Project Navi
Tour Guide App - Feel like a local when visiting a new city
What is Navi?
A crowd-sourced site that allows users to build or follow tours of any city. The mobile app is a tour guide in your pocket. Tours can be shared and collaborated with multiple users. A desktop site for more expanded detail planning.
Objectives & Requirements
Business objectives
To offer a platform for small businesses to promote themselves. Promote a greater cultural understanding of visitors through shared experiences. Use technology to show that even when we walk alone in a new city, we are not alone in our exploration. Revenue will be generated from business paying for preferred listings, selling user data, premium user memberships. A marketing plan will need to emphasize reviews from Navi. There needs to be a draw for business to earn a review or a spot on someone’s created tour.
User objectives
Gain a more insider experience during a visit to a new city. Learn more locations to visit, see a city from a different perspective.
Technology needs
Photos and reviews from existing content forms such as Yelp or Instagram. Both have API that can be used to build this platform.
Process of Development
Initial hypothesis of user needs - Clear, reviewed, verified locations that comprise a tour/experience of a city. The tours should include travel duration and tips on how to optimize the journey. Users need to be able to trust that the tour they selected, and that it will not provide them with a negative experience. The tours or tour guides will need to be verified to establish user trust. Photos and written expectations of the route and locations along the tour should be included for the user to base their decision.
User Research Results
I interviewed 7 potential user ranging in age from 22-41. Their responses were able to help reshape my initial hypothesis and give me feedback on potential features of the application.
When visiting a city, most users looking for:
Non-tourist locations
Local flair
Good restaurants (defined by local hang out not culinary award winning)
Historical Locations
Tools users use for travel research: (by popularity)
Google, travel websites (tripadvisor, travel blogs)
Social media (instagram, facebook)
In person recommendations from friends/family/coworkers
Defining a Local -1-3 Years of living in a location to be established
Opinions regarding Post Tour Survey:
“If it was easy like the Lyft review form I would fill it out”
“Nope, I don’t see the benefit for me”
Wireframes
When building screens for testing I focused on using the search function to find a tour. Once the tour is selected, the app provides navigation, and the user can review quick tips left by locals at each venue. Then they can choose to visit each location in sequence or skip places if they aren't interested. Once the tour is completed, a review promps the user for feedback.