Importance of safety and trust
TAKEAWAYS
Designing with empathy
The hesitation many users feel when approaching strangers abroad taught me the importance of empathy in design. Creating environments where users feel comfortable interacting can significantly improve their experience. This requires not just functional design but understanding the emotional needs of your users.
Many travel-buddy apps felt untrustworthy due to clunky features and unverified profiles. To build user confidence, it’s essential to incorporate design elements like verification and secure communication, which encourage safer interactions.
MOVING FORWARD
Gauging Performance
If I were to pursue this project with intentions to officially publish it, I would consider these metrics:
Number of successful travel partnerships formed
Conduct surveys and father feedback for improvements
Track the number of new users signing up
Measure the frequency of returning users
Finished concept
PRODUCT
After taking everything into consideration, we designed the app to have a clean look while serving it's main purpose. This project was a fun way to test conceptual ideas that I would want to expand more on in the future!
“As a solo female traveler, I just want to find other girlies to hang out with and feel safe while exploring new places.”
“I’m all about connecting with like-minded people to share meaningful experiences.”
“I love meeting new people when I travel. It’s nice having someone to talk to and share the journey with.”
Some travelers prefer not to venture alone
THE PROBLEM
When I first started traveling alone, I found myself naturally connecting with other solo travelers during my trips! While having alone time is essential for any journey, I discovered that meeting new people was actually one of my favorite parts of extended trips. This was especially true for activities or places that just don't work as well when you're by yourself. Drawing from these personal experiences, we wanted to create a platform that builds a genuine community where travelers can find companionship on their adventures.
I created three user personas based on people in travel-buddy groups on social media platforms to get an idea of our target audience.
goal
After brainstorming, we asked ourselves:
How might we help solo travelers find safe and compatible companions through a community-driven mobile platform?
Adding a feature to specify searches helps people match criteria for their travel buddies better.
Participants noted the safety aspect of searching for travel companions, as trusting strangers online is a risky thing. With ID verification, we decided that this would be the best way to tackle the issue.
ID Verification
Advanced Filter for specific searching
In the early stages of planning what features would be included, I explored three key solutions that were a priority for integration.
IDEATING
Brainstorming features
Nicole
Moderate Spender
Chill Planner
Age: 24
Interests: Live Concerts, Sustainable Travel Practices, Souvenir Hunting
Nicole
Moderate Spender
Age: 19
Interests: Live Concerts, Sustainable Travel Practices, Souvenir Hunting
Nicole
Moderate Spender
Chill Planner
Age: 24
Interests: Live Concerts, Sustainable Travel Practices, Souvenir Hunting
Emi
Budget Traveler
Itinerary Enthusiast
Age: 28
Interests: Cafe Hopping, Food Tours, Visiting Iconic City Attractions
Budget
Moderate Spender
Frugal Spender
Luxury Traveler
Budget Traveler
Age Range
Minimum:
Maximum:
35
18
After reviewing the feedback from participants, shared interests seemed to be a top priority. Emphasizing them on profile cards so users would see it immediately seemed like an intuitive way to solve that issue.
Highlighting interests on profile cards
Low-fidelity Wireframes
DESIGN
I began with low-fidelity wireframes to establish the core components of the product. During this phase, I focused on mapping user journeys and minimizing the number of clicks needed for users to accomplish key tasks within the app.
Surveying existing communities
To better understand the behaviors, needs, and concerns of solo travelers, I conducted an online survey posted in a Facebook travel-buddy-searching interest group. The participants consisted of 23 frequent solo-travelers aged 18 to 45, including students, digital nomads, and young professionals.
From the survey, these key metrics were obtained:
83% felt unsafe at some point during solo travel
67% wanted a travel buddy for parts of their trip
92% valued shared interests when meeting new people
58% were hesitant to approach strangers while abroad
RESEARCH
Connecting travelers for companionship
wafer
Sarah
Vik, Iceland
Meetup with us!
Alfie
Bangkok, Thailand
Ben
Let’s grab a coffee
Hey everyone! I'll be in Barcelona next week and thought it would be great to meet up...
Ericka
Where to stay in Seoul?
I’m planning a trip to Seoul soon and would love some recommendations on where...
Hello, Marianna
Messages
Direct
Group
Emi
2 hours ago
Hi! Nice to meet you
Nadia
5 hours ago
Where are you from?
Giovanni
12 hours ago
I’m a foodie too!
Judi
1 day ago
I think Morocco would be cool
Nicole
2 days ago
Let’s go together one day!
UX/UI Designer
UX Researcher
1 month
Role
Duration
This project started as a hackathon idea between a friend and I! As someone who loves to travel solo, I've mostly stuck to countries I know I can safely get around or am already familiar with. But I've always wanted to visit places that might be trickier to explore on my own. We made this conceptual app simply to address a gap I’ve felt in the solo travel industry.
Overview
Figma
Miro
Tools
Connecting travelers for companionship
Wafer
Connecting travelers for companionship
Wafer
Sarah
Vik, Iceland
Meetup with us!
