OVERVIEW

A 5 week project that delved into interface design where we were given the task to develop an application of our choice, rooted in thorough research and addressing a need.

ROLE:

Research, Prototyping, Content strategist, Visual design

TEAM:

Kasey Le, Van Mai, Kiran Bharathi, Sorren Jao

PROJECT TYPE:

Academic Project, 2023

SOULO

Soulo is a mobile application designed to help solo travelers discover unique events around them, but also meet and connect with fellow like-minded travelers like themselves, fostering new relationships and creating memories for every trip.

PHASES OF TRAVELING (SOLO)

The experience of traveling, whether alone or in a group, shares many similarities. In our project, we chose to empathize with solo travellers, viewing their journey from their perspective. We started by exploring the intricacies of solo travel and delving into the emotions and challenges these travellers encounter along their path by noting down some actives and emotions travellers experience along the way.

Figure 1: Emotion + action mapping of solo travelers

Initially our aim was to tackle all 3 phases, but we realized that would be too big of a scope. So, we narrowed downed and made the decision to focus in on the “During phase” of traveling.

RESEARCH AND FINDINGS (PRIMARY RESEARCH)

Needing to hear first-hand from our target audience, affirm or negate our thoughts (Figure 1), we conducted interviews with over 10 number of participants. The ultimate goal was to immerse ourselves into their own traveling experience to uncover any patterns among travelers and existent pain-points.

To ensure we got the best possible outcome from the interviews, we recruited 2 kinds of travelers:

TRAVELER 1: People who usually travel in groups than solo

TRAVELER 2: People who travel more often solo than in groups

From Insight 2 and 3, we learned that solo travellers are more open to adventures and enjoy connecting with others, particularly fellow travellers. Insight 1 showed us that group travellers feel comfortable with their companions and don't seek additional connections as much, further reinforcing the need to target Solo travellers.

RESEARCH AND FINDINGS (SECONDARY RESEARCH)

Traveling solo can be a daunting experience. To further understand why people travel alone we conducted more of secondary research which revealed:

  1. Exploration of the unknown: They travel with the purpose of exploring new places and getting out of their comfort zone to challenge their fears of unknowns.
  2. Independent growth: Giving themselves the space and time to enjoy their cultural, or personal journey to independently grow.
  3. Making connections: Meeting new people and building their connections along the way.

INITIAL WIREFRAMES

These mockups were the original ideas we had. While the main theme of building connections and cultural explorations were present. There were somethings that needed more consideration such as the need for “Travelers’ stories, “Popular destinations”, and overall Layout.

FINAL SOLUTION BREAKDOWN

Onboarding

The onboarding process starts with visual graphics illustrating Soulo's core functions: joining events and connecting with others. After registration, users input their fluent languages and favorite hobbies. This information aids in finding compatible connections.

Group activity finder

The Home page predominantly features events occurring on the same day, fostering a sense of spontaneity. Users can adjust these listings using filters as needed. Events are displayed based on proximity to the user, with each card showing the event name, type, distance, time until start, and host. The app offers two event types: Public and Private

Joining an Event

For all events, private details like venue and group chat access are initially restricted. To join a private event, users must request access, which the host can either accept or decline. This privacy measure was implemented to safeguard other solo travelers. Public events, on the other hand, are open to all users without the need for approval, allowing immediate access by clicking the ‘Join’ button.

Making a new connection

For the ‘Connection’ tab, it's designed to enhance solo travellers' intimate adventures rather than focusing on large-scale experiences. Users can connect based on languages and interests, with communication limited to notes until requests are accepted. This approach aims to prevent spam and maintain a focus on meaningful connections during trips, rather than functioning as a typical social media platform.