TravelGigs
Native App
Picture yourself living the dream of endless travel, discovering new places at every turn, but one question keeps popping up
how will you support the adventure?
That’s where we come in. We set out to create a solution for every wanderer who wants to balance their love for travel with the need to earn on the go.
Meet Emily (Image 1), a 35-years-old dedicated marketing professional who loves to explore new destinations during her time off. She has a stable job but looks for part-time work opportunities when traveling to help cover expenses and immerse herself in local cultures.
Image 1: Emily, balancing her career with her love for adventure.
Image 2: John, seeking immersive travel experiences while working.
And John (Image 2), a 42-year-old freelance photographer, traveling not just to unwind but to fully immerse himself in local cultures.
Both needed a way to sustain their journeys without sacrificing the experiences they crave. That’s where we saw an opportunity…
Designing with Users in Mind
User Research
We kicked off the design process by diving deep into user research (Image 3,4,5), which involved a combination of Google surveys and interviews with frequent travelers to validate the concept. Although the Google survey was a bit challenging due to our niche audience, interviewing travelers provided valuable insights into their needs and preferences.
Image 3: Brainshorming and Voting: A look at how we discussed, created, and voted on initial survey questions.
Image 4: Refining and Reviewing: Modifying our questions based on thir-party reviews to ensure clarity and relevance.
Image 5: Final Additions: Incorporating additional questions to improve our final survey for richer insights.
Competitor Analysis & SWOT Analysis
Alongside this, we conducted a competitive analysis (Image 6) of similar platforms like Helpx, Worldpackers, and WWOOF. This analysis helped us identify gaps in the market and opportunities (Image 7) to differentiate our app.
Image 6: Competitive Analysis
Image 7: SWOT Analysis
Rational Behind the Design Decisions
In designing this app, careful consideration was given to the selection of typography and color schemes to ensure both functionality and aesthetic appeal. Here’s why we chose the specific typography and color palette:
Typography:
- Open Sans: Open Sans was chosen for its versatility and legibility across various screen sizes. Its modern, clean lines make it suitable for both headlines and body text, ensuring clarity and ease of reading throughout the app. This aligns with our goal of creating a user-friendly experience that is accessible to all.
Color Palette:
- Primary Color – Purple (#4F48EC):
- Purple evokes trust, reliability, and professionalism. It creates a calm and inviting atmosphere, which is ideal for an app where users seek important services like job opportunities.
- Secondary Color – Coral (#E76F51):
- Coral is warm and welcoming, adding a touch of friendliness and energy to the app, which balances the seriousness of the primary blue.
- Background Color – Different shades of Gray:
- Gray serves as a neutral, unobtrusive background that enhances the visibility of the primary and secondary colors. It keeps the interface clean and modern, allowing the content and interactive elements to stand out without causing visual fatigue.
Laying the Foundation: Site Map and Wireframes Overview
We created the site map to establish a clear structure for the app’s navigation, ensuring that users can easily find essential features like job listings, messaging, and community pages.
Design System
To ensure design consistency among our team of designers, I created a design system (Image 8) that streamlined collaboration and maintained uniformity across all screens.
Image 8: Design System
Challenges and Solutions
To ensure the app meets the diverse needs of travelers, we designed key features that prioritize convenience, community, and seamless communication between users and hosts.
Lack of Curated Job Suggestions
One of the biggest challenges was designing for both full-time and part-time travelers with different needs. To solve this, we incorporated the ability to search manually or filter jobs by specific criteria , giving travelers more control and flexibility in finding the right opportunities. Additionally, we also implemented personalized job suggestions based on each user’s profile.
Direct Communication with the Host
Interested in a job? Users can message the host directly within the app, and hosts can also send job offers through chat. The messaging system allows users to accept or decline offers directly, streamlining communication between travelers and hosts.
Managing Job Offers Easily
Users can view all job offers in one place, including those they’ve received, accepted, and declined. By keeping these categories separate and allowing filters, we ensured that users wouldn’t miss any opportunities, addressing the user frustration with managing multiple offers.
Building Community While Traveling
Users wanted a way to connect with others while traveling. We created a “Community Page” similar to Instagram, where users can share experiences, photos, and connect with other like-minded individuals. This solves the issue of feeling isolated while traveling.
Review System
A Place to Learn and Improve
We implemented a Resources page where users can access educational articles and videos tailored to different job types. This feature supports travelers in enhancing their skill sets, ensuring they are more equipped for diverse job opportunities during their travels.
The result?
Now, Emily and John—and travelers like them—can focus on their adventures, knowing their next job is just a few clicks away. What’s your next journey going to look like?
