Close-up of a digital thermometer with a sunny icon on the display.

“A Journey Through History”

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Screenshots of a mobile app called PastPaths that features categories for historical events and podcasts, with images of Civil War and ancientGreek topics.

Discovery

UI Branding

Wireframing

Conclusion

Prototyping

RESEARCH & DISCOVERY

History enthusiasts, particularly Gen Z, lack a dedicated travel app that helps them plan trips focused exclusively on historical sites and experiences. The goal of Past Paths is to provide history enthusiasts with a dedicated platform to discover, plan, and experience travel centered around historical sites and stories.

A semi-circular chart indicating 70% in teal and 30% in black

GEN Z TRAVELERS

70% of Gen Z travelers are looking for “new places” to travel with family and friends

A teal gauge shows 88%, with the needle pointing to the high end, indicating a high percentage.

VARIETY OF PEOPLE

Through 10 interviews, we learned that 88% are actively looking for historical travel destinations

RESULTS

Users need a travel history app that is personalized and informative

IDEATION & WIREFRAMING

Based on our findings, we sketched multiple concepts in Figure 1, focusing on essential features that addressed user needs. We then refined these into mid-fidelity wireframes in Figure 2, adding key functions and clarifying navigation to improve usability.

Figure 1 (Low-Fidelity)

Figure 2 (Mid-Fidelity)

HIGH-FIDELITY PROTOTYPE

Profile

UI DESIGN & BRANDING

In the high-fidelity design, we focused on creating a seamless navigation experience. Color was used to highlight clickable elements, a clean sans-serif typeface improved legibility, intuitive icons supported quick recognition, and a consistent bottom navigation bar ensured users always knew where they were within the app.

Sample alphabet with uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and the word 'Manrope' in a digital font style.

Typography supports brand tone by being approachable, modern, and functional, while keeping historical content easy to digest.

A color palette featuring five vertical stripes of different colors: orange, bright orange, black, dark gray, and medium gray.

Orange is used for emphasis and call-to-action buttons. It creates a strong visual hierarchy and draws users to interactive elements.

Two smartphones displaying travel and exploration app screens focused on Gettysburg, with images of trees, cannons, and historical sites, and featuring plan creation and review options.

Prototyping & Testing

To ensure users had the best experience with the app, we conducted usability testing with ten participants. We asked them to complete tasks and share feedback on their overall experience, pain points, and any areas of confusion. This process helped us identify what worked well and where improvements were needed, guiding refinements to navigation and clarity.

A semi-circular chart showing 90% in teal color and a small black segment representing 10%.

NAVIGATION

90% completed the main navigation task on their first attempt

A semi-circular bar chart with a turquoise segment representing 30%, with the rest in black.

BUTTONS

30% suggested stronger visual cues for clickable elements.

RESULTS

Improve navigation between pages

Intuitive button layout/larger pictures

Recommendations & Categories

Check out my Prototype!

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Conclusion and Key Takeaways

This project highlighted the value of user testing in refining navigation, clarity, and accessibility. Small design adjustments made a significant impact, reinforcing the importance of an iterative, user-centered approach.

Include more Prominent Pictures

Find the Root Cause of Confusion

An Intuitive and Consistent Button Layout