On Friday, we were given the brief for our next project for the next six weeks, which is all about creating a travel app. I am beginning my research and ideas for this project.
Existing Designs for Travel Apps
I began by looking at a few examples of existing travel apps, to get a grasp at what design aspects they use, and how information is laid out. When looking at these, I want to take into consideration what the app actually does, and what I like most about the app, whether it be the design or how it functions.
Airbnb
Airbnb is an app that allows you to find and book the best holiday home rentals and apartments near you or abroad. To use the app, you simply search for a place and include the dates you want to go and the number of people that will be staying, and a number of options will come up with accurate pricing. You will be able to go through the list and read about each one, including reviews, descriptions, house rules, amenities and cancellation policies. Once you find what you’re looking for, you book it. This is done by hitting Reserve on the app.
What do I like about it?
The app has a very clean and elegant appearance. It is sleek, and easy to navigate and use. It follows a consistent colour scheme throughout the app, of white, black and red. The iconography used in its designs is very minimalistic and simple, which goes with the overall simple aesthetic. I love how overly simple this design is, because it is still so effective. It is straight to the point, and gets you where you need to go, without bombarding you with too much colour or design. I also really like their use of pictures throughout the app. Each photo makes you want to be there in the place it is trying to advertise to you.
LoungeBuddy
The next app that I looked at was LoungeBuddy. The purpose of this app is to allow travellers to view, book and access airport lounges around the world. Essentially, it allows you to make the most of your time while you’re at the airport, and to experience travel in style. You simply type in the locations of your flight, and select the date of your trip, then a number of bubbles will pop up that you can select to help find certain options and activities available to you inside the airport you will be at.
What do I like about it?
Like the previous app, it has a clean, effective design. The colour scheme for this app is heavy on darker colours such as blues and greens, which I like a lot because it is very easy on the eyes, and isn’t too distracting. The app includes a number of really nice design aspects as well, such as original illustrations and icons. I really like some of these, and they give an element of fun and excitement to the app, which suits the theme of it well. The app is easy to navigate, and I was able to find options for airport salons and lounges in mere seconds.