Wanderlog App
Concept Feature
AI Generated Backup Plans
Focus
My Responsibilities
Problem Space
How do we plan for the unplannable?
A meticulously planned trip from Seattle to Vancouver took an unexpected turn when we received a call informing us that our friend's dog had jumped a fence and escaped from daycare. While not everyone faces the challenge of a missing dog at the Canadian border, unforeseen hurdles can arise on any well planned journey.
Product Highlights
Trip Overview
Adjust Plans
Expand details
Refresh Options
Navigate
Users experience common pain points during travel that can now be targeted to adjust their itinerary. The backup plan feature curates solutions with relevant information to efficiently get back on track without feeling overwhelmed.
How Did We Get Here?
Our Itinerary
When it comes to changing plans, I also had to take a step back to re-evaluate this project. The initial focus was to create an app that helps users create AI generated travel plan. During the research phase, the goal shifted to become a 'backup plan' feature for the travel app Wanderlog. You've seen the solution, so let's take a step back and look at the research and design process.
Problem Breakdown
empathizing with users
I interviewed 8 users with varied travel experiences and methods for planning their itineraries. After asking 10 questions about their goals and frustrations with planning travel.
What we learned
- Some users prefer flexibility over a fully planned itinerary
- Users rely on their community for recommendations
- Users use tools like Google, TripAdvisor, and Social media to do research
- All users have had a trip not go off the rails
understanding the issue
From interviews and affinity mapping, we learned that the most common issues users faced were due to time, weather, sickness, and delays.
Defining the Problem
Users need quick and intuitive backup plans when there are unexpected setbacks during travel.
What Do We Do About It
Brainstorming + Mapping
If you are stressed out during travel, the last thing you want to see is an overwhelming amount of options. I aimed to create a feature that directly targets the setback someone is experiencing by consolidating core issues into easy to navigate buttons based on what user wanted.
Site Mapping
Once you select your issue, AI will almost infinitely generate new options. Users can add whichever options they like to their itinerary and continue with their trip.
Design Process
Ideation
After mapping the user flow, I built out two flows tackling the ‘Unforeseen Weather’ and ‘Time Crunch’ solutions. Features like live weather or toggle-able time considerations aid in users making their best decision.
Initial Sketches
Feedback from user testing concluded that a visual hierarchy of information is more convenient for the stressed out traveler.
Final Wireframe Adjustments
Homepage
01 Streamlined Adjustments
02 Simplified Information
03 Clear Call to Actions
04 Informed navigation
Key Changes
01 One page to toggle issues instead of leading to separate pages; select a specific plan from existing itinerary
02 Removed unnecessary data like live weather to avoid user fatigue
03 The refresh button has more context and improved location
04 Transit icons have less impact and more context
High Fidelity Wireframes
Homepage
Issues Panel
Landing Page - weather
Expand Details
Get Routes
Identifying Pain Points
Four users were provided with a goal of using the backup plan feature to replace their plans due to unforeseen weather. It became clear that the navigation was unclear and users were overwhelmed with information.
Task Analysis Takeaways
- Issues Panel is not clear and some users might face multiple issues
- Too many clicks to reach a solution
- Amount of information is overwhelming
- Transit information is confusing, feels like the main focus
- Users want to see their existing itinerary to pinpoint what plans need to be replaced
Retrospective
Listening to user feedback and adjusting the project direction during research was a challenge, but it ultimately led to a better final product. Working within Wanderlog's existing app and maintaining their visual identity also added another layer of complexity. Since the feature is driven by user needs, testing and iteration were key to building something efficient and effective. Engaging with users in both early stages and later in development was crucial in identifying pain points and validating design decisions.
