Impact Travels
A platform for planning and booking eco-tourism vacation experiences.
CONTEXT
For our senior project, we were tasked with developing a comprehensive interactive solution to a problem we identified.
Growing up in the Caribbean, I have witnessed the effects of commercialized tourism on the environment and local communities. Recognizing the increasing awareness of the impact travellers leave behind, I decided to focus on eco-tourism. Our goal is to empower people with the information and tools needed to make a positive impact when they travel.
Role
Project Manager
Timeline
14 weeks
Team
Software Developer UI/UX Designer Industry Mentor Interactive Media Consultant
Tools
Miro, Figma, Adobe Creative Suite
PROBLEM
Existing digital platforms tend to prioritize travel experiences that cater to users' desires for convenience rather than minimizing impact.
How might we create an interactive platform that effortlessly enables eco-conscious travellers to book ecotourism-focused vacation experiences?
PROJECT GOALS
Empower travellers to book vacations that minimize environmental and social impact.
Guide users in making informed and sustainable vacation planning choices, focusing on minimizing environmental impact and promoting socially responsible travel practices.
OBJECTIVES
🍃
Provide insights into the environmental and social impact of travel choices.
🏝️
Offer users the convenience of booking accommodations and activities.
🧭
Facilitate the discovery of unique and alternate travel experiences.
SMART GOAL
Successfully deliver a fully refined and validated prototype, showcasing 3-5 core features, accompanied by a strategy report detailing the project's objectives, milestones, and implementation plan, to stakeholders by April 5th.
SOLUTION
Explore responsibly and leave a positive impact
Impact Travels is a mobile app reimagining vacation planning for eco-conscious travellers. It offers curated eco-tourism experiences that prioritize sustainability, environmental protection, community development, and cultural exchange.
Start your journey towards responsible travel today!
Join Impact Travels to explore responsibly and make a positive impact on the world.
CORE FEATURES
San Juan
7.5
Interactive Map
Easily navigate through destinations and discover eco-conscious accommodations, activities, and attractions with our intuitive interactive map feature. Whether you're exploring remote eco-lodges or hidden gems in bustling cities, our map makes planning your sustainable adventures a breeze.
Impact Score
Understand the environmental and social impact of your travel choices with our unique Impact Score feature. Make informed decisions that align with your values and contribute positively to the planet.
Katamah Guesthouse
8.4
Beachfront, Garden Cabin
$250 CAD night
45km away
4.0 (50 Reviews)
8.2
Culture
Events
Wildlife
Nature
Food
Curated Experiences
Immerse yourself in carefully selected eco-tourism stays and adventures that prioritize sustainability, environmental conservation, and cultural immersion
DESIGN PROCESS
Designing an experience that’s empowering, reassuring and inspiring.
Using design thinking and a user-centered framework, we developed a strategy to seamlessly connect users with desired outcomes. The project was organized across the following design phases: Empathize, Research, Ideate, and Design.
EMPATHIZE
Understanding the Problem
The first phase involves gaining a comprehensive understanding of the problem, identifying who is affected by it, and determining whether it is worth solving.
TARGET USERS
🤝
Socially Responsible
Individuals committed to making positive social impacts through their travel choices.
🌱
Environmentally Conscious
Travelers dedicated to minimizing their environmental footprint and supporting sustainable practices.
🧭
Passion for Discovery
Adventurers eager to explore unique, off-the-beaten-path destinations and experiences.
100%
All survey respondents indicted a need for a solution to the problem.
53%
“Oh, yeah. This is definitely something worth solving – totally relevant to my life”
47%
The problem is almost hitting the mark
Issues users are currently faced with:
Presently, users lack a dedicated tool for planning eco-tourism-focused vacations, emphasizing the need for a specialized platform.
Expanding the platform's incentives beyond the satisfaction of "saving the planet" would enhance its appeal to a wider audience, including those with diverse preferences, such as budget-conscious users.
Users express a desire for unique, "off-the-beaten-path" experiences that foster a deeper connection with nature and culture, surpassing the allure of conventional tourism attractions.
RESEARCH
Uncovering Key Insights
With a clear understanding of the problem and the target audience, we conducted a thorough comparative analysis to identify gaps and opportunities. We created personas and mapped out user journeys to capture their experiences.
Personas
User Journey Map
RESEARCH INSIGHTS
🌿
Increase in Awareness of Sustainable Travel
Awareness of tourism's environmental and societal impacts is driving a shift toward sustainable travel.
🔎
Lack of Focus on Eco-Tourism in Popular Platforms
The travel market lacks a platform dedicated to eco-tourism accommodations and experiences.
⚖️
Preference for Comparison-Based Decision Making
Users value the option to compare various choices according to their preferences.
IDEATION
Addressing User Needs
In the ideation phase, we brainstormed and refined innovative solutions to meet our target audience's needs, ensuring our platform aligns with eco-tourism principles while offering practical travel options.
Wireframes
USER TESTING FEEDBACK
Language Alignment with Target Audience
The language used within the app should better resonate with the target audience, fostering a user experience that encourages and empowers individuals to make environmentally conscious decisions.
More Information on Impact Score
Improvements are required in providing comprehensive information within the context screen regarding the formulation of the impact score.
Increase Font Size
Address the issue of font size being too small to ensure optimal readability and user accessibility throughout the app interface.
DESIGN
Keep it Clean, Keep it Simple
The prototype mirrors the project's theme and adheres to UX principles, particularly focusing on Jacob's Law to ensure users quickly feel familiar based on the apps they're accustomed to.
PROTOTYPE
REFLECTION
Providing Incentives Beyond Satisfaction
While the core mission is to save the environment and give back to communities, users need additional incentives such as convenience or rewards. Impact Travels not only aims to leave a positive impact but also offers well-curated experiences that connect travellers with nature and culture, along with a travel loyalty program and rewards.
Thinking about the Business Strategy
Developing an interactive strategy must include a robust business strategy. It is crucial to validate the app's viability and revenue streams to ensure its successful market launch.
Packaging Tons of Information
Providing users with easily digestible data is essential. When delivering an experience with a lot of information, it's important to present it in the simplest forms, keeping the target audience in mind.
Senior Project Presentation at the Symposium of Usability and Design in Strasbourg, France
That's all for now! But it doesn't have to end here.
Let's Connect!
ⓒ 2024 Daniel Ford