Large mockup of the Ralli app displayed on an iPhone.
Mockup of the Itinerary screen of the Ralli app.

Ralli

UX / UI Design, UX Research

Ralli is a groundbreaking mobile application concept aimed at addressing the common challenges encountered by group travelers. By ingeniously integrating features like itinerary management and real-time location tracking, Ralli not only encourages exploration but also ensures seamless reunions among travelers. With Ralli, users can embark on their journeys with the confidence of staying connected while embracing the freedom to explore, ultimately fostering stronger bonds and unforgettable adventures.

View Hi-Fi Prototype
Solo Student Project
Brainstation UX/UI Bootcamp
Case Study
10 Weeks Duration
iOS App, Apple watch
Figma
My Process
Explains the Design Methodology: Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype, Test
Problem

Taming the Chaos of Group Travel

Group travel, while often exciting and enriching, comes with its fair share of challenges. One of the most common frustrations is the difficulty in managing group members effectively. Coordinating schedules, activities, and locations can quickly become overwhelming, leading to confusion and stress among travelers.

Moreover, the sheer logistics of keeping everyone together in unfamiliar surroundings can be a nightmare. From crowded tourist attractions to sprawling festival grounds, it's all too easy for individuals to get separated, resulting in anxiety and wasted time trying to regroup. These issues are further compounded when exploring dynamic environments where spontaneity and independence are encouraged.

Without a reliable means of staying connected and organized, the joy of group travel can quickly diminish, leaving participants feeling disjointed and isolated. Such challenges underscore the pressing need for innovative solutions that streamline the group travel experience, fostering seamless coordination and enhancing the overall enjoyment of the journey.

This photo is titled : "A paper map? Embarrassing.."
Solution

Seamless Group Reconnect: Elevating Tourist Experiences.

Ralli Point feature
Ralli Point.
Explore Freely, Reconnect Effortlessly!
  • Explore together or apart, while never losing track of your party
  • Alert party members to reunite after solo expeditions
  • Effortlessly track friends' whereabouts
  • Unite around local landmarks
Transit.
Discover the Best of Your Surroundings!
  • Reach Your Destination with Ease: Walk, Drive, or Use Public Transport
  • Stay on track with in-app step-by-step directions
  • Effortless Directions at Your Wrist: Navigate with Apple Watch
  • Explore a vast collection of local landmarks
App design for how transit feature functions
Itinerary feature
Itinerary.
Craft Memorable Adventures!
  • Easily build an itinerary for you and your group
  • Displays all upcoming planned events for the day or the whole trip
  • Quick look at upcoming events on the map page
  • Add or edit events for yourself or the entire group
Research

There was no shortage of people online expressing issues with their travel buddies.

To gain a better understanding of group travel challenges, my journey began with exciting research. Despite the limited scholarly literature available, a treasure trove of insights emerged from firsthand accounts of travelers, detailing their experiences and tribulations. Evidently, navigating group dynamics poses significant hurdles, with prevalent pain points shared among seasoned adventurers. This exploration underscores the imperative for a viable solution aimed at enhancing the collective travel experience.

Pain points based on findings
Difficulty in staying connected and informed, especially in unfamiliar or crowded environments
Ensuring the safety and well-being of all group members, especially in unfamiliar or risky destinations, adds an extra layer of stress and responsibility
Managing conflicting schedules, preferences, and activities among group members canlead to confusion and frustration
Group decision-making can be time-consuming and contentious, causing delays and dissatisfaction among travelers
Balancing the desire for group exploration with the need for personal freedom can lead to conflicts and feelings of being stifled
Finding it Challenging to manage time effectively and feeling overwhelmed by tasks
User Interviews

The search for emotional baggage

To get to the heart of the challenges faced by travelers in groups, I reached out to them and conducted user interviews. Through these conversations, I discovered a multitude of pain points, but I knew I couldn't address them all in my design. So, I focused on the one key issue that seemed to be causing most of the problems. It became the driving force behind my design approach, allowing me to create a solution that tackles the most important needs of group travelers.

