SEE RALLY IN ACTION
Designing an app-based platform from the ground up to support young travelers' friendships before, during, and after trips.
10 weeks
Solo Project
Designing an app-based platform from the ground up to support young travelers' friendships before, during, and after trips.
10 weeks
Solo Project
Designing an app-based platform from the ground up to support young travelers' friendships before, during, and after trips.
10 weeks
Solo Project
PROBLEM
Traveling with friends is chaotic and can strain your friendships.
Traveling with friends is chaotic and can strain your friendships.
SOLUTION
A comprehensive and entertaining travel app that aligns travel styles, simplifies coordination, and boosts communication.
A comprehensive and entertaining travel app that aligns travel styles, simplifies coordination, and boosts communication.
Group members take a quiz to discover their travel styles to better understand themselves and each other.
Group members take a quiz to discover their travel styles to better understand themselves and each other.
Rally compiles and shares desired activities all in one place to later add into the itinerary.
Rally compiles and shares desired activities all in one place to later add into the itinerary.
Users can vote for activities to build a collaborative itinerary for their trip together!
Users can vote for activities to build a collaborative itinerary for their trip together!
SEE RALLY IN ACTION
HOW I GOT HERE
I asked myself, what will…
I asked myself, what will…
What if we gamify trip planning?
What if we gamify trip planning?
There is a gap in the market for a unique tool that can be used throughout a travel experience.
There is a gap in the market for a unique tool that can be used throughout a travel experience.
Current tools on the market are overly specialized in function and don’t motivate users to use the app. Gamification can help solve this.
Current tools on the market are overly specialized in function and don’t motivate users to use the app. Gamification can help solve this.
PRIMARY RESEARCH
Users believe lack of communication is a primary factor for creating tension.
Users believe lack of communication is a primary factor for creating tension.
Through 5 user interviews, I found repeating patterns. Additionally, main causes of stress included timeliness, lack of control, and safety.
Through 5 user interviews, I found repeating patterns. Additionally, main causes of stress included timeliness, lack of control, and safety.
Group dynamics can become awkward or tense.
Group dynamics can become awkward or tense.
I conducted a survey to further understand the sentiments and behaviors of Gen Z adults when traveling in general and traveling with friends. With 43 responses:
I conducted a survey to further understand the sentiments and behaviors of Gen Z adults when traveling in general and traveling with friends. With 43 responses:
54%
54%
of respondents agree they feel fatigued when they have to make many decisions when traveling and planning
of respondents agree they feel fatigued when they have to make many decisions when traveling and planning
66%
66%
of respondents agree that they value spontaneity while they travel
of respondents agree that they value spontaneity while they travel
67%
67%
of respondents agree that group dynamics can become awkward or tense
of respondents agree that group dynamics can become awkward or tense
INSIGHTS
Based on this research, I came to three insights that helped inform my design.
Based on this research, I came to three insights that helped inform my design.
APP FLOW
I divided the experience in three sections: before, during, and after travel and ideated features integrating gamification to fulfill my design implications.
I divided the experience in three sections: before, during, and after travel and ideated features integrating gamification to fulfill my design implications.
WIREFRAME TO PROTOTYPE
User feedback on my low-fidelity wireframes helped focus my goals and design decisions.
I needed to expand the "after" travel experience, allow flexibility for users to play and act freely, and help them solve the need of figuring out where to go.
WIREFRAME TO PROTOTYPE
User feedback on my low-fidelity wireframes helped focus my goals and design decisions.
I needed to expand the "after" travel experience, allow flexibility for users to play and act freely, and help them solve the need of figuring out where to go.
BRANDING
To pull it all together, I crafted a cohesive brand design system catered to a Gen Z audience.
BRANDING
To pull it all together, I crafted a cohesive brand design system catered to a Gen Z audience.
THE FINAL PRODUCT
Let's Rally.
Let's Rally.
Before
The process of planning the trip is collaborative thus promoting healthy communication.
The process of planning the trip is collaborative thus promoting healthy communication.
During
Users can have spontaneous experiences while on the trip making it interactive, balanced, and enjoyable.
Users can have spontaneous experiences while on the trip making it interactive, balanced, and enjoyable.
After
Throughout the experience, users can earn points and see their ranking on the leaderboard increasing their motivation to use it!
Throughout the experience, users can earn points and see their ranking on the leaderboard increasing their motivation to use it!
POST MORTEM
What did I learn?
What did I learn?
Feature creep is real.
At the wireframing stage, I realized I was trying to stuff too many features into the app than what would be possible in the required timeframe. I need to design a cohesive flow, not feature overflow. Paring down earlier in the process would have allowed me to perfect and refine the main capabilities of the app further.
Feature creep is real.
At the wireframing stage, I realized I was trying to stuff too many features into the app than what would be possible in the required timeframe. I need to design a cohesive flow, not feature overflow. Paring down earlier in the process would have allowed me to perfect and refine the main capabilities of the app further.
Design the system first.
I would have saved hours, if not days, if I had established a thorough design system at the beginning of high-fidelity prototyping. This would have ensured consistency with an efficient use of time, especially when making changes.
Design the system first.
I would have saved hours, if not days, if I had established a thorough design system at the beginning of high-fidelity prototyping. This would have ensured consistency with an efficient use of time, especially when making changes.
Validation is key.
I plan to continue iterating this project and making improvements with additional usability testing to validate and strengthen my design against an existing travel app.
Validation is key.
I plan to continue iterating this project and making improvements with additional usability testing to validate and strengthen my design against an existing travel app.
