Increasing engagement and user visits with gamification & a social hub
Increasing engagement and user visits with gamification & a social hub
We expanded Traveln.ai beyond trip planning by adding fun challenges, achievements, and social features—so users have a new reason to visit every day
We expanded Traveln.ai beyond trip planning by adding fun challenges, achievements, and social features—so users have a new reason to visit every day
We expanded Traveln.ai beyond trip planning by adding fun challenges, achievements, and social features—so users have a new reason to visit every day
Deliverables
UX Research
Product Strategy
UI Design
Interaction Design
Tools
Figjam/Figma
Notion
Timeline
6 weeks
The Problem
Traveln.ai needed a way to keep users coming back once their trips were planned. Without extra motivation or a social component, travelers had little reason to open the app between bookings.
Traveln.ai needed a way to keep users coming back once their trips were planned. Without extra motivation or a social component, travelers had little reason to open the app between bookings.
Traveln.ai needed a way to keep users coming back once their trips were planned. Without extra motivation or a social component, travelers had little reason to open the app between bookings.
The Solution
We introduced achievements, profile levels, and a social hub to spark friendly competition and community building. Through daily tasks, streaks, and fun pop-up challenges, travelers stay engaged, see what others are doing, and feel rewarded for exploring more often.
We introduced achievements, profile levels, and a social hub to spark friendly competition and community building. Through daily tasks, streaks, and fun pop-up challenges, travelers stay engaged, see what others are doing, and feel rewarded for exploring more often.
We introduced achievements, profile levels, and a social hub to spark friendly competition and community building. Through daily tasks, streaks, and fun pop-up challenges, travelers stay engaged, see what others are doing, and feel rewarded for exploring more often.
Our Human-Centered Approach
Our Human-Centered Approach
Our Human-Centered Approach
Five Steps to Better Experiences
Five Steps to Better Experiences
Five Steps to Better Experiences
Traveln.AI
UX Shine
Emphasis
Define
Ideate
Prototype
Test
Discovery & Research
Discovery & Research
UX Audit Findings
Since the previous case study was just done, the app learnings and audit was not performed due to strong understanding of the previous screens, and the nature of this case study which isn't improvement focused but more into adding missing flows and social features
Since the previous case study was just done, the app learnings and audit was not performed due to strong understanding of the previous screens, and the nature of this case study which isn't improvement focused but more into adding missing flows and social features
Since the previous case study was just done, the app learnings and audit was not performed due to strong understanding of the previous screens, and the nature of this case study which isn't improvement focused but more into adding missing flows and social features
Personas & Assumptions
the previous personas still work in this scenario also and kept the same
the previous personas still work in this scenario also and kept the same
the previous personas still work in this scenario also and kept the same
Business & User frustrations
Primary Frustration
Primary Frustration
Primary Frustration
Travelers only opened the app for trip planning, offering minimal repeat visits and reducing potential revenue streams.
Travelers only opened the app for trip planning, offering minimal repeat visits and reducing potential revenue streams.
Travelers only opened the app for trip planning, offering minimal repeat visits and reducing potential revenue streams.
Secondary Frustration
Secondary Frustration
Secondary Frustration
Without social elements or gamification, there was no ways to spark ongoing user engagement or foster revisits & brand loyalty.
Without social elements or gamification, there was no ways to spark ongoing user engagement or foster revisits & brand loyalty.
Without social elements or gamification, there was no ways to spark ongoing user engagement or foster revisits & brand loyalty.
Competitor Benchmarking
We began our research by exploring top apps that excel at user retention, focusing on both gamification and dashboard-style homepages. Apps like Nike Run Club, Peanut, and Acorns showed how badges, achievements, and levels can inspire friendly competition. Meanwhile, platforms such as Grab and Gopuff leveraged interactive dashboards to keep users informed and engaged from the moment they open the app.
We began our research by exploring top apps that excel at user retention, focusing on both gamification and dashboard-style homepages. Apps like Nike Run Club, Peanut, and Acorns showed how badges, achievements, and levels can inspire friendly competition. Meanwhile, platforms such as Grab and Gopuff leveraged interactive dashboards to keep users informed and engaged from the moment they open the app.
We began our research by exploring top apps that excel at user retention, focusing on both gamification and dashboard-style homepages. Apps like Nike Run Club, Peanut, and Acorns showed how badges, achievements, and levels can inspire friendly competition. Meanwhile, platforms such as Grab and Gopuff leveraged interactive dashboards to keep users informed and engaged from the moment they open the app.
Key Learnings - Gamification
From Nike Run Club to Aaptiv, we noticed common tactics like awarding badges for milestones, showing progress bars, and unlocking digital or physical rewards. Users respond strongly to fun challenges—like collecting streaks or leveling up—so we planned features like a daily task list, social sharing, and surprise achievements to keep them coming back
Key Learnings - Dashboard
Apps like Grab and Gopuff integrate a centralized homepage that highlights essential actions, deals, or personalized recommendations. By placing a quick snapshot of the user’s progress, upcoming challenges, and any new messages or activities right on the main screen, we aimed to create a ‘one-stop shop’ that encourages frequent check-ins and deeper engagement.
Ideation & Prioritization
Ideation & Prioritization
Problem Space
Users often open travel apps just before or during a trip, then forget about them. Our challenge was to extend Traveln.ai’s value so it becomes a regular part of a traveler’s routine, even when they’re not actively booking a trip.
Users often open travel apps just before or during a trip, then forget about them. Our challenge was to extend Traveln.ai’s value so it becomes a regular part of a traveler’s routine, even when they’re not actively booking a trip.
