Travel2gether
An online platform to find the suitable travel buddies
An MVP project of Maliyana
Overview
Maliyana is an online platform startup catering to expats in Germany, addressing the challenge of discovering suitable after-work and weekend activities. Focusing initially on the Chinese-speaking market, Maliyana aims to simplify the process of finding and joining local clubs and experiences in Europe for expats.
Travel2gether, an early MVP of Maliyana, was created to assist Chinese-speaking exchange students in Europe who sought travel companions and accommodations through Facebook groups. Recognizing the difficulties in tracking relevant posts on these platforms, Maliyana decided to develop a testing website named Travel2gether using WordPress. This choice was driven by the platform's speed and simplicity, allowing for quick testing and evaluation of the concept.
Role
UX and UI designer
Designing a website for Travel2gether from concept to delivery.
Responsibilities
Date
May, 2022
Tools
Understanding the user
Summary
I conducted interviews and created empathy maps to understand the users I’m designing for and their needs. A primary user group identified through research was Chinese speaking students and exchange students in Europe, who like to travel a lot with low budget.
Persona & User journey map
Sitemap
I created a sitemap of the Wordpress website. It does not only include the structure of the website, also the important content and Wordpress plugins.
Competitive audit
I conducted a competitive audit to check out different features, user characteristics, and market needs through different Chinese and English travel buddy finding websites and social platform groups. ​
Wordpress website
Main pages
For this project, we didn't do lo-fi or hi-fi prototypes on design software. We started building the website with Wordpress directly. Unfortunately, the website in no longer available. Here are some screenshots of the main pages I recreated the English version main pages in Figma to showcase.
Users could see the others' profile, when clicking the names. At the user profile page, there are basic information such as located city and country, nick name, language, gender, social links, age. Users could also write a small paragraph to product themselves. There is also space for users to post their travel photos. Last but not least, users could show their travel style and travel budget by selecting the multiple choices we provide. Users could get to know more about their potential travel b
Users could use this page to write a detailed advertisement to find travel buddies. We provide different questions such as your travel style, your spending style, your budget for this trip... for potential travel buddies to to know what kind of trip could be expected.
This page is the bulletin board where users could find all travel buddy finding posts. It is simple and clear at a glance. Users could see the image of the travel destination, as well as the title of the advertisement. Users could also find advertisements with the search feature.
Users could see the others' profile, when clicking the names. At the user profile page, there are basic information such as located city and country, nick name, language, gender, social links, age. Users could also write a small paragraph to product themselves. There is also space for users to post their travel photos. Last but not least, users could show their travel style and travel budget by selecting the multiple choices we provide. Users could get to know more about their potential travel b
From users to design
Through user interviews and surveys, we've gained valuable insights indicating that the majority of students tend to embark on their journeys with budget constraints in mind. They prefer economical accommodation options, such as hostel dormitories, and rely on public transportation for commuting. Nevertheless, when it comes to their travel preferences, we've discerned a diverse range of styles. SConsequently, we have developed a range of options within our post-ad submission and profile pages to enable users to express their travel preferences more precisely.
Usability studies
We conducted two rounds of moderated online interviews with 5 participants each round, and once online survey with 350 participants. The interview studied the usability of the platform, and the survey investigated the travel preference and behaviour among the Chinese-speaking expats and students in Europe. Findings from the studies helped guide the designs of the Wordpress website.
Results
Takeaways
Impact:
We built the travel buddy and couch searching platform with the following key Features:
1. No hidden posts or comments thanks to the algorithm-free platform.
2. Flexibility to link users' profile to the social media platforms of their choice, avoiding direct connections.
3. Easy-to-use ad form offers practical travel-related options, helping users create informative ads.
4. Customize your profile with a range of travel-related choices, allowing users to craft a detailed personal image.
What I learned:
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There are a lot of details need to be thought through during the design process. Otherwise, users could have a hard time moving forward even at the log in and register process.
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There could be technical constraints during the design process. It's important to communicate with the developers.
Next steps
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Add chat box and tripping features for users to stay on the platform.
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Add sponsored ads in the bulletin board to create profit.
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Refine login and registration processes.
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Conduct more user research to determine any new areas of need.
