Individual-led project inspired by podcast episode featuring Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky, where he emphasizes the future goal of Airbnb to be more people oriented.
Week 1: Brainstorming, Problem Statement, Competitive Analysis
Week 2: Interviews, Personas, User Journey Map
Week 3: Low-Fidelity and High-Fidelity Prototype, Usability Test
The Airbnb booking process lacks engagement. Currently, users search for a place to stay and then may not interact with the app again once a place is booked. The app focuses primarily on booking accommodations, missing out on building human connections, which are crucial for enhancing the travel experience. This lack of personal interaction diminishes the overall value and enjoyment of the user's journey.
I conducted my own online research and interviewed six individuals to gather detailed insights into their travel experiences and the steps they take in planning and sharing trips.
Why qualitative research? Hiroki Asai, Global Head of Marketing at Airbnb states the benefits of qualititative research for the Airbnb team in the podcast Design Better. Asai states “qual is really really helpful because it helps you understand the feel of the data…it really helps you understand the sentiment and the human experience of where that data is coming from.”
Here’s what some of the users said when asked about planning and booking travel abroad.
Shared albums is sometimes cumbersome, and texted photos are not easily retrievable
-Interviewee 1, experience traveler
The hardest part about planning for a trip is narrowing down the possibilities to ones that appeal to me. Always too many options and have to make hard choices about what to include.
-Interviewee 2, experienced traveler
Itineraries makes sure family members know where I am and can also plan trips there so we can have shared experiences.
-Interviewee 3, young traveler
Remembering my trip and retelling the story over and over it gets exhausting at a point!
-Interviewee 4, young traveler
This section demonstrates the designed solution, from low-fidelity wireframes to a high-fidelity prototype. Figma was used as the design tool.
I designed a basic user flow diagram to illustrate how users would navigate from one screen to another in the prototype, and brainstormed the various features to include.
The first version of Airbnb Connect came to life through a low-fidelity prototype, starting with the most basic building blocks. By designing simple wireframes, I could play around with the layout and visualize where everything should go. After spending hours playing around with different spacing and font options, the basic blocks finally came together.
View the prototype here
View recent stays while searching for new trips. A dedicated section shows past trips, helping to compare and explore similar options.
Easily view who you've traveled with on past trips. A sections shows the people you've shared adventures with, helping you plan future trips together.
Connect with friends by adding them to your travel network. See your current friends, search for new connections, and grow your community. Perfect for planning trips with friends you know or meeting new travel companions.
Effortlessly expand your travel network by syncing your contacts and sending invites through social media or messaging platforms.
Capture your adventures by creating personalized travel journals. Easily log destinations, upload photos, and document daily activities. Share journals with friends or make them private, allowing others to experience
Receive customized travel recommendations based on previously logged experiences and personal preferences. By offering destination and activity suggestions, this feature encourage more time spent exploring the app and planning new trips.