Alfie
Bangkok, Thailand
Ben
Let’s grab a coffee
Hey everyone! I'll be in Barcelona next week and thought it would be great to meet up...
Ericka
Where to stay in Seoul?
I’m planning a trip to Seoul soon and would love some recommendations on where...
Hello, Marianna
Messages
Direct
Group
Emi
2 hours ago
Hi! Nice to meet you
Nadia
5 hours ago
Where are you from?
Giovanni
12 hours ago
I’m a foodie too!
Judi
1 day ago
I think Morocco would be cool
Nicole
2 days ago
Let’s go together one day!
UX/UI Designer
UX Researcher
1 month
Role
Duration
This project started as a hackathon idea between a friend and I! As someone who loves to travel solo, I've mostly stuck to countries I know I can safely get around or am already familiar with. But I've always wanted to visit places that might be trickier to explore on my own. We made this conceptual app simply to address a gap I’ve felt in the solo travel industry.
Overview
Tools
Figma
Miro
Surveying existing communities
To better understand the behaviors, needs, and concerns of solo travelers, I conducted an online survey posted in a Facebook travel-buddy-searching interest group. The participants consisted of 23 frequent solo-travelers aged 18 to 45, including students, digital nomads, and young professionals.
From the survey, these key metrics were obtained:
83% felt unsafe at some point during solo travel
67% wanted a travel buddy for parts of their trip
92% valued shared interests when meeting new people
58% were hesitant to approach strangers while abroad
RESEARCH
Low-fidelity Wireframes
DESIGN
I began with low-fidelity wireframes to establish the core components of the product. During this phase, I focused on mapping user journeys and minimizing the number of clicks needed for users to accomplish key tasks within the app.
Adding a feature to specify searches helps people match criteria for their travel buddies better.
Participants noted the safety aspect of searching for travel companions, as trusting strangers online is a risky thing. With ID verification, we decided that this would be the best way to tackle the issue.
ID Verification
Advanced Filter for specific searching
In the early stages of planning what features would be included, I explored three key solutions that were a priority for integration.
IDEATING
Brainstorming features
Nicole
Moderate Spender
Chill Planner
Age: 24
Interests: Live Concerts, Sustainable Travel Practices, Souvenir Hunting
Nicole
Moderate Spender
Age: 19
Interests: Live Concerts, Sustainable Travel Practices, Souvenir Hunting
Nicole
Moderate Spender
Chill Planner
Age: 24
Interests: Live Concerts, Sustainable Travel Practices, Souvenir Hunting
Emi
Budget Traveler
Itinerary Enthusiast
Age: 28
Interests: Cafe Hopping, Food Tours, Visiting Iconic City Attractions
Budget
Moderate Spender
Frugal Spender
Luxury Traveler
Budget Traveler
Age Range
Minimum:
Maximum:
35
18
After reviewing the feedback from participants, shared interests seemed to be a top priority. Emphasizing them on profile cards so users would see it immediately seemed like an intuitive way to solve that issue.
Highlighting interests on profile cards
After brainstorming, we asked ourselves:
How might we help solo travelers find safe and compatible companions through a community-driven mobile platform?
After brainstorming, we asked ourselves:
How might we help solo travelers find safe and compatible companions through a community-driven mobile platform?
goal
“As a solo female traveler, I just want to find other girlies to hang out with and feel safe while exploring new places.”
“I’m all about connecting with like-minded people to share meaningful experiences.”
“I love meeting new people when I travel. It’s nice having someone to talk to and share the journey with.”
Some travelers prefer not to venture alone
THE PROBLEM
When I first started traveling alone, I found myself naturally connecting with other solo travelers during my trips! While having alone time is essential for any journey, I discovered that meeting new people was actually one of my favorite parts of extended trips. This was especially true for activities or places that just don't work as well when you're by yourself. Drawing from these personal experiences, we wanted to create a platform that builds a genuine community where travelers can find companionship on their adventures.
I created three user personas based on people in travel-buddy groups on social media platforms to get an idea of our target audience.
Finished concept
PRODUCT
After taking everything into consideration, we designed the app to have a clean look while serving it's main purpose. This project was a fun way to test conceptual ideas that I would want to expand more on in the future!
MOVING FORWARD
Gauging Performance
If I were to pursue this project with intentions to officially publish it, I would consider these metrics:
Number of successful travel partnerships formed
Conduct surveys and father feedback for improvements
Track the number of new users signing up
Measure the frequency of returning users
MOVING FORWARD
Gauging Performance
If I were to pursue this project with intentions to officially publish it, I would consider these metrics:
Number of successful travel partnerships formed
Conduct surveys and father feedback for improvements
Track the number of new users signing up
Measure the frequency of returning users
Importance of safety and trust
TAKEAWAYS
Designing with empathy
The hesitation many users feel when approaching strangers abroad taught me the importance of empathy in design. Creating environments where users feel comfortable interacting can significantly improve their experience. This requires not just functional design but understanding the emotional needs of your users.
