Overview
Recount is a travel-logging app that allows you to collaborate with friends to document your travels. Incorporate information like text, photos, audio, videos, music, and health and fitness data to create a multidimensional memory.
Team Me, myself, and I
Duration 14 weeks
My roles User research, UX Design, UI Design
Tools Figma, Adobe Illustrator, Miro
Research: User interviews, Survey, Competitive Analysis
Framing the Problem
I noticed from personal experience that it is hard to encapsulate my travel experience on a travel-logging app. Most apps limit me to only photos and text, therefore lacking the multidimensionality of a travel experience. As first step to tackle this problem, I first conducted in-depth research to help me frame the precise problem and understand others' perspectives on this issue.
Interviews & Survey
I conducted user interviews as the first step of my research process. I interviewed somewhat frequent and frequent travelers who traveled both domestically and internationally. I used qualitative questions (open-ended questions) to learn more about my audience.
I then conducted surveys to understand my users on a broader scale. I used quantitative questions (multiple-choice and rating scales) to provide insights into my user group.
Interview sample questions:
How do you document your travels?
Tell me about your most recent trip to another city/country.
If you can only remember one thing from that trip, what is it you remember?
Tell me about your most recent trip to another city/country.
If you can only remember one thing from that trip, what is it you remember?
Survey sample questions:
Do you have the habit of keeping a journal/diary?
Do you travel alone or with friends and family?
Rank these hypothetical travel scenarios based on memorability.
Do you travel alone or with friends and family?
Rank these hypothetical travel scenarios based on memorability.
Quotes from interviewees
“I take pictures of everything and I have all of the photos I took on my trip on my phone. I’ve got like 30,000 photos on my phone right now though. It’s really hard to manage them."
Jenny, Biologist
Jenny, Biologist
“I have all these photos I want to share with my friends and I have to do it through either Google Photo or text, both are super inconvenient.”
Mabel, Pet store owner
Mabel, Pet store owner
“The most memorable experience was when we celebrated my friend's birthday in this restaurant in Spain.”
Steve, Student
Steve, Student
Competitive analysis
For the next step, I researched competitors and created a competitive analysis using the SWOT method. This provided me with better insight into the strengths, weaknesses, and features of existing services. I can determine gaps in the market through this method and determine which niche my app can cater to. I found out that there is a gap in the market for travel-logging app that allows multiple users to collaborate.
Define: Persona, Scenario
I then generated a persona from my research to represent the main user type. This helps me understand the target audience's needs, behaviors, and goals.
I then brainstormed a scenario in which Emma would use Recount in her daily life. This helps me understand and envision how Recount fits into users' lives and its context of use.
Ideate: Brainstorm, User flow
I used How Might We? question to brainstorm and pinpoint the right questions to solve. The two questions I prioritized solving are: How might we ensure that collaborative travel logs are organized and easy to navigate?
I created a user flow map, which maps the steps users take to add a new story or search for a story.
Design: Design system, Wireframes, Prototype
Sketches
While sketching, I came up with the idea to use a color-coding system in addition to their profile picture to differentiate between users while they are collaborating on the same story.
Design system
Adding new story & inviting friends to edit together