Research Questions
How do individuals typically coordinate activities and schedules when traveling in a group?
How do travelers balance the desire for group exploration with individual preferences for independence?
What are the most common communication challenges faced?
What safety concerns arise during group travel, and how are they addressed?
What factors contribute to decision-making processes within group travel dynamics?
What memorable moments or challenges stand out in group travelers' experiences, and why?
Main Insights

The Unexpected Roadblock

As I explored group travel dynamics, I anticipated challenges like sticking to plans and keeping everyone engaged. But as I dug deeper through interviews, a different, more surprising problem emerged: the struggle to keep the group together. Losing track of members turned out to be the top headache for travelers, especially in new places. Trying to round everyone up again felt like herding cats in a maze. This unexpected finding reshaped my focus, causing me to pivot my design efforts toward solving this pressing issue.

2 Main Insights
Theme 1 :  Organization Obstacles
1. Changing plans induced stress throughout the trip preparation.
2. Poor time management led to frequent changes in plans and reservations
3. Varying interests within the group posed a challenge to the planning process.
Theme 2 :  Wrangling Group Members
1. Struggling to effectively convey the next destination to all group members.
2. Facing hurdles in regrouping and locating each other in unfamiliar surroundings.
3. Coping with differing exploration paces among group members leading to coordination challenges.
Design Challenge

How might we
assist group travelers to manage each-others locations in order to better follow the itinerary

User Persona

Who is the intended user?

User Persona: Explains the personas story and goals that the apps features aim to address.
Design

Itinerary, directions and friends’ locations all at a glance

The main page design aims to strike a balance between simplicity and functionality. It empowers group members to navigate their surroundings effortlessly while facilitating seamless regrouping. By providing easy access to most app features on a single screen, I aimed to minimize the need for excessive screen-switching, ensuring a smooth user experience.
Within the same map page the user can interact with:
  • Current location
  • Meet up spots (Ralli Points)
  • Friends’ real time locations
  • Directions to events or landmarks
  • Upcoming Itinerary events
  • Search & Profile
Initial pencil and paper mockup of Ralli app design.
I designed a scrollable card that reveals useful information as needed. The itinerary, and directions to the next location, are easily accessible on the same page. The goal was to address all of the users' pain points with a single solution since there seemed to be a common denominator between the themes.
Final Product: Ralli
Display of some of the Ralli apps screens including maps, itinerary, directions, and Apple Watch display.
View Hi-Fi Prototype
Task Flows

The GIFs that keep on giving

Task Flow 1 :  Setting an impromptu Ralli Point
  • User views upcoming events in the itinerary page
  • User then taps the map icon on the nav bar to see where their fiends are located
  • Seeing that their friends are scattered nearby the user taps the rally icon notifying them to meet up
* A notification is delivered that leads into task Flow 2 *
Gif of Task Flow 1: Illustrates how an impromptu Ralli Point is triggered.
Gif of Task Flow 2: Illustrates what happens when a second user receives a Ralli Point and how to regroup with friends.
Task Flow 2 :  Navigating to the point
  • The user receives a notification alerting them that a rally point has been set
  • Taping on the notification takes the user to the map page where they can view their friends location, the Ralli point and directions on how to reach it
  • Taping on the notification takes the user to the map page where they can view their friends location, the Ralli point and directions on how to reach it
  • The map page displays group member locations ensuring no one is wandering or left behind
Conclusion

Bringing it all together

The introduction of the Ralli Point feature within the app is a direct response to the location-related hurdles encountered by group travelers, offering a simple but effective solution. Throughout the study, challenges in planning, communication, and regrouping post-separation emerged as prominent pain points. Ralli's innovative solution addresses these concerns head-on, providing users with swift access to vital information essential for seamless travel experiences.

A standout aspect of Ralli lies in its intuitive "Ralli Points" feature, empowering users to mark rendezvous spots or points of interest on the map effortlessly. This functionality streamlines the process of reuniting dispersed members, fostering a sense of cohesion and ensuring no one is left to navigate unfamiliar places alone.

While location-sharing concepts aren't novel, Ralli's approach distinguishes itself through its simplicity and efficacy, shedding light on a solution that had previously been overlooked by other platforms.

Image of two of Ralli's screens.
The Ralli feature alone addresses these problems:
  • Difficulty in staying connected and informed, especially in unfamiliar or crowded environments
  • Balancing the desire for group exploration with the need for personal freedom
  • Group decision-making can be time-consuming and contentious, causing delays and dissatisfaction among travelers

Let's Connect

Andrew.e.Adasme@Gmail.com
linkedin.com/in/aeadasme/