TravelMate AI
TravelMate AI is a mobile-based conversational assistant designed to make traveling simpler and stress-free. It helps tourists navigate new cities, get instant recommendations, translate on the go, and access emergency info in real time. By combining chat, voice, and travel utilities in one app, TravelMate brings together tools that are usually scattered across multiple platforms, giving users a single, reliable travel companion.
CATEGORY:
Mobile Design,
Product Design
ROLE:
UX Designer,
UI Designer,
UX Researcher
TOOLS:
Figma
Problem & Solution Overview
When traveling in a new city, most people juggle multiple apps: one for maps, another for translations, another for weather, and still another for recommendations. Switching between them is stressful, especially when you’re standing in a crowded metro station or dealing with a language you don’t understand.
TravelMate brings all of this into one conversational assistant. Whether typing or speaking, users can ask simple questions like “How do I get to the Louvre?” or “Find me the best local restaurants.” Behind the scenes, TravelMate connects these requests with tools like real-time navigation, a transport hub, a personalized itinerary, a travel journal, and local weather updates.
The aim was to design an assistant that feels natural, context-aware, and always ready, so tourists don’t need five apps when one intelligent companion can do it all.
Key Features & UI Showcase
Splash & Onboarding
The first screen welcomes users with TravelMate branding and a “Get Started” call-to-action. It sets a clean, inviting tone while keeping friction low.
Conversational Chat & Voice
Users can ask questions through text or voice, receiving real-time responses with maps and suggestions. This multimodal flow reduces friction for travelers who may not always be able to type, especially when navigating on the go.
Itinerary Planner
A simple calendar view lets users add activities or view suggestions. This keeps trip planning in one place instead of scattered across apps, reducing planning time and improving confidence in their schedule.
Transport Hub
Shows options for walking, metro, and taxis with cost and time estimates. This direct comparison helps travelers make faster, more informed choices — a key need in unfamiliar cities.
Travel Journal
Allows users to document their trip with photos and notes. Beyond memory-keeping, it strengthens emotional connection to the app, increasing return usage.
Weather & Emergency Info
Displays forecasts and location-based emergency resources. Providing this context directly in the app reduces dependency on multiple tools and builds user trust in TravelMate as a reliable companion.
Challenges and Solutions
Challenge 1: Balancing Conversational Flow with Structure
Tourists needed the flexibility of free chat but also quick access to structured actions like “Book Taxi” or “Nearest Hospital.”
Solution: Combined conversational AI with shortcut buttons on the home screen, reducing reliance on typing while keeping the experience fluid.Challenge 2: Designing for Tourists in Stressful Situations
In emergencies, users can’t afford to dig through menus.
Solution: Made emergency help one-tap accessible from the main navigation, ensuring quick response when time is critical.Challenge 3: Information Overload
Travel apps often overwhelm users with too many features.
Solution: Grouped content into five clear tabs (Home, Itinerary, Transport Hub, Journal, Weather) to simplify navigation and reduce cognitive load.Challenge 4: Supporting Multimodal Inputs
Not all users type easily while traveling (walking, carrying luggage, or in noisy streets).
Solution: Added voice input alongside text, tested for seamless switching between modes.
Outcome and Impact
Prototype validated usability – In peer testing, most users found the flows intuitive, with 80% completing key tasks (navigation, translation, itinerary) without guidance.
Bridged multiple tools – Instead of juggling maps, translators, and local guides, TravelMate unified them into a single conversational interface.
Portfolio-ready prototype – Delivered as an interactive Figma prototype, demonstrating end-to-end UX design skills in AI-driven, multi-modal contexts.
Takeaways
Designing TravelMate pushed me to think beyond just screens and flows. I had to design for real-world travel contexts — moments of joy, stress, and urgency — and make sure the app adapted smoothly to each.
This project strengthened my skills in AI-driven UX, multi-modal design, and system thinking, while reminding me that clarity and simplicity often matter most when users are under pressure.
“Good travel design isn’t just about discovery,
it’s about giving people calm and confidence
when they need it most.”