SlowTown
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Parsons School of Design
(MS Strategic Design & Management) -
UX Designer
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User Research, Prototyping, Wireframing
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Tourism
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January - May 2023
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Figma
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Maria Otero & Claire Zhuang
A unique & fresh perspective on tourism in New York City.
The Problem
Travel has become a way to keep up with trends and become more popular online. This can actually stop you from:
Experiencing the true benefits of getting out of your bubble and;
Connecting with yourself and your surroundings.
Slow Travel
A new concept: slow travel, invites people to truly think why they want to go places instead of traveling to gain likes and popularity in their social media.
Slow travel can be encouraged by indulging in the following:
Eating regional dishes with local & seasonal produce
Food & Beverage
To expand cultural knowledge and understanding
Experience & Activities
Choosing sustainable ways to get around
Transportation
Focusing on self-care and personalized experiences
Wellness & Wellbeing
Survey Insights
We conducted a survey with 30 participants with the objective of understanding their experiences when they visited NYC for the first time.
43%
created their own itinerary when they visited New York City the first time
40%
went around the city with a local friend / relative
90%
preferred eating at local restaurants in the city
90%
chose walking / subway as their primary mode of transport
27%
felt that they did not get the true ‘New York’ experience because...
“We where caught in tourist trap website recommendations.”
“I think there is much more out there that is difficult to find when you search on Google.”
Interview Insights
Age Group
18-35 year-olds
No. of Interviews
8
“I like when someone recommends a place to me because I need to see it and not because the place needs to be seen.”
Recommendations based on who the traveler is or from a local friend would enhance their travel experience.
The main purpose for people to travel is to experience something new and meaningful in their life.
No superficial plans but focusing on their personal interests would be ideal for tourists.
People have an unspoken peer pressure to see the most popular destinations in NYC.
User Persona
User Persona
Julia
Designer, 28
Demographics
Originally from LA, moved to NYC 6 months ago to work at a branding agency in Tribeca.
Behaviors / Actions
Not a globetrotter but likes to learn about and see the nuances of a city.
Needs / Pain Points
Wants to see places that would be good fits for her vibe / aesthetic instead of feeling the peer pressure and having to visit popular spots.
Needs to know how safe a place is and cares about warmth / comfort.
User Journey
This journey map depicts the current typical journey our target user goes through, identifying the frustrations and needs along the way.
Solution Objectives
To create an innovative tourism app:
To build connections among locals & tourists
To encourage people to slow down & truly connect/reflect
To incentivize users to engage in local/sustainable experiences
To harness the power of recommendations
Competitor Analysis
a custom “planner friend” that texts you things to do in your city according to your lifestyle
volunteers accompany visitors through the City neighborhoods on free, informal walks
provides personalized recommendations of places to go near a user's current location based on browsing history
Differentiating Factors
Curated List of Experiences (Friend Recommendations)
Encouraging Mindfulness
Safety & Sustainability Ratings
Blog for Local & Personal Insights
Information Architecture
Low-Fidelity Wireframes
Visual Styleguide
#85927D
#2D3142
#F0FF93
#EAE8FF
UI Components
Primary Button
Secondary Button
Tertiary Button
Icons
Badges
Calendar
Final Prototype
Takeaways
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Working on this app with two other students taught me leadership & management skills, compassion, trust and time management.
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We studied several international students’s experiences of when they first came to NYC and worked hard to create something fresh, that solves problems that are not usually spoken of.
Next Steps
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Making the copy embody slow travel and mindfulness more.
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Adding a feature that allows users to set their own goals for truly connecting with themselves, others & their surroundings.
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Exploring partnerships with local establishments to offer coupons/rewards.
