Travel Tribe
A supportive platform designed to address the unique needs of solo women travelers, fostering safety, connection, and confidence.
Febin Mohamed
THE CHALLENGE
Bridging Challenges Faced By Solo Women Travelers
The goal for this project was to design a platform that empowers solo women travelers while addressing the unique challenges they face. Traveling alone can be both empowering and daunting, and we sought to bridge this gap by creating a solution that balances safety, connection, and local guidance.
The high-level goals were to:
Address the key challenges of solo female travelers, particularly around safety and support.
Facilitate meaningful connections between like-minded travelers to share experiences and resources.
Provide an intuitive, easy-to-navigate platform tailored to the unique needs of solo travelers
THE SOLUTION
Curated Support, Local Insights, and Shared Exploration for Solo Women Travelers
Destination & Interest-Based Group pages
Access destination-specific or interest-based groups tailored to your travel needs.
Explore curated tips, advice, and itineraries for seamless trip planning.
Filter content using tags for quick browsing.
Save tips and itineraries for easy reference
Local Ambassador Network
Access a trusted point of contact for emergencies, language barriers, or urgent needs.
Connect with local volunteers for personalized support and insights.
Get advice on navigating cultural nuances and discovering hidden gems.
Rely on trusted ambassadors for destination-specific questions and safety concerns.
Group Trip Opportunities
Join or organize group trips with like-minded women for shared exploration.
Reduce travel anxieties with planned group activities and companionship.
Share resources and build connections during collaborative trips.
Discover trips that align with your interests and destination goals.
Connect with Fellow Solo Travelers
Find and connect with other solo women travelers for shared activities.
Use group chats or private messaging to coordinate plans and exchange ideas.
Build friendships and explore destinations together while maintaining independence.
Foster a supportive network to enhance the solo travel experience.
WHITE PAPER RESEARCH
Bridging the Gap for Solo Travelers: 73% Seek Safety and Support
73% of women hesitate to travel alone due to safety concerns, with 64% of experienced travelers also seeking reliable resources according to the study done by the Solo Female Travelers Club. These insights highlight the need for trusted connections, group trips, and actionable advice.
“I don’t trust the beautiful Instagram photos or collaboration ads on social media. I would like to trust influencers but they don’t share the true story.”
COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS + THE GAP
Travel Apps Missed the Mark on Support
While analyzing the top apps for solo women travelers, I identified gaps in how they address user needs. Features that streamline access to personalized travel advice, local insights, and community-driven support were either underdeveloped or missing entirely. These findings highlighted an opportunity to fill the void with a solution that better supports solo women travelers.
Trip BFF
Going Solo
Nomad Her
USER INTERVIEWS
Insightful Struggles Unveiled Through In-Depth Conversations
To understand the unique challenges solo women travelers face, I conducted interviews with a diverse group of participants. These discussions revealed recurring pain points in areas such as trip planning, safety management, and fostering connections. By organizing the findings into key themes by Affinity Mapping, I gained valuable insights that informed the app's features.
RESEARCH QUESTIONS :
What aspects of planning a solo trip do you find most difficult or frustrating?
What tools or methods do you currently use for trip planning?
Are there any features you find particularly helpful or lacking in the platforms you use?
What kind of information and resources would be most useful for you?
Have you connected with other solo travelers during your trips? How did these interactions happen, and how did they impact your journey?
Can you recall a specific instance when technology significantly helped—or failed—during your travels?
THE MAIN INSIGHT
The Missing Links in Solo Women’s Travel Experiences: Resources, Support, and Connection
Theme 1 : Lack of Organized, Reliable Resources:
Travelers frequently struggle to find credible and well-structured information tailored to solo women.
Many expressed the need for tips and advice from other women that are specific, practical, and rooted in real experiences.
Existing resources are often fragmented, leaving travelers to sift through scattered information without guidance.
Theme 2 : Limited Local Support Systems:
Exploring unfamiliar destinations without reliable local assistance emerged as a significant concern.
Many participants wished for a dependable system to connect them with locals who could provide safety tips, emergency help, or recommendations.
Theme 3 : Challenges in Building Connections:
Despite a strong desire to connect with fellow travelers, participants often found it challenging to form meaningful bonds or join group trips.
The existing platforms lack features that facilitate building genuine connections with other solo women travelers or finding opportunities for shared travel experiences.
“ There is lot of information, mentoring, advice that can be passed between with solo traveling women - especially for women who is solo traveling for the first time”
USER PERSONA
Bio
Meet Aria, a 29-year-old marketing professional from New York City with a passion for discovering new places and connecting with people from around the world. She often plans solo trips to embrace independence and immerse herself in authentic local experiences.
Goals
Build connections with like-minded individuals for shared experiences.
Access reliable, curated advice to make her travels smoother and more enriching.
Balance flexibility and planning with a sense of security and support.
Pain Points
Limited resources for women-focused travel needs.
Lack of trusted platforms to connect with locals or other travelers.
Struggles to find trips and experiences that align with her style and vibe.
DESIGN
Designing a Supportive Travel Ecosystem for Women
Our design focuses on crafting a supportive ecosystem for solo women travelers, prioritizing safety, connection, and seamless planning. Inspired by insights from user research, the app's features emphasize:
Structured support through a network of local ambassadors for advice, emergencies, and cultural insights.
A resource hub offering curated tips, advice, and itineraries tailored to destinations and travel interests.
Connection opportunities via group trips and one-on-one interactions with other solo women travelers.
TESTING AND IMPROVEMENT
Refining the Experience Through User-Driven Insights
To ensure the platform truly meets the needs of solo women travelers, I conducted usability testing with 9 users. Based on their input, several key refinements were made to enhance user experience, simplify navigation, and optimize key features.
Clarifying the Role of Travel Ambassadors
A dedicated page was added to explain the role of Travel Ambassadors.
Users were previously unclear on what a local ambassador represented and how they could provide support.
Enhanced Filter Functionality for Tips & Advice
Replaced search bar with visible filters for categories like safety, accommodation, and recommendations.
This improves discoverability and user navigation, enhancing the overall search experience.
FINAL SCREENS
A Glimpse into the Experience
style Guide
LOGO
COLORS
Primary Color
#AB4B21
Secondary Color
#F1E5DF
Text Color
#3A3535
Text Color
#726E6C
BG Color
#FCFCFB
TYPOGRAPHY
Aa
Inter
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CONCLUSION
Reflecting on the Journey and Looking Ahead
Lessons Learned
Simplifying User Navigation: Complex designs can confuse users, as seen with the filtering system for travel tips. Next time, I would prioritize testing navigation options early.
Guiding the New User: A well-thought-out onboarding process is non-negotiable. It sets the tone for user engagement and helps users navigate new platforms confidently, ensuring they fully utilize the app’s potential.
Testing Frames Insights: Structuring each testing round with a clear hypothesis or focus ensured that new ideas and recurring issues were systematically addressed, leading to more robust design decisions.
Next Steps for Evolving the Platform:
Enhancing Trust Across the Platform: Develop stringent verification systems for new users and a review mechanism for ambassadors. These features will help instill confidence and establish credibility within the community.
Encouraging Return Engagement: Introduce features such as reward systems or recognition (e.g., verified badges) for users who actively contribute by sharing travel experiences, tips, and advice, fostering a dynamic and engaged community.
Bolstering Ambassador Reliability: Implement rating and feedback systems for local ambassadors to reinforce their trustworthiness, encouraging new users to confidently seek their support.
Seamless Social Media Integration: Explore potential integrations with social media platforms, allowing users to share their journeys, promote the app organically, and connect more effortlessly with fellow travelers.
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