Amanda Sahaida's Artistry

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Project Overview

For my very first UX/UI bootcamp project, I spent five weeks co-designing HARK, an all-in-one travel app, with three teammates under the guidance of senior UX designers. The project emphasized research, design thinking, and low-fidelity prototypes. This case study highlights both collaborative research and my individual contributions—personas, wireframes, wireflow, and a 2025 hi-fi splash redesign.

HARK simplifies trip planning for solo travelers, couples, and groups by offering curated experiences, allergy-friendly dining, and practical planning tools. It cuts through the noise so users can focus on adventures that fit their vibe, budget, and comfort level.

Scope

Full Video Walkthrough

Methodology

RESEARCH

User Insights

Two contrasting traveler perspectives emerged during research

“I need an easier way to coordinate budgets and logistics with my group so everyone can have the best travel experience.”

-Tanya

“I want a better way to plan practical details to reduce my anxiety. An app that highlights allergy-friendly restaurants, nearby pharmacies or ERs, and safe, clean stops would make family travel easier and safer.”

-Cathy

Tanya

“I need an easier way to coordinate budgets and logistics with my group so everyone can have the best travel experience.”

Tanya

“I need an easier way to coordinate budgets and logistics with my group so everyone can have the best travel experience.”

Cathy

User Interview Quotes

Journey-Mapping

User Scenario

User Journey Map

Storyboard

DEFINE

Problem Statement

Challenge:

Travel planning is often overwhelming, requiring users to juggle multiple websites, reviews, and conflicting information.

Problem Statement:

Younger travelers often struggle with budgeting and logistics, while older travelers prioritize safety, cleanliness, and accessibility. Despite their differing priorities, all users want enjoyable, stress-free experiences.

Challenge:

Travel planning is often overwhelming, requiring users to juggle multiple websites, reviews, and conflicting information.

Problem Statement:

Challenge:

Travel planning is often overwhelming, requiring users to juggle multiple websites, reviews, and conflicting information.

Problem Statement:

Competitor's Analysis

SWOT

How Might We…

How might we simplify collaborative trip planning while reducing cognitive overload and supporting practical travel needs like safety, budgeting, and accessibility?

Data Analysis & Key Insights

User Priorities (Interviews & Survey): Experience, budget, and clear communication emerged as top priorities. An Instagram survey of 14 participants confirmed experience as most important, followed by budget.

Pain Points: Users face overwhelming travel resources, unclear navigation, and gaps in safety or accessibility information.
Competitor & SWOT Insights: Most existing travel apps overwhelm users with too many options, lack accessibility and allergy-friendly filters, and don’t provide integrated group planning tools. HARK differentiates by consolidating trusted recommendations and offering comprehensive, easy-to-use planning features.
Design Takeaways: Simplify decision-making, prioritize high-impact solutions, and create flexible tools that work for solo travelers, couples, or groups.

User Priorities (Interviews & Survey): Experience, budget, and clear communication emerged as top priorities. An Instagram survey of 14 participants confirmed experience as most important, followed by budget.

Pain Points: Users face overwhelming travel resources, unclear navigation, and gaps in safety or accessibility information.
Competitor & SWOT Insights: Most existing travel apps overwhelm users with too many options, lack accessibility and allergy-friendly filters, and don’t provide integrated group planning tools. HARK differentiates by consolidating trusted recommendations and offering comprehensive, easy-to-use planning features.
Design Takeaways: Simplify decision-making, prioritize high-impact solutions, and create flexible tools that work for solo travelers, couples, or groups.

User Priorities (Interviews & Survey): Experience, budget, and clear communication emerged as top priorities. An Instagram survey of 14 participants confirmed experience as most important, followed by budget.

Pain Points: Users face overwhelming travel resources, unclear navigation, and gaps in safety or accessibility information.
Competitor & SWOT Insights: Most existing travel apps overwhelm users with too many options, lack accessibility and allergy-friendly filters, and don’t provide integrated group planning tools. HARK differentiates by consolidating trusted recommendations and offering comprehensive, easy-to-use planning features.
Design Takeaways: Simplify decision-making, prioritize high-impact solutions, and create flexible tools that work for solo travelers, couples, or groups.

Survey & Mood Board

Solution Statement

HARK makes trip planning safer, simpler, and more inclusive by consolidating information users would normally gather from multiple sources into one intuitive app.

Key Features:

Curated Recommendations: Only the best experiences, vetted by trusted travel bloggers and influencers, reducing decision fatigue.
Practical Filters: Allergy-friendly dining, safety ratings, and accessible activity options.
Planning Tools: Automatic itinerary generation, group voting, and in-app communication for streamlined collaboration.
Flexible Experiences: Supports solo adventures, date nights, or group trips, adapting to budgets, vibes, and comfort levels.

Impact:

By connecting research insights to thoughtful design, HARK directly addresses user pain points around logistics, safety, and overwhelm—delivering stress-free, enjoyable, and memorable travel experiences.

HARK makes trip planning safer, simpler, and more inclusive by consolidating information users would normally gather from multiple sources into one intuitive app.

