Travel Planning with Facebook
The search process for scenic views is long and tedious. Seenic emerged as a solution something something. End to end mobile design.
view final prototype
Role
UI / UX designer
and researcher
Timeline
4 weeks
Tools
Figma
Photoshop
Miro
Facebook (Meta) is the world's largest social media platform with consistent usage of Events and Messenger features.
While its main features for social sharing have remained strong, there has been a need in travel planning between users that has yet been fulfilled.
problem
Many Facebook users utilize existing features to initiate group travel, but current feature limitations make the experience frustrating and disjointed.
solution brief
A one stop platform that consolidates and organizes information online that is easy for users to navigate.
Peripheral actions unveil real user needs and potential for improvement.
By observing peripheral actions, we can pick up on ways users are using products and find ways of improvement blah bah blah.
Users improvise through Events page to plan and organize travel ideas on Facebook.
Plans and itinerary posted through screenshots
Travel ideas on external platforms are scattered and disconnected from the planning space.
Plans and itinerary posted through screenshots
Plans and itinerary posted through screenshots
Opportunities for improvement through user insights.
To tailor my research to the needs of current Facebook users, I limited my selection of participants to those who had planned at least one trip on the platform within the past 12 months. 15 surveys and 3 interviews were conducted that revealed major insights for user needs.
Competitive market lacks FB's userbase advantages
The strengths gleaned from insights allow for significant impact on the platform as Facebook offers a distinct advantage over its competitors due to its extensive user base and partnerships with other major platforms i.e. Instagram and Airbnb.
competitive analysis
feature matrix
Improving the experience with current users in mind
Through interviews and research, a user persona was developed to encapsulate a collective experience, encompassing the frustrations and motivations of all users.
user persona
Redefining the problem through research insights
Initially I hypothesized that users' primary concern was the need for organization. However, further research proved this to be secondary, as users were able to work around these limitations despite its frustrations. What was really missing was a way for users to share their suggestions and ideas in a centralized location and collaborate on travel decisions.
updated problem
Facebook users that utilize FB to plan travel lack a centralized location to share suggestions and confirm travel details, making collaboration and planning between friends difficult and frustrating.
Redefining the problem through research insights
Initially I hypothesized that users' primary concern was the need for organization. However, further research proved this to be secondary, as users were able to work around these limitations despite its frustrations. What was really missing was a way for users to share their suggestions and ideas in a centralized location and collaborate on travel decisions.
priority matrix
task flow
wireframes
Iterations and improvements through user testing
Initial user testing via mid-fidelity wireframes with 100% task flow completion via user testing. Updates were made prior to hi-fidelity prototyping.
Users had trouble posting new ideas directly from shared page
Users looked for indication of number of votes on each post
"Add New" was added for easy access
Voting buttons were updated to indicate number of votes
Options to connect, share, and keep track with planning
Itinerary and organizational planning feature
Page to share, consolidate, and make decisions
HI-FIDELITY PROTOTYPE
Getting started: Share directly from other platforms to Facebook integration i.e. instagram
Added itinerary for planning and organization, calendar, to do list, and link to messenger.
Consolidated page to share travel ideas and engage in planning.
A look at the final Hi-Fidelity Designs
Features through prototypes are shown to solve the major user pain points.
takeaways
SEENIC was an enjoyable and direct response to a travel challenge I faced. Given the brief 4-week timeline, I focused on establishing essential functionalities to kickstart the concept. With additional time, my aim is to enhance the Discovery UI for a visually inspiring interface, delve into advanced AR services, and develop more offline navigational tools for improved directional support. Future plans involve crafting enhanced visual reviews through a community-driven platform.
© 2024 Pamela Hsiung