Summary
Solo work on creating a prototype of WanderHub - an e-commerce website in the tourism sector.
Time frame
January - February 2024
Key points
UX/UI, Design thinking, Information architecture, Research, Prototyping, Design system, User tests
Welcome to Your Ultimate Wine Tourism Experience!
Discover the world of fine wines and breathtaking landscapes with our exclusive wine tours. Whether you’re a connoisseur or simply love the charm of vineyards, we offer curated experiences that cater to your taste. Explore award-winning wineries, indulge in gourmet tastings, and immerse yourself in the rich history and culture of winemaking. Let us guide you on a journey where every sip tells a story.
Book your unforgettable wine adventure today!
WanderHub knows everything about wine tourism and guarantees that every wine enthusiast will find their perfect adventure. Here are some of the most attractive features you can find here:
Personalized Tour Discovery
Right on the homepage, you are greeted with the best offers and a selection of activities tailored to various preferences, from wine tastings to vineyard walks. You can easily explore these options and find a tour that matches your tastes and interests.
Winery Finder Map
For those who love to explore, the interactive map on the homepage allows you to discover wineries all over the world. It’s a great tool for planning trips, whether you’re looking for a hidden gem or a renowned vineyard in your favorite region.
Categorized Tour Listings
Navigate through categories, compare, and filter tours based on various criteria such as duration, wine type, or special experiences like food pairings or nature walks. You can also sort tours by popularity or price. It’s never been so simple, engaging, and efficient!
Detailed Tour Pages
Each tour page provides a comprehensive overview of the experience, including descriptions, highlights, and photos that capture the beauty of the destination. You can view tour dates, check real-time availability, see the location on a map, and read about past travelers’ experiences, giving you all the information you need to make an informed decision.
Easy Booking System
Directly on the tour page, prices, available dates, and an intuitive calendar are displayed, allowing you to effortlessly book your desired tour.
Membership Benefits
Become part of a unique wine-loving community! Join the exclusive club where members have access to special deals and insider information.
Case description and workflow
The goal of the WanderHub project was to create a functional and attractive interface design for a travel e-commerce website. I chose wine tourism as the main focus because it seemed quite attractive and off-the-beaten-path.
My work stages on the case included:
- Research (market & competitive overview, brainstorming, target group analysis, user surveys & interviews, user personas, user flow diagram, moodboard)
- Design (information architecture, sketches, digital prototyping (low- / mid- / high-fidelity, interactive prototype)
- User testing (usability test, 'think aloud', interviews)
- Documentation (Design system, comments, handover)
Challenges and solution
1. User-Centered Design Approach
My primary focus was to design an experience that caters directly to the needs and preferences of wine enthusiasts. I made use of user personas and user journey mapping to understand the different types of users who would visit the site—from the casual wine lover to the experienced oenophile—and tailored the experience to meet their expectations. By incorporating personalized recommendations, interactive features like the winery map, and intuitive navigation, I ensured that the user feels guided and supported throughout their journey on the website.
2. Balance between Aesthetics and Functionality
In designing the website, I aimed to find the perfect balance between visual appeal and functionality. The goal was to create a clean and elegant interface that reflects the luxury and sophistication associated with wine tourism while ensuring that it remains easy to navigate and explore. That's why I focused on using high-quality images and a sophisticated color palette that evokes a sense of warmth, refinement, and adventure, matching the essence of wine tourism.
3. Designing for Discoverability and Engagement
One of my main objectives was to encourage exploration and discovery. I designed features like the interactive map and categorized tour listings to inspire users to explore various wine regions and experiences, enhancing their engagement with the site. The tour pages are structured to be informative yet visually engaging, offering users detailed information without feeling overwhelming. The use of real-time availability and interactive calendars was a conscious choice to help users make decisions quickly and efficiently.
4. Creating an Intuitive Booking Experience
I paid special attention to the booking flow, as it is a critical touchpoint for users. My goal was to make this process as seamless as possible, ensuring that users could easily view available dates, prices, and tour details all in one place. The calendar integration was designed to be intuitive and visually simple, reducing the cognitive load and allowing for quick decision-making.
Reflections
This project taught me several valuable lessons about design and user experience. Firstly, I learned the importance of user-centered design, emphasizing the need to understand the diverse needs and preferences of the target audience. By conducting usability tests and gathering feedback, I discovered how critical it is to iterate on designs based on real user interactions, which significantly improved the final product.
Secondly, I improved my skills in balancing aesthetics and functionality. While it is important to create an attractive visual design, this project showed that clarity and ease of use should be a priority so that users can navigate the site easily.
Last but not least, working on this website improved my understanding of collaborating with other members of the digital product development team. So, throughout the project, I had to participate in daily group discussions, present and justify my concept and solutions. At the end of the project, I had the opportunity to work on the design documentation, which allows for the handover of the project to the developers.
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