Dreaming up a trip is the easiest part of every journey. All you need is a working imagination. The other bits before you go? Not so easy, or so much fun. You’ve got to book tickets, worry about accommodation, work out budgets, apply for visas…then you’ve got to plan your itinerary. And what about recording memories for sharing during the trip itself? It can be hard to keep track of the many aspects of a holiday via scraps of paper and a jumble of emails.

Empathising with Users
We began by conducting user research to identify travelers' pain points and needs. Using personas, we represented diverse user profiles, ensuring the app addressed a variety of travel preferences. Through user journey mapping, we visualised the planning, tracking, and sharing stages of travel, while contextual inquiry provided insight into real-world usage scenarios.

Defining the Problem
A clear problem statement guided the project: to simplify the travel planning and tracking process while enhancing user experience. How Might We Questions (HMWs) explored opportunities to make itinerary creation, packing, and activity tracking more intuitive. Goals and objectives were established to prioritise usability, offline functionality, and multi-device compatibility.

Ideation
During brainstorming sessions, we identified opportunity areas, such as integrating packing lists, to-do lists, and activity sharing. Affinity mapping grouped related ideas, and concept sketches brought the app's features to life, ensuring alignment with user expectations and brand identity.

Prototyping
We developed wireframes to outline the app’s structure and key interactions. High-fidelity mockups incorporated LUXE’s sleek and intuitive visual design. Interactive clickable prototypes enabled testing of core features, transitioning from low-fidelity drafts to polished high-fidelity prototypes.

Testing
Comprehensive usability testing ensured the app’s interface was intuitive and functional across scenarios. A/B testing evaluated design alternatives, while iterative feedback loops refined the user experience. A final heuristic evaluation confirmed the app’s ease of use and alignment with travel needs.

Implementation
The app supports offline use, eliminating concerns about roaming charges and connectivity. It’s compatible with iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad, providing a seamless experience across devices. A comprehensive design handoff ensured accurate implementation, supported by a robust style guide/design system. With a focus on responsive design, the app adapts effortlessly to various screen sizes, offering a consistent experience.

With features like itinerary creation, activity tracking, and seamless sharing, the LUXE app transforms the travel experience, ensuring every step of the journey is organised, enjoyable, and memorable.