TravelPal
Reinventing the layover experience for Star Alliance
Background
A collaborative design challenge with Edenspiekermann.
TravelPal is a tablet-specific app for Star Alliance, designed to enhance travelers' experiences during extended layovers, with an in-app guide, flight alerts, and luggage tracking.
The Challenge
Layovers are a significant inconvenience.
How can we make this experience more seamless and enjoyable for customers?
Research
Market analysis of Star Alliance member airlines, paired with a user survey of 20 participants.
Airlines differ greatly in amenities offered during layovers
Some airports have poor discoverability of services
Ten member airlines offer loyalty program benefits
Top 3 Pain Points
- 01Fear of getting lost at large airports, the #1 concern
- 02Afraid of missing flights due to long lines
- 03Frustration from lost luggage
Solution, Three Core Features
In-app virtual assistant
Navigation and personalized suggestions to help travelers make the most of their layover time.
Luggage tracking
Real-time updates and notifications so travelers always know where their bags are.
Alerts & notifications
Flight boarding reminders and important updates delivered at the right moment.
Design Principles
Reduce stress
Clear, accessible information that cuts through airport chaos and keeps travelers informed.
Enhance awareness
Better navigation within the terminal so travelers always know where they are and where to go next.
Optimize efficiency
Digital boarding passes, baggage tracking, and streamlined check-in, less waiting, more doing.
Visual Identity
Dark mode by default, comfort for extended use.
Shades of blue and black convey productivity and sophistication. A yellow accent brings a touch of joy to an otherwise stressful process.
Use Case
Troy, Part 1
Before his flight, Troy checks his luggage status.
Real-time tracking gives him peace of mind before he even reaches the airport, one less thing to worry about during a long travel day.
Troy, Part 2
During his layover, Troy uses the virtual assistant to find nearby vegan restaurants.
As boarding approaches, he receives an alert with gate directions, no scrambling, no missed connections.
Final Experience
A tablet-first flow from login through layover, every screen designed to reduce cognitive load in high-stress environments.
Reflections
Research was the backbone of this project.
The key lesson was prioritizing interaction design and selecting the right features to create a detailed yet navigable experience that reduces travel stress, not adding more, but adding what matters.