Overview
This project revolves around systems thinking to define a problem in the travel industry and derive a product based solution. It outlines the process involving multiple mapping techniques to identify safety concerns in solo travel and develop a tangible safety product concept - a handheld device to ensure traveller safety in remote areas.
Objective
The goal was to conduct thorough research about the system to identify the correct touchpoints, accurately define problems to develop an effective solution.
Details
Module : System Design
Duration : 4 weeks
Team : Rucha Nene, Siya Zanwar, Sailee Powar, Rahul Agarwalla
Mentors : Shyyam Prajapati, Aditya Lingam
General mind map of the travel industry
Selected node
Structuring our approach
We created a mind map of the travel industry, starting with subdomains categorized as why, what, who, how, when, and where. This approach helped us narrow down to several domains for further exploration. The chosen domain, 'Solo Travel Industry,' was selected based on research feasibility.
Elements of the traveller's journey
We plotted distinct components in a traveller's journey from planning and preparation of the trip to post experience. As we mapped the user journey, safety emerged as a consistent concern at every stage, leading us to focus on it within the subdomain of solo travel.
Selected direction
Structured breakdown - Solo Travel Safety
Structure with central themes branching out into 10 subtopics of types of safety. This ensured clarity and flow to aid in creating feedback loops and understanding connections later on. Based on the survey insights from primary research, 2 domains emerged to be of the highest concern - psychological safety and safety during emergencies.
Causal Loop Diagram
Created using 'safety' as the starting point. Plotted the various causes and effects of safety as a whole and used the diagram and previous research to define the problem area - 'Navigation Mishaps'.
Defining the problem
Plotting problems related to navigation mishaps helped us better understand the issues a user faces when traveling alone. The fear often lies in the 'what if' scenarios—'What if my battery dies?', 'What if I get lost?', 'What if I can't contact anyone?'. This psychological distress, especially during unexpected emergencies, prevents many individuals from embarking on adventures in the first place.
Feature ideation and selection
Competitor Analysis
The product
Design Intervention
The product is a rugged navigation beacon designed for solo travelers, ideal for use in low-network areas during hiking or trekking.
USPs: It features a discreetly placed SOS button to prevent accidental activation, ensuring easy accessibility in emergencies. An SOS feedback system confirms that the distress signal has been received, providing reassurance to the user that help is on the way, thereby alleviating psychological stress.
Learnings
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Research is necessary not only to inform the initial design process but also to provide justification for design decisions later.
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Expand a problem to a larger context to understand the holistic landscape of the issue, to identify correct datapoints.
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The fundamental principles of the UX process remain consistent, whether it’s applied to interface design or tangible product concepts.
My Role
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Primary research, system mapping, causal looping, survey construction, user journey, competitor analysis, defining research gap , problem mapping, USP generation, visualisations
Interviews
Surveys
Primary research
While interviews helped us understand the in-depth experience of a solo traveller, surveys brought in statistical data from a wider audience and answers to direct questions regarding different types of safety.