Key Features:

Curated Recommendations: Only the best experiences, vetted by trusted travel bloggers and influencers, reducing decision fatigue.
Practical Filters: Allergy-friendly dining, safety ratings, and accessible activity options.
Planning Tools: Automatic itinerary generation, group voting, and in-app communication for streamlined collaboration.
Flexible Experiences: Supports solo adventures, date nights, or group trips, adapting to budgets, vibes, and comfort levels.

Impact:

HARK makes trip planning safer, simpler, and more inclusive by consolidating information users would normally gather from multiple sources into one intuitive app.

Key Features:

Curated Recommendations: Only the best experiences, vetted by trusted travel bloggers and influencers, reducing decision fatigue.
Practical Filters: Allergy-friendly dining, safety ratings, and accessible activity options.
Planning Tools: Automatic itinerary generation, group voting, and in-app communication for streamlined collaboration.
Flexible Experiences: Supports solo adventures, date nights, or group trips, adapting to budgets, vibes, and comfort levels.

Impact:

Value Proposition

IDEATE

Concept Exploration

I Like, I Wish, What If

I Like: Personalized prompts, clear itineraries, ability to filter and add experiences, and features that support comfort and budget-conscious travel.

I Wish: Navigation was more intuitive, communication tools were integrated, and allergy/safety information was more prominent.
What If: Travel planning could feel as simple as ordering lunch online, with curated recommendations, collaborative tools, and real-time updates that reduce stress and decision fatigue.

I Like: Personalized prompts, clear itineraries, ability to filter and add experiences, and features that support comfort and budget-conscious travel.

I Wish: Navigation was more intuitive, communication tools were integrated, and allergy/safety information was more prominent.
What If: Travel planning could feel as simple as ordering lunch online, with curated recommendations, collaborative tools, and real-time updates that reduce stress and decision fatigue.

I Like: Personalized prompts, clear itineraries, ability to filter and add experiences, and features that support comfort and budget-conscious travel.

I Wish: Navigation was more intuitive, communication tools were integrated, and allergy/safety information was more prominent.
What If: Travel planning could feel as simple as ordering lunch online, with curated recommendations, collaborative tools, and real-time updates that reduce stress and decision fatigue.

Sketches

PROTOTYPE

Lo-Fidelity Wireframes

Homepage & Booking a Restaurant

Homepage & Booking a Restaurant

User Flow

2025 Design Iterations

Explored Direction (Not Pursued)

This concept explored a more immersive splash experience. It was ultimately set aside during a tight four-week foundational sprint to prioritize core user tasks and maintain flow continuity across the system. At the time, my design capabilities were still developing, which made this an area I was especially excited to revisit in 2025—exploring what a more refined, high-fidelity version could become.

Hi-Fidelity Wireframes

Updated Approach (2025)

Redesigned as an immersive, story-driven entry with distinct moods, emphasizing emotion and atmosphere—while allowing users to exit anytime via “Explore Now!”

Updated Approach (2025)

Redesigned as an immersive, story-driven entry with distinct moods, emphasizing emotion and atmosphere—while allowing users to exit anytime via “Explore Now!”

Updated Approach (2025)

Redesigned as an immersive, story-driven entry with distinct moods, emphasizing emotion and atmosphere—while allowing users to exit anytime via “Explore Now!”

Splash Demo

Key Takeaway

This direction is well-suited for collaboration with a videographer to amplify its emotional depth in a real product launch.

Key Takeaway

This direction is well-suited for collaboration with a videographer to amplify its emotional depth in a real product launch.

Key Takeaway

This direction is well-suited for collaboration with a videographer to amplify its emotional depth in a real product launch.

TEST

OUTCOMES & IMPACT

Project Outcomes

Consolidated fragmented travel-planning resources into a unified experience

Designed features that support collaboration, accessibility, and safety
Applied research and usability testing to improve navigation and decision-making
Expanded the project through higher-fidelity visual and interaction design exploration

Consolidated fragmented travel-planning resources into a unified experience

Designed features that support collaboration, accessibility, and safety
Applied research and usability testing to improve navigation and decision-making
Expanded the project through higher-fidelity visual and interaction design exploration

Consolidated fragmented travel-planning resources into a unified experience

Designed features that support collaboration, accessibility, and safety
Applied research and usability testing to improve navigation and decision-making
Expanded the project through higher-fidelity visual and interaction design exploration

Reflection

As my first UX/UI team project, HARK established a strong foundation in research, wireframing, prototyping, usability testing, and collaborative problem solving. The project demonstrated how thoughtful iteration can improve both clarity and engagement while balancing diverse perspectives and ideas.

Working within a team environment reinforced the importance of communication, feedback, and shared decision-making throughout the design process. It also highlighted how research and usability testing can transform assumptions into more informed design choices.

Revisiting the concept later allowed me to strengthen visual storytelling and interaction design while preserving the original research-driven foundation. The experience continues to serve as a reminder that strong user experiences are built through both collaboration and iteration.

Future Exploration