel during interviews, a recurring pattern of three stages emerged. To help users feel a sense of "travel" even during short trips, I incorporated a mission-based content system. This system encourages users to engage in experiences commonly associated with each of these three stages.
When asking people about the process of their travel during interviews, a recurring pattern of three stages emerged. To help users feel a sense of "travel" even during short trips, I incorporated a mission-based content system. This system encourages users to engage in experiences commonly associated with each of these three stages.
Searching for places to visit
Reading reviews.
Searching for places to visit
Reading reviews.
In this stage, considering user needs, I designed a structure that enables users to organize travel packages by category and view detailed information about each location within the package.
In this stage, considering user needs, I designed a structure that enables users to organize travel packages by category and view detailed information about each location within the package.
In this stage, considering user needs, I designed a structure that enables users to organize travel packages by category and view detailed information about each location within the package.
Navigate using a map
Experience of travel
Navigate using a map
Experience of travel
Navigate using a map
Experience of travel
To enhance navigation for users, I integrated a standard navigation system while designing a mission feature that imitates the travel experience. This feature aims to generate the emotions and excitement typically associated with trips, enriching even short journeys.
To enhance navigation for users, I integrated a standard navigation system while designing a mission feature that imitates the travel experience. This feature aims to generate the emotions and excitement typically associated with trips, enriching even short journeys.
To enhance navigation for users, I integrated a standard navigation system while designing a mission feature that imitates the travel experience. This feature aims to generate the emotions and excitement typically associated with trips, enriching even short journeys.
Collecting souvenir
Writing reviews.
Collecting souvenir
Writing reviews.
I designed features to align with user behaviors like buying souvenirs or writing journals and reviews after the trip. This approach was informed by user feedback, emphasizing activities they undertake to preserve travel memories.
I designed features to align with user behaviors like buying souvenirs or writing journals and reviews after the trip. This approach was informed by user feedback, emphasizing activities they undertake to preserve travel memories.
I designed features to align with user behaviors like buying souvenirs or writing journals and reviews after the trip. This approach was informed by user feedback, emphasizing activities they undertake to preserve travel memories.
Recommendation System
Tailered Trip Experience
Recommendation System
Tailered Trip Experience
To ease the fatigue of sorting through excessive information, I integrated a recommendation system into the application. This allows users to access personalized content, reducing the time spent preparing for their trip.
To ease the fatigue of sorting through excessive information, I integrated a recommendation system into the application. This allows users to access personalized content, reducing the time spent preparing for their trip.
To ease the fatigue of sorting through excessive information, I integrated a recommendation system into the application. This allows users to access personalized content, reducing the time spent preparing for their trip.
Onboarding
Knowledge-Based System
Knowledge-Based System
To provide a personalized travel experience, the onboarding process collects users' preferences, enabling the application to recommend tailored information.
To provide a personalized travel experience, the onboarding process collects users' preferences, enabling the application to recommend tailored information.
To provide a personalized travel experience, the onboarding process collects users' preferences, enabling the application to recommend tailored information.
Gathering preference data from users
Customized wheel for fast access
Home
Customizable Wheel
Customizable Wheel
Based on user input, a trip-setting wheel is created, allowing users to easily access trip recommendations. Since preferences can change over time, the wheel is fully editable.
The three buttons were designed based on user interviews, which revealed that users prioritize theme, budget, and transportation when planning a trip.
Based on user input, a trip-setting wheel is created, allowing users to easily access trip recommendations. Since preferences can change over time, the wheel is fully editable.
The three buttons were designed based on user interviews, which revealed that users prioritize theme, budget, and transportation when planning a trip.
Based on user input, a trip-setting wheel is created, allowing users to easily access trip recommendations. Since preferences can change over time, the wheel is fully editable.
The three buttons were designed based on user interviews, which revealed that users prioritize theme, budget, and transportation when planning a trip.
Contents
Quantifying the degree of preference
Quantifying the degree of preference
Reflecting the psychology of users who want to avoid "failed" experiences after investing time and money in a trip, the design focuses not only on providing curated content but also on presenting concrete metrics. This approach minimizes the chance of unsatisfactory travel experiences by empowering users to make better-informed decisions.
Reflecting the psychology of users who want to avoid "failed" experiences after investing time and money in a trip, the design focuses not only on providing curated content but also on presenting concrete metrics. This approach minimizes the chance of unsatisfactory travel experiences by empowering users to make better-informed decisions.
Reflecting the psychology of users who want to avoid "failed" experiences after investing time and money in a trip, the design focuses not only on providing curated content but also on presenting concrete metrics. This approach minimizes the chance of unsatisfactory travel experiences by empowering users to make better-informed decisions.
Takeaways
Incorporating Existing Technology into Design
By studying existing systems like recommendation algorithms and navigation tools, I was able to make design decisions that enhanced feasibility and user-centricity. This process taught me how to align technological capabilities with design goals, ensuring practicality and scalability.
Flexible Data Gathering with Semi-Structured Interviews
Conducting semi-structured interviews enabled me to gather insights while allowing participants to share experiences freely. This approach provided a balance between focused questioning and open exploration, leading to richer data that informed key design decisions effectively.
Incorporating Existing Technology into Design
By studying existing systems like recommendation algorithms and navigation tools, I was able to make design decisions that enhanced feasibility and user-centricity. This process taught me how to align technological capabilities with design goals, ensuring practicality and scalability.
Flexible Data Gathering with Semi-Structured Interviews
Conducting semi-structured interviews enabled me to gather insights while allowing participants to share experiences freely. This approach provided a balance between focused questioning and open exploration, leading to richer data that informed key design decisions effectively.
Incorporating Existing Technology into Design
By studying existing systems like recommendation algorithms and navigation tools, I was able to make design decisions that enhanced feasibility and user-centricity. This process taught me how to align technological capabilities with design goals, ensuring practicality and scalability.
Flexible Data Gathering with Semi-Structured Interviews
Conducting semi-structured interviews enabled me to gather insights while allowing participants to share experiences freely. This approach provided a balance between focused questioning and open exploration, leading to richer data that informed key design decisions effectively.
© 2024 Ellen Lee
kwellen@umich.edu
© 2024 Ellen Lee
kwellen@umich.edu
© 2024 Ellen Lee
kwellen@umich.edu
© 2024 Ellen Lee
kwellen@umich.edu