Road trip startup Roadtrippers has a new user interface, which includes an updated, modern look for the main interactive map.
The startup has angled to make the map seem unique with its font and color selection, alongside the updated interface navigation. The colors are more muted, with speckled texture that suggests both an Instagram-like vintage filter and a fresh, modern appeal.
In an e-mail with the team, Tnooz asked a few questions related to the new design.
What are all the new features?
- Full overhaul of site icons and colors to "better accentuate the joy of trip planning and discovery."
- A new point-of-interest page that brings images, user reviews and vital information up front.
- Improvements of trip planning to include an easier process of attaching stops to the map.
- More graphical approach to the information included in the Trips and Bucket List trip drawer.
- A photo bar is attached to the bottom of the screen, showing various points-of-interest for exploration.
- Completely new map interface.
- Faster search that surfaces better information.
- Reviews and ratings replace comments.
What was the process to develop the new UI?
- Mass collection of user feedback.
- Creating "user profiles" to be sure we were considering roadtrippers from all walks of life.
- Working from the highest view of the site, down to the smallest detail, to ensure the experience was cohesive from top to bottom.
- A rigorous battery of iterations in prototyping and design for basic user testing.
- After release, collect user feedback and roll it into additional prototype-design-build iterations.
What were some of the unexpected challenges?[The biggest challenges were] trying to account for all the different uses of the site - how do you make the most people happy without compromising someone else's enjoyment - and taking the time to listen to the users. Sometimes you feel like you know everything that would make the site perfect, and then you listen and learn!
How does this position you against other online travel competitors?
We make it way easier to discover the places you want to go in relation to where you are, versus an itemized list used on most travel sites that gives you no context about whether a place is 5 minutes from where you'll be or 5 hours.
How were users involved?
We used a combination of taking documented feedback from the existing Roadtrippers design and getting up to the minute feedback on the Beta relase.
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The new UI can be experienced here. Roadtrippers launched in (TLabs here) and recently closed $2.5 million in funding.