Many travel-buddy apps felt untrustworthy due to clunky features and unverified profiles. To build user confidence, it’s essential to incorporate design elements like verification and secure communication, which encourage safer interactions.
other projects
Connecting travelers for companionship
Wafer
Connecting travelers for companionship
Wafer
Sarah
Vik, Iceland
Meetup with us!
Alfie
Bangkok, Thailand
Ben
Let’s grab a coffee
Hey everyone! I'll be in Barcelona next week and thought it would be great to meet up...
Ericka
Where to stay in Seoul?
I’m planning a trip to Seoul soon and would love some recommendations on where...
Hello, Marianna
Messages
Direct
Group
Emi
2 hours ago
Hi! Nice to meet you
Nadia
5 hours ago
Where are you from?
Giovanni
12 hours ago
I’m a foodie too!
Judi
1 day ago
I think Morocco would be cool
Nicole
2 days ago
Let’s go together one day!
This project started as a hackathon idea between a friend and I! As someone who loves to travel solo, I've mostly stuck to countries I know I can safely get around or am already familiar with. But I've always wanted to visit places that might be trickier to explore on my own. We made this conceptual app simply to address a gap I’ve felt in the solo travel industry.
Overview
UX/UI Designer
UX Researcher
Role
1 month
Duration
Tools
Figma
Miro
“I love meeting new people when I travel. It’s nice having someone to talk to and share the journey with.”
“As a solo female traveler, I just want to find other girlies to hang out with and feel safe while exploring new places.”
“I’m all about connecting with like-minded people to share meaningful experiences.”
Some travelers prefer not to venture alone
THE PROBLEM
When I first started traveling alone, I found myself naturally connecting with other solo travelers during my trips! While having alone time is essential for any journey, I discovered that meeting new people was actually one of my favorite parts of extended trips. This was especially true for activities or places that just don't work as well when you're by yourself. Drawing from these personal experiences, we wanted to create a platform that builds a genuine community where travelers can find companionship on their adventures.
I created three user personas based on people in travel-buddy groups on social media platforms to get an idea of our target audience.
RESEARCH
Surveying existing communities
To better understand the behaviors, needs, and concerns of solo travelers, I conducted an online survey posted in a Facebook travel-buddy-searching interest group. The participants consisted of 23 frequent solo-travelers aged 18 to 45, including students, digital nomads, and young professionals.
From the survey, these key metrics were obtained:
83% felt unsafe at some point during solo travel
67% wanted a travel buddy for parts of their trip
92% valued shared interests when meeting new people
58% were hesitant to approach strangers while abroad
After brainstorming, we asked ourselves:
How might we help solo travelers find safe and compatible companions through a community-driven mobile platform?
goal
IDEATING
Brainstorming features
In the early stages of planning what features would be included, I explored three key solutions that were a priority for integration.
Participants noted the safety aspect of searching for travel companions, as trusting strangers online is a risky thing. With ID verification, we decided that this would be the best way to tackle the issue.
ID Verification
Nicole
Moderate Spender
Chill Planner
Age: 24
Interests: Live Concerts, Sustainable Travel Practices, Souvenir Hunting
Nicole
Moderate Spender
Age: 19
Interests: Live Concerts, Sustainable Travel Practices, Souvenir Hunting
Nicole
Moderate Spender
Chill Planner
Age: 24
Interests: Live Concerts, Sustainable Travel Practices, Souvenir Hunting
Emi
Budget Traveler
Itinerary Enthusiast
Age: 28
Interests: Cafe Hopping, Food Tours, Visiting Iconic City Attractions
After reviewing the feedback from participants, shared interests seemed to be a top priority. Emphasizing them on profile cards so users would see it immediately seemed like an intuitive way to solve that issue.
Highlighting interests on profile cards
Budget
Moderate Spender
Frugal Spender
Luxury Traveler
Budget Traveler
Age Range
Minimum:
Maximum:
35
18
Adding a feature to specify searches helps people match criteria for their travel buddies better.
Advanced Filter for specific searching
Low-fidelity Wireframes
DESIGN
I began with low-fidelity wireframes to establish the core components of the product. During this phase, I focused on mapping user journeys and minimizing the number of clicks needed for users to accomplish key tasks within the app.
Finished concept
PRODUCT
After taking everything into consideration, we designed the app to have a clean look while serving it's main purpose. This project was a fun way to test conceptual ideas that I would want to expand more on in the future!
MOVING FORWARD
Gauging Performance
If I were to pursue this project with intentions to officially publish it, I would consider these metrics:
Number of successful travel partnerships formed
Conduct surveys and father feedback for improvements
Track the number of new users signing up
Measure the frequency of returning users
TAKEAWAYS
Designing with empathy
The hesitation many users feel when approaching strangers abroad taught me the importance of empathy in design. Creating environments where users feel comfortable interacting can significantly improve their experience. This requires not just functional design but understanding the emotional needs of your users.
Importance of safety and trust
Many travel-buddy apps felt untrustworthy due to clunky features and unverified profiles. To build user confidence, it’s essential to incorporate design elements like verification and secure communication, which encourage safer interactions.
other projects
