National Geographic
Travel Guides
National Geographic's Travel Guides is a design project created at The Walt Disney Company to showcase destination-specific travel guides categorized by continents and improve user interaction in each site.
Client
The Walt Disney Company
Services
UX/UI Design
Industries
Entertainment
Date
July 2023
Problem
Travel Guides had only articles that are not differentiated by content. Users found it difficult to explore content due to a confusing navigation structure, lack of clear categorization and no search tools.
Solution
Travel Guides had only articles that are not differentiated by content. Users found it difficult to explore content due to a confusing navigation structure, lack of clear categorization and no search tools.
Design Process
• The content was not categorized, causing confusion to the users. • Users could not go back to the previous page from articles. • Users may feel frustrated after searching for a country only from the categories, because it is a long process. • When the user types something wrong or there is no content for one specific country, the user does not see any message. • Depending on the country image, the title could not be read by the users.
Results
• Design cards by continent and country, providing a clear and organized view of the categories. • Implement breadcrumbs to facilitate backward to index page. • Integrate a search box with autocomplete functionality with a dropdown suggestion box to suggest some possible inputs for user. • Design a user-friendly no-results message, that help the user solve the problem and move on. • Application of overlays and implementation of light or dark version of the design, depending on image saturation.
Users who consult National Geographic are travelers with a deep curiosity about the world, who value authenticity in their travel experiences. These travelers seek not only to visit places but also to understand their culture and history.
Users who consult National Geographic are travelers with a deep curiosity about the world, who value authenticity in their travel experiences. These travelers seek not only to visit places but also to understand their culture and history.
Users who consult National Geographic are travelers with a deep curiosity about the world, who value authenticity in their travel experiences. These travelers seek not only to visit places but also to understand their culture and history.
UX Research
Travel Guides had only articles that are not differentiated by content. Users found it difficult to explore content due to a confusing navigation structure, lack of clear categorization and no search tools.
• User Personas: Identify the profiles of users visiting the destinations section (e.g., frequent travelers, occasional adventurers). • User Goals: Understand what users seek when visiting this section (e.g., destination information, travel inspiration, recommendations). • Behavior Patterns: Analyze how users navigate the site, which sections they visit most, and where they spend the most time. • Pain Points: Identify any difficulties users encounter, such as complicated navigation or lack of relevant information. • Metrics: Measure engagement metrics like click-through rates.
User Persona
Define User Personas to represent key user types, guiding design decisions based on their needs and behaviors.
Emily Johnson
• Age: 34 • Location: France • Occupation: Photographer • Marital status: Single • Languages: French, English, Spanish "I need comprehensive, up-to-date information that helps me uncover the hidden gems and cultural nuances of my next travel spot. This means finding detailed guides, local insights, and authentic recommendations that allow me to experience each destination in a meaningful and unique way, ensuring that my travels are both enriching and inspiring."
Background Emily is a photographer who loves exploring new cultures. She frequently uses websites for travel planning and learn more about the real culture behind the photo. She is looking for information about her next trip to Asia. Goals • Discover new travel destinations and experiences. • Find detailed and reliable information about countries she plans to visit. • Have a seamless browsing experience that allows her to quickly find relevant content. Frustrations • Find authentic content about the destination. • Wasting time on sites that don’t provide updated and clear information.
User Persona
Define User Personas to represent key user types, guiding design decisions based on their needs and behaviors.
Emily Johnson
• Age: 34 • Location: France • Occupation: Photographer • Marital status: Single • Languages: French, English, Spanish "I need comprehensive, up-to-date information that helps me uncover the hidden gems and cultural nuances of my next travel spot. This means finding detailed guides, local insights, and authentic recommendations that allow me to experience each destination in a meaningful and unique way, ensuring that my travels are both enriching and inspiring."
Background Emily is a photographer who loves exploring new cultures. She frequently uses websites for travel planning and learn more about the real culture behind the photo. She is looking for information about her next trip to Asia. Goals • Discover new travel destinations and experiences. • Find detailed and reliable information about countries she plans to visit. • Have a seamless browsing experience that allows her to quickly find relevant content. Frustrations • Find authentic content about the destination. • Wasting time on sites that don’t provide updated and clear information.
