Wilderness Tourism App Case Study

Mobile app designed to aid sustainable practices within local wilderness tourism enterprises.

Project overview

Tourism's Uncertain Road Ahead

The local wilderness tourism community faces multi-faceted challenges in this evolving landscape. While the lifting of travel restrictions has provided some respite, the industry is far from fully recovered. Limited government funding during the height of the pandemic has left many businesses financially strained, with some unable to fully reopen or rehire staff. Furthermore, the unpredictability of potential future disruptions adds another layer of complexity, making it crucial for businesses to develop resilient and adaptive strategies.

The designer’s hat

Role & responsibilities

The local wilderness tourism community faces multi-faceted challenges in this evolving landscape. While the lifting of travel restrictions has provided some respite, the industry is far from fully recovered. Limited government funding during the height of the pandemic has left many businesses financially strained, with some unable to fully reopen or rehire staff. Furthermore, the unpredictability of potential future disruptions adds another layer of complexity, making it crucial for businesses to develop resilient and adaptive strategies.

A 3-month sprint

Over a span of nine months, we poured our creativity, expertise, and countless work hours into the project. This duration allowed us to meticulously examine, revise, and perfect each aspect of the UX design, aiming for a flawless and user-friendly experience.My focus was on creating low and high fidelity mockups using Adobe XD that showcased the improvements to navigation.

Pain points

My research showed that for the local wilderness tourism community, the focus must transition from price
wars to meeting visitor needs for long-term engagement. The objective should center on creating enduring
value and building lasting loyalty among consumers.

Monetary strains

Amid the financial constraints induced by the pandemic, pursuing a competitive strategy based on price reduction or offering discounts becomes an impractical avenue for businesses. Many are already grappling with decreased revenue streams, increased operational costs, and, in some cases, significant debt incurred to stay afloat during the worst of the crisis. In this precarious financial landscape, undercutting prices or offering significant discounts could further erode already thin profit margins, making it unsustainable for businesses in the long run.

User preferences

The data collected from our interviews and surveys paints a compelling picture: users are less attracted to budget-friendly options and more inclined toward tailored, thoroughly researched experiences. People are seeking more than just monetary value; they want experiences that resonate with their interests, lifestyles, and values.

The designer’s hat

Role & responsibilities

The local wilderness tourism community faces multi-faceted challenges in this evolving landscape. While the lifting of travel restrictions has provided some respite, the industry is far from fully recovered. Limited government funding during the height of the pandemic has left many businesses financially strained, with some unable to fully reopen or rehire staff. Furthermore, the unpredictability of potential future disruptions adds another layer of complexity, making it crucial for businesses to develop resilient and adaptive strategies.

A 3-month sprint

Over a span of nine months, we poured our creativity, expertise, and countless work hours into the project. This duration allowed us to meticulously examine, revise, and perfect each aspect of the UX design, aiming for a flawless and user-friendly experience.My focus was on creating low and high fidelity mockups using Adobe XD that showcased the improvements to navigation.

Interview insights

I conducted a stakeholder interview session with three business owners and entrepreneurs to better
understand their goals, needs, and pains. We discussed potential solutions and brainstormed ideas. Here
are the key takeaways from the round tables.

Value-added
rewards

Users made it clear that they aren't just looking for financial incentives; rather, they appreciate rewards that add to the quality of their experience. These could be anything from exclusive event access to loyalty points redeemable for future activities, which serve as motivators to explore and engage more deeply with the local wilderness community.

Timely user engagement

Our discussions highlighted the critical nature of user engagement, especially as businesses prepare for the busy tourism season starting in May. Users are more inclined to return to or advocate for businesses that offer a compelling, rewarding experience.

Adapting to
evolving needs

While they appreciate the immediate impact of meaningful rewards, they also want to see businesses adapting to long-term consumer trends for sustainability and engagement. This dual focus emphasizes the importance of a strategy that provides immediate benefits to the local wilderness tourism community while also setting the stage for long-term success.

