Designing the Vanpackers travel app
A social solution for campervan hire, helping travellers connect and hit the road together.
Role: UX/UI Researcher and Designer
Platform: iOS app
Deliverables: UX research, UI screens, Prototype
Overview
I wanted to create is a mobile-first app designed to help solo travellers easily find campervan rentals and connect with others on similar journeys. Bringing together a scattered community of adventurers and make van travel more social, safe, and accessible.
Backpackers who travel to Australia seek companionship while traveling and use social platforms to connect with others. Despite existing options for campervan hire and trip planning, there is a lack of integrated solutions that address the social aspect of travel. This gap highlights a need for a better way to create safe social connections among travelers who prefer not to journey alone.
“I love the idea of van life, but the thought of going alone is daunting. It would be amazing to meet people who want to share the journey.”
Insights
I gained Key insights through competitor analysis, surveys, interviews and joining online group chats, I found that vanlife has a large and growing community within Australia, from backpackers through to locals, all seeking the freedom to explore on their own terms. Safety, companionship, and independence emerged as core values driving their decisions.
Users want to be adventurous but don’t always want to do it alone.
Users want more freedom to choose how and when they travel
80%
of backpackers prefer van hire over group tours
Through user research, 2 surveys, 6 interviews and empathy maps, I found key themes and patterns starting to emerge: time, affordability, flexibility, community building, loneliness on the road, information accessibility, safety and trustworthiness.
By creating a key persona (Anna) to represent the typical campervan hirer's in Australia I was able to focus in on their pains and gains. In a customer journey, Anna was overwhelmed by options and opinions leading to uncertainty and doubt. However, these challenges presented opportunities to enhance the user experience.
Designing a platform that combines campervan booking with a social layer, makes solo travel more connected and convenient.
A safe place to connect
To help users feel confident when engaging socially, Vanpackers includes a safety verification step similar to those used in dating apps. This helps ensure people are real, building trust and creating a safer space to connect, chat, and plan shared adventures.
Simplified booking
Booking a campervan is easy with Vanpackers. Users can quickly find vans nearby, view detailed listings with specs, reviews, and extra features, and secure the perfect van for their trip all in just a few taps.
Meet, share, explore
The social side of Vanpackers lets users explore group trips, join upcoming adventures, or start their own. With in-app messaging, travellers can easily share tips, swap itineraries, and connect with others who love the road as much as they do.
