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Wandering
Nomad
Wandering
Nomad
Wandering
Nomad
The Wandering Nomad app was designed to address a critical challenge faced by solo travelers: safely connecting with locals to enrich their cultural experiences. Through user research and iterative design, we uncovered key pain points, including safety concerns, communication barriers, and the difficulty of finding authentic recommendations.
Team size: 4
My Responsibilities:
User research, content strategy, wireframing, prototyping, and testing. UI design
Scope
Project length: 4 weeks
User research, competitive analysis, prototyping, and testing, resulting in a mobile app with seamless navigation, personalized recommendations, and trust-building features.
Tools used
Design and Prototyping: Figma
User Research: Surveys, interviews
Project Management: Trello, Slack
The Research: Listening to Solo Travelers
The Research: Listening to Solo Travelers
To deeply understand the needs of both solo travelers and locals, we embarked on a structured, user-centered research journey. Each step was designed to uncover real challenges, validate assumptions, and guide the design of The Wandering Nomad.
We conducted interviews, surveys, and competitive analysis with 25 participants aged 25-40. Here's what they told us:
Through affinity mapping and empathy mapping, we synthesized findings to reveal key user needs and frustrations.
Safety First
83% of travelers prioritized safety when engaging with locals, and many avoided connections due to a lack of trust.
Cultural Immersion matters
While not always the primary goal, 67% of travelers agreed that meaningful cultural experiences significantly enhanced their trips.
Planning Overwhelm
Many travelers felt stressed by the lack of reliable resources for discovering local activities.
The problem: bridging the Gap
The problem: bridging the Gap
Anna, a photographer from Vancouver, dreams of capturing hidden gems and exploring authentic cultural experiences. However, solo travel often feels overwhelming:
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She struggles to find trustworthy locals for recommendations.
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Safety concerns limit her willingness to engage with new people.
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Crowded tourist spots lack the cultural richness she seeks.
On the other hand, Cheryl, a teacher from Bali, wants to share her cultural heritage while supplementing her income. She faces challenges too:
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Communicating with travelers unfamiliar with her language.
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Showcasing her unique offerings in an accessible way.
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Ensuring her efforts to connect with travelers are safe and reliable.
Problem Statement
How might we provide solo travelers like Anna with safe and transparent ways to connect with locals like Cheryl, enriching their cultural experiences while supporting locals' needs?
The solution: The Wandering Nomad App
The solution: The Wandering Nomad App
The Wandering Nomad connects solo travelers with locals through a secure, user-friendly platform designed to enrich both sides of the journey
For Travelers: The app provides a directory of local experiences tailored to your interests—whether it’s a photography tour, a cooking class, or a hidden gem recommended by a local expert. Safety features, such as photo verification and reviews, ensure peace of mind.
For Locals: It’s a chance to showcase your culture, offer unique activities, and connect with travelers who share your passions—all while earning income..
We translated our research into actionable solutions and tested them rigorously:
Wireframes and Prototypes
Designed low- and high-fidelity prototypes of the app to map user flows and features.
Usability Testing
Participants highlighted the app’s seamless navigation and intuitive design but suggested simplifying the verification process and improving labeling for clarity.
Feature Prioritization
Using the MoSCoW method, we focused on delivering core functionalities first, such as the activity directory and secure communication tools
Test: Fine-Tuning with Real Users
Test: Fine-Tuning with Real Users
During testing, travelers loved how easy it was to navigate the app and find activities that matched their interests. Locals appreciated the platform’s simplicity and the opportunities it created for meaningful cultural exchange.
But we also discovered areas to improve: users wanted fewer steps to connect with locals, simpler verification processes, and clearer instructions. These insights became our roadmap for further enhancements.
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Conclusion and Takeaways
Conclusion and Takeaways
The Wandering Nomad bridges the gap between solo travelers and locals, addressing challenges like safety, trust, and accessibility while fostering genuine cultural connections. By focusing on user-centered design, the project delivered a secure and intuitive platform that enriches travel experiences through meaningful interactions.
Key Takeaways:
Safety and trust are essential for solo travelers to engage with locals confidently.
Cultural immersion enhances travel experiences, making local connections invaluable.
Simplicity in design improves usability and encourages adoption.
User-centered research drives impactful, real-world solutions.
This project highlights how thoughtful design can empower individuals, fostering cross-cultural understanding and making solo travel safer, more enriching, and deeply fulfilling.
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