Ester Xofra Mateo
Wanderlust
/24
The Challenge
Planning a trip is often overwhelming, with travelers juggling multiple challenges: finding reliable information, balancing preferences, and managing bookings. Decision fatigue and fear of missing out, caused by an overload of options, only add to the stress. Travelers need a streamlined solution that removes complexity and enhances their journey from start to finish.
Solution
Wanderlust tackles the most common travel planning frustrations with a thoughtful set of features designed to streamline the user experience and enhance flexibility.
Real-Time Travel Information: Accurate, up-to-date destination details, ensuring users make informed decisions at every step.
Personalized Itineraries: Flexible and tailored plans that reflect individual interests, preferences, and budgets.
Centralized Booking: Securely book attractions, accommodations, and more in one platform, eliminating the need for multiple apps.
Dynamic Adjustments: Easily update itineraries on the go, making it effortless to adapt to unexpected changes.
Design Process
Designing Wanderlust required a user-first approach, combining thorough research, iterative design, and constant testing to ensure the product addressed real traveler pain points effectively.
Research Phase
Our process began with a competitive analysis to identify gaps in existing travel apps and uncover opportunities for differentiation. This was followed by user research, including a survey completed by 52 participants and interviews with four frequent travelers.
The findings revealed that 92% of respondents feel stressed while traveling, with 66% identifying decision fatigue and fear of missing out as the primary pain points due to an overload of options. These insights guided Wanderlust’s focus on features like personalized itineraries and real-time updates to alleviate these frustrations.
Definition Phase
The research insights were translated into a well-structured information architecture designed to make navigation intuitive and stress-free. Key features were prioritized to reduce decision fatigue, ensuring users could effortlessly access itinerary planning, updates, and bookings.
Wireframes brought this structure to life, allowing us to test the user flow and refine the interface. Special attention was given to minimizing cognitive load by simplifying steps and creating a logical, user-friendly flow. This phase ensured a solid foundation before moving into visual design.
Design Phase
In the design phase, Wanderlust’s functionality was transformed into a visually engaging and cohesive experience. The branding was inspired by the excitement of exploration, using vibrant colors and clean typography to evoke a sense of adventure and ease.
A design system was created to ensure consistency across all elements, from icons to navigation patterns, and adaptability for various screen sizes. High-fidelity prototypes enabled iterative testing and feedback, focusing on optimizing decision-making features. This process ensured the final product was not only functional but also intuitive and enjoyable to use.
Conclusions
Working on Wanderlust was a transformative experience that challenged me to balance user needs, business goals, and practical design solutions.
During the research phase, I uncovered a wide range of user insights and initially tried to address as many pain points as possible. However, I realized this approach risked complicating the itinerary creation process. By stepping back and analyzing the competitive landscape, I focused on features that could genuinely add value for travelers, simplifying the app and honing in on decision fatigue as the core problem.
Another challenge was distancing myself from the role of the user. As an avid traveler, my personal experiences gave me a strong foundation, but I needed to remain open to perspectives beyond my own. This taught me the importance of listening to diverse user needs and designing for a broader audience.
Finally, this project required me to think beyond design and consider how Wanderlust could be profitable. This was a pivotal shift, encouraging me to align the user experience with a sustainable business strategy, making the app both valuable for users and viable for the market.
These experiences shaped me as a designer, teaching me to prioritize effectively, empathize deeply, and think holistically. Wanderlust was more than a travel app—it was a project that expanded my perspective and strengthened my ability to design impactful digital products.