Overview

Discover

Empathize

Section title

Prototype

Retrospect

Odin

Odin is your go-to travel companion for discovering hidden gems and local favorites. Just ask SlothBot for recommendations, swipe through personalized suggestions, and save your top picks.

| Solo Project

| Role

Product Design - user research, visual design

| Timeline

Oct 2024 - Nov 2024

| Tools

Figma, Framer, Adobe Illustrator

The Problem 🔴

The Problem 🔴

Travelers often struggle to discover unique local experiences in new places, especially when typical apps prioritize popular tourist spots. This can make it challenging for travelers to connect authentically with a destination and find customized recommendations that fit their specific needs.

Travelers often struggle to discover unique local experiences in new places, especially when typical apps prioritize popular tourist spots. This can make it challenging for travelers to connect authentically with a destination .

Travelers often struggle to discover unique local experiences in new places.

🟢 The Solution!

🟢 The Solution!

Odin, uses an AI-powered chatbot to provide personalized, real-time recommendations for unique local spots based on user preferences. With swipable cards and a saved list feature, travelers can easily browse, save, and access tailored experiences, making exploring feel effortless and more genuine.

Odin, uses an AI-powered chatbot to provide personalized, real-time recommendations

Your personal travel companion

Your personal travel companion

Odin, your AI-powered travel buddy, provides personalized recommendations based on your preferences. Whether you're searching for food or adventure, Odin offers tailored suggestions, making your travels effortless and enjoyable.

Odin, your AI-powered travel buddy, provides personalized recommendations based on your preferences. Whether you're searching for food or adventure, Odin offers tailored suggestions, making your travels effortless and enjoyable.

Save, Organize, Explore

Save, Organize, Explore

Swipe through cards to discover and save your favorite spots. Organize them into lists and access your finds whenever you’re ready to explore, keeping everything in one easy-to-navigate place.

Swipe through cards to discover and save your favorite spots. Organize them into lists and access your finds whenever you’re ready to explore, keeping everything in one easy-to-navigate place.

Discover Hidden Gems

Discover Hidden Gems

Find local treasures off the beaten path. Odin uncovers unique, lesser-known spots that let you experience destinations like a local, giving you access to authentic adventures.

Find local treasures off the beaten path. Odin uncovers unique, lesser-known spots that let you experience destinations like a local, giving you access to authentic adventures.

Discover.

Discover.

Discover.

How to help tourists discover unique, local experiences while providing personal recommendations?

How to help tourists discover unique, local experiences while providing personal recommendations?

Research

Research

Research

I conducted interviews gathering data and insights on travelers preferences for discovering local experiences, what frustrates them about traditional travel apps, and what they look for when choosing places to visit. The goal was to understand how travelers seek out exploration.

I conducted interviews gathering data and insights on travelers preferences for discovering local experiences, what frustrates them about traditional travel apps, and what they look for when choosing places to visit. The goal was to understand how travelers seek out exploration.

Users want travel recommendations tailored to their interests.

Users want travel recommendations tailored to their interests.

A significant portion of travelers prefer authentic, local experiences over touristy attractions.

A significant portion of travelers prefer authentic, local experiences over touristy attractions.

Travelers value intuitive, easy-to-navigate apps.

Travelers value intuitive, easy-to-navigate apps.

“I want to be able to find the cool, hidden places that locals love - but it’s hard finding those spots without going through many different platforms or reading multiple threads”

“I want to be able to find the cool, hidden places that locals love - but it’s hard finding those spots without going through many different platforms or reading multiple threads”

competitive analysis

competitive analysis

competitive analysis

Target Pain Points

Target Pain Points

Target Pain Points

After having done my user research I identified and pinpointed 3 main pain points that are crucial for users.

After having done my user research I identified and pinpointed 3 main pain points that are crucial for users.

Decision Matrix: Feasibility to Value

Decision Matrix: Feasibility to Value

Decision Matrix: Feasibility to Value

I used a 2x2 prioritization matrix to evaluate and rank potential features for the app, weighing both their feasibility and value to the user. By considering each feature’s potential to enhance the user experience and its technical feasibility, I was able to determine which functionalities should be prioritized for the MVP.

I used a 2x2 prioritization matrix to evaluate and rank potential features for the app, weighing both their feasibility and value to the user. By considering each feature’s potential to enhance the user experience and its technical feasibility, I was able to determine which functionalities should be prioritized for the MVP.

Empathize.

Empathize.

Empathize.

Understanding the user

Understanding the user

Target Group: Persona

Target Group: Persona

Target Group: Persona

Based on research findings this target user’s generation is tech-savvy and embraces personalized, authentic experiences. Additionally, this demographic tends to engage with mobile apps for both inspiration and planning, making them a prime audience.

Based on research findings this target user’s generation is tech-savvy and embraces personalized, authentic experiences. Additionally, this demographic tends to engage with mobile apps for both inspiration and planning, making them a prime audience.

