03

Travel App

03

Travel App

03

Travel App

Role:

User Research

User Flow

Journey Mapping

Prototyping

Team:

INFO 3450: Human-Computer Interaction

Team 6

Timeline:

February 2024 - May 2024

Overview

In our Human-Computer Interaction class, we designed a travel planning app that makes trip planning easy and personalized. Through user interviews, journey mapping, and iterative prototypes, we developed a final design with a GPT-style voice assistant offering real-time, tailored recommendations via text and audio.

Problem

Planning trips often means managing multiple platforms, which can be stressful and time-consuming. Users need a streamlined solution that consolidates travel options with personalized recommendations for a more immersive experience.

Solution

Our app simplifies the travel planning process by integrating a voice assistant that delivers tailored travel suggestions based on user input. Given the requirement to design only three screens, we focused on creating a concise, intuitive experience, iterating to refine usability with user feedback.

Overview

In our Human-Computer Interaction class, we designed a travel planning app that makes trip planning easy and personalized. Through user interviews, journey mapping, and iterative prototypes, we developed a final design with a GPT-style voice assistant offering real-time, tailored recommendations via text and audio.

Problem

Planning trips often means managing multiple platforms, which can be stressful and time-consuming. Users need a streamlined solution that consolidates travel options with personalized recommendations for a more immersive experience.

Solution

Our app simplifies the travel planning process by integrating a voice assistant that delivers tailored travel suggestions based on user input. Given the requirement to design only three screens, we focused on creating a concise, intuitive experience, iterating to refine usability with user feedback.

User Feedback - Part I

Two rounds of user interviews and POV analysis reveals key insights: desires for streamlined planning, cultural immersion, and affordability, shaping features for personalized, stress-free travel.

POV Analysis

POV Analysis

Simplified User Journey Map

The graph shows the emotional ups and downs of travel planning. Inspiration and exploration bring excitement, but stress from budgeting and planning creates challenges. Our device starts helping at the first dotted line and offers the most support by the second, reducing stress and improving the travel planning experience.

Simplified User Journey Map

The graph shows the emotional ups and downs of travel planning. Inspiration and exploration bring excitement, but stress from budgeting and planning creates challenges. Our device starts helping at the first dotted line and offers the most support by the second, reducing stress and improving the travel planning experience.

Simplified User Journey Map

The graph shows the emotional ups and downs of travel planning. Inspiration and exploration bring excitement, but stress from budgeting and planning creates challenges. Our device starts helping at the first dotted line and offers the most support by the second, reducing stress and improving the travel planning experience.

Analysis

User feedback highlighted the need to balance personalized recommendations with intuitive simplicity. To address this, we refined icons, streamlined interactions, and integrated a voice assistant that offers natural, engaging support. This approach ensures easy navigation while providing tailored options, enhancing user satisfaction and reducing stress.

Ideating Solutions

We tested a real-time voice assistant with various conversational styles to balance personalization with comfort. Additionally, we iterated on navigation and icon designs for clarity, with continuous prototyping to refine user flow based on feedback.

Initial Prototypes

Chat Screen ver.1

Chat Screen ver.2

Explore Page

Itinerary Page

Initial Prototypes

Chat Screen ver.1

Chat Screen ver.2

Explore Page

Itinerary Page

User Feedback - Part II

During four rounds of feedback, users tested the initial prototype and provided critical insights after each iteration. Their feedback helped refine the design and address key areas for improvement:

  • Clearer Features: Simplified design elements made key features more understandable.

  • Consistency Matters: Consistent labeling and design patterns reduced confusion and improved the user experience.

  • Voice Assistant: Users valued the voice assistant for its ability to provide personalized recommendations and reduce stress during planning.

Each round of feedback guided iterative improvements, ensuring the final design fully aligned with user expectations.

The Final Design

The final app features a sleek design and a GPT-style voice assistant, allowing users to seamlessly access travel suggestions.

  • Voice Assistant: Provides tailored, real-time travel recommendations in text and audio.

  • User-Friendly Interface: Simplified navigation and optimized icons for easy use.

  • Iterative Prototyping: Regular user feedback improved flow and usability.

Chat Screen ver.1:

Engages users through a virtual assistant with voice input, featuring a waveform for a more interactive experience.

Explore Page:

Users can select interests to receive customized recommendations, with virtual assistant guidance available.

Chat Screen ver.2:

Enhanced chat design with text input options and a prominent "Build Your Trip" button, allowing users to plan directly from the chat.

Itinerary Page:

Provides users with a detailed, personalized trip plan and suggested nearby attractions based on preferences.

Chat Screen ver.1:

Engages users through a virtual assistant with voice input, featuring a waveform for a more interactive experience.

Chat Screen ver.2:

Enhanced chat design with text input options and a prominent "Build Your Trip" button, allowing users to plan directly from the chat.

Explore Page:

Users can select interests to receive customized recommendations, with virtual assistant guidance available.

Itinerary Page:

Provides users with a detailed, personalized trip plan and suggested nearby attractions based on preferences.

Explore Page:

Users can select interests to receive customized recommendations, with virtual assistant guidance available.

Chat Screen ver.1:

Engages users through a virtual assistant with voice input, featuring a waveform for a more interactive experience.

Chat Screen ver.2:

Enhanced chat design with text input options and a prominent "Build Your Trip" button, allowing users to plan directly from the chat.

Itinerary Page:

Provides users with a detailed, personalized trip plan and suggested nearby attractions based on preferences.

Conclusion

The app effectively combines personalized recommendations with an easy-to-use interface, addressing common travel planning pain points in a limited three-screen format. This focused approach enabled us to deliver the most impactful, streamlined features to create a stress-free planning experience.

Reflection + Future Trajectory

This project emphasized the importance of listening to user feedback and iterating on design. Moving forward, I plan to incorporate these principles into future work, focusing on intuitive, user-centered solutions.