Wander
INSPIRING EXPLORATION THROUGH CRAFTED TRAVEL EXPERIENCES.
AT A GLANCE
Wander is a mobile travel platform designed to help users discover authentic, local experiences beyond typical tourist attractions. By aggregating hidden gems from niche sources and tailoring recommendations based on user preferences and location, Wander encourages spontaneous exploration while supporting local communities.
TIMELINE
- ~48 hours
MY ROLE
- IdeationProduct DesignBranding
COLLABORATORS
- Sydney BernalMavis LoIbrahim Ma
THE PROBLEM
Addressing homogeneity in digital spaces.
Digital spaces shape how we explore and connect, but many platforms use similar designs, making apps feel alike and limiting true discovery. This goes beyond looks. Platforms often promote mainstream content, pushing users toward conformity and narrowing tastes. Instead of cutting personalization, we need designs that encourage variety and curiosity, helping people embrace their uniqueness.
THE ASK
How might we address homogeneity in digital spaces to make experiences feel more unique, engaging, and exploratory?
Tackling an intentionally open-ended prompt required us to be creative.
There were plenty of different routes that my teammates and I could’ve possibly took, as it was ultimately up to us to choose exactly how we want to define homogeneity. Through conversation, we opted for trend-driven sameness on social media regarding travel destinations, as most travelers tend to visit the same places, leaving many attractions undiscovered.
RESEARCH
Understanding the trip planning process through our users.
To gain a clearer insight into the issues surrounding travel, we wanted to hear from frequent travelers to identify the pain points we should address. Through three verbal interviews, we were able to examine a clear core issue.
“NOT WHAT I EXPECTED”
→ Misleading social media content left users disappointed by famous landmarks.
“WITHOUT A SET PLAN, I DON’T KNOW WHERE TO GO.”
→ Users are eager to immerse themselves in local culture, yet they often struggle to find high-quality places to visit.
“AT TIMES, IT’S FRUSTRATING TO NOT HAVE A SOLID INTINARY.”
→ Decision fatigue and disagreements among peers impact the planning process, making it harder to have a fun time.
REWORKED PROBLEM STATEMENT
How might we encourage travellers to be more spontaneous and explore local culture in a society shaped by trends and conformity?
PROCESS
Analyzing existing solutions and their problems.
To gain a clearer insight into the issues surrounding travel, we wanted to hear from frequent travelers to identify the pain points we should address. Through three verbal interviews, we were able to examine a clear core issue.
01
Searching for spots to visit while on vacation
02
02.1
Visiting travel websites
→ Produces SEO-optimized outcomes and finds the “trendy” locations
02.2
Reading articles written by bloggers
→ Too much content for a user to go through which makes it harder to choose a location
02.3
Social media
→ Filled with promotional & sponsored content designed for a targeted demographic
03
Ends up following the same travel patterns as everyone else
Eliminating the hassle of boring and tedious research.
Using the typical user flow above, we brainstormed for hours to find a strong direction to go in. We realized that addressing every issue by adding a feature to solve a problem would be difficult and would make us focus on the perfect solution, so we landed on getting rid of a part of the process to make it easier for a user to land on their desired trip destinations.
01
Searching for spots to visit while on vacation
02
02.1
Ensures location is properly setup and adjusts distance radius
02.2
Chooses what kind of places they would like to visit
02.3
Itinerary is created tailored to your settings
03
Enjoy a vacation full of unique experiences!
Using the updated desired user flow for our solution, we moved on to the design phase and started thinking about our UI and how we wanted to present the main features we had in mind.
Required onboarding
Full screen visualizer of the trip in progress
Ability to reroll, reorder, and lock in the locations it recommends
View previous trips and the locations you visited
“Trip generator” that provides your itinerary for you based on the preferences you set
Distance radius adjustment
FINAL DESIGN
A solution designed to encourage users to go beyond trends and experience spontaneous exploration.
Before any trip planning is done, set your location and adjust your radius.
To leverage spontaneous experiences, users can choose between Up and Coming and Tried and True.
Allow Wander to curate your trip, while still being able to customize your itinerary.
Users are able to generate a whole day in one click of a button, instead of generating an individual activity. Additionally, they can choose to delete, change, and add their own activity.
Discover new places on the go.
Using your current location, Wander allows you to discover places near you with a bit of information.
Provide recommendations using the Suggest page.
Submit your own photos and describe your experience, helping “niche” spots gain the traction and exposure they deserve.
REFLECTION
How feasible is the solution?
Although design competitions like these are meant to be hypothetical, and the prompt provided allowed us to define and interpret the problem in our own way, we often took a step back to consider whether or not our solution was something that can be developed and have success in the industry. Due to this, we stressed uncovering true user friction points by examining user flows to build a genuinely relevant solution.
Letting Wander take care of things versus the user having control.
While the problem highlighted spontaneity, we didn’t want our solution to simply be a "generator" that creates an itinerary for you. We aimed to keep users involved as much as possible without requiring them to do the tedious work of researching places to visit. Although there is a "Plan a trip for me" button available, the customization options and discovery page allow you to explore on your own.