User Flow
Developing visual guides for a detailed step-by-step process that users follow to find specific content.
Wireframes
We designed wireframes to emphasize content hierarchy and improve usability. By creating multiple wireframes, we effectively evaluated the placement of each piece of content. This approach helps us to establish a shared understanding of the current state, envision the future, and outline the steps needed to achieve our goals.
Design
With the insights gathered and wireframes reviewed, we began the design phase. This redesign enhances usability across multiple devices, ensuring a seamless and engaging experience for all users.
The design ensures that users can quickly access insightful, detailed articles, making their travel planning both efficient and inspiring.
Conclusions
Collaborating in the redesign of the National Geographic Travel Guides has been a rewarding experience, showcasing the power of collaborative work with other designers and developers. I am excited to see how this work can improve user engagement and enhance the overall user experience of the National Geographic local sites.
User Flow
Developing visual guides for a detailed step-by-step process that users follow to find specific content.
Design
With the insights gathered and wireframes reviewed, we began the design phase. This redesign enhances usability across multiple devices, ensuring a seamless and engaging experience for all users.
The design ensures that users can quickly access insightful, detailed articles, making their travel planning both efficient and inspiring.
The design ensures that users can quickly access insightful, detailed articles, making their travel planning both efficient and inspiring.
Conclusions
Collaborating in the redesign of the National Geographic Travel Guides has been a rewarding experience, showcasing the power of collaborative work with other designers and developers. I am excited to see how this work can improve user engagement and enhance the overall user experience of the National Geographic local sites.
Problem
Travel Guides had only articles that are not differentiated by content. Users found it difficult to explore content due to a confusing navigation structure, lack of clear categorization and no search tools.
Solution
Redesign the site, focused on improving the usability and accessibility. Categorize content with cards and add a search box that enhances user navigation to encourage users to explore the site.
User Flow
Developing visual guides for a detailed step-by-step process that users follow to find specific content.
The design ensures that users can quickly access insightful, detailed articles, making their travel planning both efficient and inspiring.
Conclusions
Collaborating in the redesign of the National Geographic Travel Guides has been a rewarding experience, showcasing the power of collaborative work with other designers and developers. I am excited to see how this work can improve user engagement and enhance the overall user experience of the National Geographic local sites.
Wireframes
We designed wireframes to emphasize content hierarchy and improve usability. By creating multiple wireframes, we effectively evaluated the placement of each piece of content. This approach helps us to establish a shared understanding of the current state, envision the future, and outline the steps needed to achieve our goals.
Wireframes
We designed wireframes to emphasize content hierarchy and improve usability. By creating multiple wireframes, we effectively evaluated the placement of each piece of content. This approach helps us to establish a shared understanding of the current state, envision the future, and outline the steps needed to achieve our goals.
UX Research
Travel Guides had only articles that are not differentiated by content. Users found it difficult to explore content due to a confusing navigation structure, lack of clear categorization and no search tools.
• User Personas: Identify the profiles of users visiting the destinations section (e.g., frequent travelers, occasional adventurers). • User Goals: Understand what users seek when visiting this section (e.g., destination information, travel inspiration, recommendations). • Behavior Patterns: Analyze how users navigate the site, which sections they visit most, and where they spend the most time. • Pain Points: Identify any difficulties users encounter, such as complicated navigation or lack of relevant information. • Metrics: Measure engagement metrics like click-through rates.
UX Research
Travel Guides had only articles that are not differentiated by content. Users found it difficult to explore content due to a confusing navigation structure, lack of clear categorization and no search tools.
• User Personas: Identify the profiles of users visiting the destinations section (e.g., frequent travelers, occasional adventurers). • User Goals: Understand what users seek when visiting this section (e.g., destination information, travel inspiration, recommendations). • Behavior Patterns: Analyze how users navigate the site, which sections they visit most, and where they spend the most time. • Pain Points: Identify any difficulties users encounter, such as complicated navigation or lack of relevant information. • Metrics: Measure engagement metrics like click-through rates.
User Persona
Define User Personas to represent key user types, guiding design decisions based on their needs and behaviors.