Problem statement

How might we help seasonal tourism businesses shift their focus to serve a broader, sustainability-conscious consumer base?

Targeted audience

The targeted demographic comprises individuals who prioritize healthy living and sustainable practices. Their reduced sensitivity to price fluctuations sets them on a path to more rapid financial recovery. Additionally, this segment of consumers has a natural affinity for eco-friendly travel experiences.

Huyen

Communication Coordinator | Los Angeles

While Huyen enjoys occasional outdoor activities, she's meticulous in selecting brands and services that align with her social and environmental values. Huyen’s curiosity for the outdoors is often fuelled by social media, giving her inspiration for places to go and activities to try. When it comes to planning these excursions, her priorities are accessibility, safety, and affordability.

Goals
  • Make a positive impact on the world by participating in eco-conscious activities
  • Broaden her horizons with fresh activities while also uplifting local businesses
  • Find extra incentives that will encourage her to spend more time outdoors
Pain Points
  • Disappointed by the often ambiguous and misused concept of "sustainability"
  • Lacks clarity on what activities are available that align with both her interests and her values
  • Seeks guidelines on how to navigate Indigenous lands respectfully

Design principles

Aiming High

To create an impactful and enduring solution for seasonal
tourism businesses and their consumers, I adhered to three core
design principles:

Personalized Exploration

The app is designed to offer tailor-made experiences for each user. By incorporating preferences, past activities, and user behavior, the app aims to provide unique, deeply researched travel and activity recommendations that go beyond just cost-effectiveness.

Authentic Relationships

The app is designed to offer tailor-made experiences for each user. By incorporating preferences, past activities, and user behavior, the app aims to provide unique, deeply researched travel and activity recommendations that go beyond just cost-effectiveness.

Broad Inclusivity

The app is designed to offer tailor-made experiences for each user. By incorporating preferences, past activities, and user behavior, the app aims to provide unique, deeply researched travel and activity recommendations that go beyond just cost-effectiveness.

Branding

Moodboard

I put together a mood board that encapsulates a minimalist and vibrant aesthetic. The
minimalist aspect leans into the simplicity and elegance of the brand, streamlining user
interaction, while vibrant accents are used to evoke a sense of energy, positivity, and freshness.

Color Palette

The dynamic hues selected for the app are deliberately spirited and inviting, providing an animated setting that aims to boost user registrations in the travel and tourism sector. This colorful interface fosters a positive and uplifting user journey, mirroring the transformative experience the app aims to provide while motivating users to undertake sustainable actions.

Mockup

Log in - Onboarding

The log in page serves as the gateway to accessing a user's account, providing a secure and personalized experience. Designed with simplicity and functionality in mind, it ensures a seamless and efficient process for authentication.

Dashboard

At the heart of the dashboard lies a carefully curated selection of tour categories. This categorization enables users to easily navigate and select the type of local tours that best align with their interests. Additionally, the dashboard features a striking "Popular" section that captivates users with a visually appealing display. Users have the option to swipe through this section, uncovering hidden gems and top-rated experiences that have captured the attention of fellow adventurers.

Local Details for Selected Tours

The diary feature is a key component of the Vipeel app redesign, allowing users to effectively track their skincare progress through notes and photographs. It provides a visual representation of the skin's evolution over time, creating a personalized and tangible narrative of the user's skincare journey. This feature not only engages users by giving them a platform to document and reflect on their experiences, but also reinforces the effectiveness of the Vipeel products, as users can see their own transformations unfolding right in the app.

Loyalty Leaf Rewards

With Loyalty Leafs Reward, every user becomes a valuable part of our growing community and gains access to an array of exclusive benefits. Loyalty Leafs Reward offers users exclusive discounts and offers tailored to their preferences. As users reach specific point milestones, they gain access to discounts on merchandise, event tickets, customized experiences, and more.