Users often open travel apps just before or during a trip, then forget about them. Our challenge was to extend Traveln.ai’s value so it becomes a regular part of a traveler’s routine, even when they’re not actively booking a trip.
Answering the Big Question
Answering the Big Question
Answering the Big Question
How Might We… Motivate Users to Check In Daily and Have Fun Doing It?
Mind Mapping
We listed features such as leveling systems, badges, and daily challenges, along with ways to share achievements among friends. These ideas became the building blocks of a more social, gamified experience that encourages users to log in more often.
We listed features such as leveling systems, badges, and daily challenges, along with ways to share achievements among friends. These ideas became the building blocks of a more social, gamified experience that encourages users to log in more often.
We listed features such as leveling systems, badges, and daily challenges, along with ways to share achievements among friends. These ideas became the building blocks of a more social, gamified experience that encourages users to log in more often.
What can we improve
Profile Details & Visualization
Engagement Triggers (e.g., pop-up challenges)
What can we add
Daily/Weekly Tasks
Rewards & Badges
Social Hub for Sharing Trips and Achievements
Rapid Prototyping
we sketched out how to seamlessly integrate gamification with everyday app use. We experimented with achievement badges, progress bars, and playful pop-ups to reward users for simple actions—like exploring a new city or sharing a travel tip. Alongside these prototypes, we designed a social hub where travelers can exchange ideas, share trip highlights, and invite friends for collaborative adventures. These quick, low-fidelity drafts helped us refine user flows, identify must-have features, and ensure that each gamified element felt natural and inviting.
we sketched out how to seamlessly integrate gamification with everyday app use. We experimented with achievement badges, progress bars, and playful pop-ups to reward users for simple actions—like exploring a new city or sharing a travel tip. Alongside these prototypes, we designed a social hub where travelers can exchange ideas, share trip highlights, and invite friends for collaborative adventures. These quick, low-fidelity drafts helped us refine user flows, identify must-have features, and ensure that each gamified element felt natural and inviting.
we sketched out how to seamlessly integrate gamification with everyday app use. We experimented with achievement badges, progress bars, and playful pop-ups to reward users for simple actions—like exploring a new city or sharing a travel tip. Alongside these prototypes, we designed a social hub where travelers can exchange ideas, share trip highlights, and invite friends for collaborative adventures. These quick, low-fidelity drafts helped us refine user flows, identify must-have features, and ensure that each gamified element felt natural and inviting.
New Styles & Components
In this stage, we refreshed the design system to unify the gamified and social aspects of Traveln.ai. We introduced new card layouts for posts, trips, and notifications, making it easier to spot important updates at a glance. These components share consistent colors, icons, and typography, ensuring that achievements, shared experiences, and reward alerts all fit seamlessly into the overall interface.
In this stage, we refreshed the design system to unify the gamified and social aspects of Traveln.ai. We introduced new card layouts for posts, trips, and notifications, making it easier to spot important updates at a glance. These components share consistent colors, icons, and typography, ensuring that achievements, shared experiences, and reward alerts all fit seamlessly into the overall interface.
In this stage, we refreshed the design system to unify the gamified and social aspects of Traveln.ai. We introduced new card layouts for posts, trips, and notifications, making it easier to spot important updates at a glance. These components share consistent colors, icons, and typography, ensuring that achievements, shared experiences, and reward alerts all fit seamlessly into the overall interface.
Notification systems, toasts and new trip cards have been built
Notification systems, toasts and new trip cards have been built
social hub cards and all scenarios
social hub cards and all scenarios
High Fidelity Prototype
These advanced prototypes expand on the core design system, highlighting the social feed and rewards flow. We introduced interactive elements for sharing trip photos, completing daily challenges, and celebrating progress with lively pop-ups. By building on the same color palettes and layouts established earlier, these screens create a cohesive user experience—one that encourages travelers to engage, explore, and stay motivated to reach their next adventure.
These advanced prototypes expand on the core design system, highlighting the social feed and rewards flow. We introduced interactive elements for sharing trip photos, completing daily challenges, and celebrating progress with lively pop-ups. By building on the same color palettes and layouts established earlier, these screens create a cohesive user experience—one that encourages travelers to engage, explore, and stay motivated to reach their next adventure.
These advanced prototypes expand on the core design system, highlighting the social feed and rewards flow. We introduced interactive elements for sharing trip photos, completing daily challenges, and celebrating progress with lively pop-ups. By building on the same color palettes and layouts established earlier, these screens create a cohesive user experience—one that encourages travelers to engage, explore, and stay motivated to reach their next adventure.
Next steps
We delivered a seamless, map-focused app with clearer flows and a new revenue stream through sponsored pins.
Although extensive testing has yet to happen, we plan to conduct user interviews and usability sessions once Traveln.ai allocates the necessary resources. These next steps will help refine the design and ensure the experience is fully tailored to real travelers’ needs.
We delivered a seamless, map-focused app with clearer flows and a new revenue stream through sponsored pins.
Although extensive testing has yet to happen, we plan to conduct user interviews and usability sessions once Traveln.ai allocates the necessary resources. These next steps will help refine the design and ensure the experience is fully tailored to real travelers’ needs.
We delivered a seamless, map-focused app with clearer flows and a new revenue stream through sponsored pins.
Although extensive testing has yet to happen, we plan to conduct user interviews and usability sessions once Traveln.ai allocates the necessary resources. These next steps will help refine the design and ensure the experience is fully tailored to real travelers’ needs.
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