Trailmix
Structured travel discovery for Gen-Z
Gen Z travelers were drowning in fragmented content
After interviewing 15 travelers aged 18-28, we discovered that young travelers were struggling with:
- Instagram for inspiration and visual discovery
- Google for researching destinations and activities
- Booking sites for reservations and price comparison
- Notes apps for organizing and tracking information
This fragmented workflow caused users to lose valuable information and momentum along the way.
Why this problem mattered now
Research showed younger travelers prefer experiences over material goods.
Despite this growing market of experience-focused travelers, existing solutions forced users into two separate workflows: discovery tools that inspired but did not help plan, and planning tools that were functional but not inspiring.
Short-form content could unify inspiration & planning
We hypothesized that short-form video content could deliver rich travel information while maintaining the engagement Gen Z expects.
iOS First Strategy
Research showed iOS users spend 2.5x more on travel apps.
Short-form Content Focus
Video formats increased user trust in content by 73%.
Planning Integration
Every interviewed user used 3+ separate apps for trip planning.
Building trust through visual design
Travel apps often feel either too corporate or too casual. We needed to balance trustworthiness for planning with engagement for discovery.
The challenge: Users judge travel apps by their polish because they are making real decisions with real money.
Our approach: We developed a visual system that borrowed credibility signals from financial apps (clean typography, generous whitespace) while incorporating the energy of social platforms (vibrant colors, dynamic layouts).
Typography
Color Palette
Iconography
Core assumptions with real users
We needed to validate whether users would actually engage with travel content differently in our proposed format.
The Test
We created low-fidelity prototypes and tested with 12 potential users. Each session involved showing existing travel content, demonstrating our proposed interface, and asking users to complete planning tasks.
Surprising insight: Users did not want another social feed, they wanted curated, actionable content that felt personal.
User needs, not assumptions
Our initial designs assumed users wanted robust social features. User testing revealed they prioritized planning efficiency over social interaction.
Before: Social-first approach
After: Planning-first approach
Impact: The revised approach reduced onboarding steps by 60% and increased task completion rates in our usability tests.
Key insights from 10+ user interviews
After testing our revised designs, we conducted deeper interviews to understand what was working and what needed refinement.
Visual consistency builds trust
Users specifically mentioned that the trip summary screen felt polished but wanted that same level of design throughout the app.
Group planning flow needs clarity
Users loved collaborative trip planning but felt confused about roles and responsibilities.
AI chatbot feels helpful, not intrusive
Our text-based AI assistant tested exceptionally well because it felt proactive rather than reactive.
Accessibility choices benefit everyone
Users praised our font choices and color contrast, reinforcing that good accessibility benefits all users.
Validating our approach through early metrics
What we learned about building for Gen Z travelers
This project taught us that successful travel tools need to feel personal, not just functional. Gen Z travelers do not want more options, they want better curation and seamless integration between inspiration and action.
Research assumptions early
Visual consistency builds trust
AI assistance is trusted when helpful
Scaling personalized travel discovery
The work continues, but we have validated genuine demand for bridging travel inspiration and practical planning.
Summer 2025
We are launching our beta with 50 selected users to test our complete planning-to-booking flow.
Future Exploration
Investigating real-time collaboration features that do not compromise the focused, personal experience our users value.