Ideate.

Ideate.

Ideate.

Generate creative solutions to user needs

Generate creative solutions to user needs

Crazy 8's

Crazy 8's

Crazy 8's

To ideate creative solutions, I used the Crazy 8s technique to quickly generate and visualize a range of ideas. In this exercise, I sketched eight distinct concepts in eight minutes

To ideate creative solutions, I used the Crazy 8s technique to quickly generate and visualize a range of ideas. In this exercise, I sketched eight distinct concepts in eight minutes

Information architecture

Information architecture

Information architecture

The information architecture goes through a user flow, onboarding through a personalized process to figure out an exploration plan.

The information architecture goes through a user flow, onboarding through a personalized process to figure out an exploration plan.

Prototype

Prototype

Generate creative solutions to user needs

Generate creative solutions to user needs

Visual Branding

Visual Branding

Visual Branding

These colors were chosen to evoke a sense of adventure, warmth, and nature while maintaining a clean and modern look. Taking inspiration from a beach sunset the oranges offer energy and excitement, and the blue/greens of water and the sky.

These colors were chosen to evoke a sense of adventure, warmth, and nature while maintaining a clean and modern look. Taking inspiration from a beach sunset the oranges offer energy and excitement, and the blue/greens of water and the sky.

Mascot Design

Mascot Design

Mascot Design

Odin’s mascot is a sloth because, well, who better to remind us to slow down and savor each moment?

Odin’s mascot is a sloth because, well, who better to remind us to slow down and savor each moment?

Nav Bar

Nav Bar

Animation in Figma for Splash Screen

Animation in Figma for Splash Screen

Your personal travel companion

Your personal travel companion

Users gravitate towards this application because of the AI component. Crafting options based on user needs

Users gravitate towards this application because of the AI component. Crafting options based on user needs

Save, Organize, Explore

Save, Organize, Explore

Swipe through cards to discover and save your favorite spots. Organize them into lists and access your finds whenever you’re ready to explore, keeping everything in one easy-to-navigate place.

Swipe through cards to discover and save your favorite spots. Organize them into lists and access your finds whenever you’re ready to explore, keeping everything in one easy-to-navigate place.

View Locations

View Locations

View all your saved locations in one place grouping based on your search category

View all your saved locations in one place grouping based on your search category

Location Details

Location Details

Easy to read location card providing important details like hours & menu

Easy to read location card providing important details like hours & menu

Retrospect.

Retrospect.

Retrospect.

Learnings & possible improvements

Learnings & possible improvements

What I learned

What I learned

What I learned

User-Centered Design Validates Need
Through user interviews and testing, it became clear that travelers are looking for personalized experiences that go beyond standard tourist recommendations. This insight reinforced the need for a recommendation system with customizable, dynamic filters that allow users to explore hidden gems tailored to their preferences.

Simplicity Drives Engagement
Users appreciated a straightforward and intuitive interface, emphasizing that quick access to recommendations with minimal friction is crucial. The decision to keep the layout simple—leveraging swipable cards and an interactive chatbot—was validated as an effective choice.

Challenges in Balancing Personalization and Privacy
While users appreciated personalized recommendations, they also expressed concerns about data privacy. This balance of personal relevance and respect for privacy is essential for building trust.

User-Centered Design Validates Need
Through user interviews and testing, it became clear that travelers are looking for personalized experiences that go beyond standard tourist recommendations. This insight reinforced the need for a recommendation system with customizable, dynamic filters that allow users to explore hidden gems tailored to their preferences.

Simplicity Drives Engagement
Users appreciated a straightforward and intuitive interface, emphasizing that quick access to recommendations with minimal friction is crucial. The decision to keep the layout simple—leveraging swipable cards and an interactive chatbot—was validated as an effective choice.

Challenges in Balancing Personalization and Privacy
While users appreciated personalized recommendations, they also expressed concerns about data privacy. This balance of personal relevance and respect for privacy is essential for building trust.

Next Steps

Next Steps

Next Steps

Expand Content Creation Features
Incorporating user-generated content—like sharing photos, reviews, and local tips—will add authenticity and depth to the app. This could increase community engagement and enrich the app’s recommendations, making them feel more “real” and relatable.

Add a Location Nearby Notification
Enabling location-based notifications would let the app suggest nearby spots when users enter new areas. This would enhance spontaneous exploration, offering timely recommendations that match user preferences.

Expand Content Creation Features
Incorporating user-generated content—like sharing photos, reviews, and local tips—will add authenticity and depth to the app. This could increase community engagement and enrich the app’s recommendations, making them feel more “real” and relatable.

Add a Location Nearby Notification
Enabling location-based notifications would let the app suggest nearby spots when users enter new areas. This would enhance spontaneous exploration, offering timely recommendations that match user preferences.