Maïa Travel
Overview
Maïa Travel was created with the intent of allowing users to organize their travels with simplicity, flexibility, and above all, AI to craft tailor-made journeys. The goal was to have a centralized platform where everything is seamlessly integrated. This project has been in the works for some time now, and Maïa approached my agency to reevaluate the UX aspect and establish a new visual identity while preserving the core elements of Maïa Travel.
My contribution
UX research UX design
The team
2x UI designer 1x UX designer
Year
2022
Process
As part of the team, in my role as a UX Designer, I led the initial UX research and wireframing phases. The project was segmented into four development batches, handled by an external team of developers. The preliminary research spanned across all batches, followed by batch-specific wireframing.
Challenges:
- Evaluated the existing UX to identify various paths, necessitating clear guidance and recommendations to determine the most fitting solutions.
- Redesigned the visual identity to maintain Maïa's brand essence.
- Created a memorable graphic universe that distinguishes itself from competitors.
UX Redesign
An initial version of the platform had been designed before our intervention. We used it as a basis to propose a new user journey. The strength of this platform is to provide personalized recommendations based on the preferences indicated by the user in a preliminary questionnaire. The design of this user journey required discussions with the technical team in order to precisely define the parameters to be included.
Wireframing
Once the user journeys were defined, we created wireframes for all the pages of the site to validate with the client the structure that best aligned with their expectations. These wireframes were a crucial step in refining the AI-assisted booking process. This journey required a lengthy iteration phase to strike the right balance between user autonomy and the precision of the AI recommendations.
Defining the visual identity and design system
At the start of this project at Wolfox, Maia had not yet strictly defined a UI Kit or design system. We tackled the graphic elements in two stages:
First, we proposed three UI Kits with template pages to enable the client to envision the potential directions. Once the artistic direction was validated, we developed the interface elements to create a sustainable design system.
UI mockup creation
Thanks to the wireframes combined with the design system, creating the mockups was simple and quick. These were validated by the developers as well as the Maïa Travel team.
An organization adapted to the constraints
To streamline the integration process and allow the product to be launched more quickly, we divided the platform into 3 batches that had minimal dependencies. We first tackled the showcase website, then the booking flows, and finally the AI-assisted journey.
Conclusion
This seemingly simple product presented several complexities that were easily handled thanks to the close collaboration between the various project stakeholders, particularly the development team. The design system put in place allows for potential future feature iterations and ensures the product's longevity.
Outcome
Transforming Maïa Travel's digital experience led to a streamlined interface and a vibrant brand presence, significantly boosting user interactions.
Our strategic overhaul, centered on user-centric design and a compelling visual narrative, not only elevated the user journey but also distinguished Maïa Travel in a crowded marketplace, fostering a notable increase in user engagement and satisfaction.