TravelPal
TravelPal is a travel planning app that simplifies the trip preparation process, alleviating the stress associated with finding the ideal activities, staying within a budget, and accessing travel recommendations. Our goal is to enhance the overall travel experience, providing travellers with more time to enjoy their trips and less time spent on arduous planning.
Product Experience
Problem Space
Problem Statement
How might we simplify and streamline the trip planning process for travellers, ensuring a stress-free experience?
Problem Background
Since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020, the travel industry has faced unprecedented challenges, leading to significant changes in travel trends. Research indicates that trip planning, especially in the pre-travel phase, is consistently rated as the most anxiety-inducing aspect for travellers. Stressors include staying within budget, conducting exhaustive research, and finding activities tailored to individual interests [1]. As of 2023, 54% of travellers are planning more trips, with an increasing preference for last-minute travel arrangements [2].
Research Insights
User Pain Points
Using an online survey and user interviews, pain points uncovered were overwhelming pre-travel research, staying within budget, need for tailored activity suggestions and the planning process is seen as time-consuming.
Supporting Data
Research indicated that 55% of travellers interviewed (Millennial & Gen Z) find trip planning very stressful.
Feedback
Users express a desire for a streamlined planning process, and having an all in one application was identified as a priority.
Landing on the Solution
Based on our target users’ pain points, I know I wanted to work on the following features like engaging users with tailored suggestions, integration of itinerary, and budgeting tools for financial control. While I have an idea of how this solution will be enacted, I’m looking forward to working with a team to establish the “how” of the solution.
User Flows/Mockups
Future Steps
I plan to take my experience and lessons learned with this project to develop a new product with a team of designers and engineers. If in the future I am at a point where I have the time and resources to fully execute this, this is definitely a product I would enjoy developing and bringing to life.
Learnings
Product Manager Learnings:
Princess Ogele
The Co.Lab experience provided valuable insights. It emphasised the importance of user-centric design and the iterative approach for continuous improvement. I’ve learnt how to tackle the problem space instead of a solution and being able to analyse data.
Designer Learnings:
Designer Learnings:
Jo Sturdivant
- Adapting to an Established Team: Joining the team in week 6 of 8 was challenging, as I had to quickly adapt to existing workflows, dynamics, and goals. This mirrors real-world situations where you often integrate into teams mid-project, and flexibility is essential.
- Work-Blocking for Efficiency: With only two weeks to complete the project, I learned the importance of a structured work-blocking system. This approach allowed me to manage my time effectively and meet deadlines under pressure.
- Making Data-Driven Design Decisions: Unlike my past projects, I had to rely on research conducted by others. This was a valuable experience in using pre-existing data to guide design decisions, helping me focus on the core insights without starting from scratch.
Developer Learnings:
Developer Learnings:
Vanady Beard
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As the back-end developer, I learned how important it is to create efficient and reliable systems that support the entire application. This experience also taught me the importance of optimising the database and ensuring the backend is scalable and easy to maintain.
Developer Learnings:
Stephen Asiedu
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As a back-end developer, I've come to understand the importance of being familiar with various database systems and modules. This knowledge enables me to build diverse applications and maintain versatility in my work. I've also learned that the responsibility for making the right choices rests on my shoulders, guided by my best judgement.
Developer Learnings:
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Developer Learnings:
Maurquise Williams
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- Process of Creating an MVP: Developing a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) taught me how to focus on delivering core functionalities balancing between essential features and avoiding scope creep.
- Collaboration in a Real-World Tech Setting: This experience taught me how to collaborate efficiently in a fast-paced tech environment, keeping the team aligned and productive, even while working remotely across time zones.
- Sharpening Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills: This experience honed my ability to think critically and solve problems efficiently. By tackling challenges and finding quick solutions, I sharpened my decision-making and troubleshooting skills in a dynamic, real-world setting.
Developer Learnings:
Jeremiah Williams
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All in all this experience was very awesome I learned that in coding with others being transparent is key
Developers Learnings:
Justin Farley
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I learned how important communication is when working with a team. Communication provides understanding, advice, ideas, and much more. While working with the product team, I’ve found that communication keeps everything flowing smoothly. Working with a team also showed me that every member brings something different to the table and we all have to work together in order to align and meet our end goal.