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︎RESEARCH

Using this exercise, we were able to narrow in where we best wanted to hone our concentration of research, analysis, and ideation. We chose the 'Pre-Travel' segment of the family travel process because it would allow us to help alleviate inefficiencies for families & provided the most flexible product outlet.

Our team surveyed the landscape of apps that are dedicated to families or group travel. We combed more than 10 apps, but decided to do a thorough analysis of these three apps (DUFL, PackPoint, & Tripit) to comprehensively define a starting block of our product research.

Findings: We found that the app development was fairly centralized to TripIt's suite of services and that most applications did not properly address the needs of families. Example: No mention of nuances when travelling with kids, intuitive interface that was easy to understand, and limited value to parents

We interviewed a group of potential users that were coarsely filtered via a screener form by: 

1 - Active family traveler
2 - Access to required interview technology
3 - Has travelled within the last 6 months
We recruited our interviewees via direct social network & Craigslist

The Field Discussion Guide that we used can be found here

The complete findings report can be found here.

With our interviewees, we performed usability testing on an app called PackPoint. It is an app that allows a person to define when, where, and how they will be travelling — the app then creates a packing list for that individual based on their selections.

Findings:1 out of 3 of the people that we interviewed mentioned that they may use it. However, that single user was also doubtful that it would save them time, but she was willing to try it.

We noticed a correlation between more experienced parents with more kids not being open to using it.

︎DEFINE

Initial concept sketches that would guide my visual artifact creation & designing the future prototypes.

To distill and categorize interrelated joys, pain points, trends, and themes — I developed a mind map of our interviewees and their answers.

Once we had a better understanding of what we'd found during our interviews, we started to chart a path towards better understanding our users through a process called Empathy Mapping. We broke down responses & quotes to our questions by attempting to determine what our subjects Said, Thought, Felt, and Did.

I was tasked with building out a persona for an experienced mother, who was a digital native, highly organized, and very anxious about the travel process.

Below is a graphical representation of the actions, feelings, and platforms that Jill uses during her travel setup journey. Her energy and anxiety starts to buildwhen anticipating all that needs to be done before travel. Being an analytical machine, she attempts to keep her emotions in check with a bit of self-care, but it's no match for travel.

Given the amount of anxiety, this is where I chose to attempt to help Jill.

Findings:
Jill experiences great joy in the initial part of the travel experience
+ connecting with others
+ organizing itineraries
+ finding cost effective means of travel

︎IDEATE

1 - Lack of entertainment for their kids
2 - Making sure that their families were 'ready' to travel
3 - That they didn't forget anything

Below you'll find initial test concepts to understand how we might develop an app that slots into this crucial time period in the pre-travel process.

It's focused around:

1 - Easing the complexity of packing lists
2 - Getting ahead of potential weather related packing mishaps
3 - Educating children in the family on how to best prepare for travel in a fun environment (as well as adults!)

Initial logic of the solution built before diving into a high-fidelity wireflow.

After establishing the features and logic of app, I finalize this part of the process by graphing my product’s set of steps and view the journey that users would follow to complete their set of actions.

︎DESIGN

Head over to inVision to check out the
live prototype.