Xplore Beyond – Product Design Case Study
Project Overview
CineBuzz is a travel platform that helps users discover, plan, and share unique experiences. The goal was to create a personalized, intuitive, and engaging solution for travelers seeking inspiration, simplified planning, and community interaction.
Role
Product Designer
Scope
UI/UX
App Design
Wireframing
Billboards
Logo Design
Branding
THE PROBLEM
People want inspiration, not information overload.
Users told us they often get stuck on questions like:
“What should I do next?”
“How do I organize ideas into an actual plan?”
“Can I share this with friends without screenshots and messages?”
These pain points showed a clear need for an experience that guides discovery and simplifies planning.
USER RESEARCH & INSIGHTS
Methods
User Interviews & Surveys with frequent travelers
Empathy Mapping to surface emotional drivers and blockers
Competitive Benchmarking against apps like Airbnb Experiences / TripAdvisor / Google Trips / GLOBUS.
(These competitors often focus on listings, not guided inspiration and planning support.)Behavioral research on social media–driven travel inspiration
Visual audit of imagery usage across travel and lifestyle apps
Key Findings
Users feel decision fatigue with broad, unguided lists.
People want personalized recommendations tailored to their interests.
Users love sharing plans with others but have no streamlined way to do it.
90% of Gen Z say their international travel decisions are influenced by social media.
Online content helps many people find travel inspiration, with 75% of travelers saying they chose a specific destination because of social media
Key Insights: Imagery Drives Travel Motivation
Research revealed that imagery plays a critical role in travel decision-making. Users were significantly more likely to express interest in a destination when they saw it visually, rather than reading about it.
Participants frequently referenced:
Discovering locations through Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest
Feeling FOMO after seeing friends or creators share experiences
Saving locations purely based on how the place looked, before knowing details
This aligned with broader behavioral trends showing that emotion-driven inspiration often precedes logical planning.
What was learned
Users don’t search for destinations — they react to them
Visual storytelling creates an emotional hook
High-quality imagery increases curiosity and intent to explore
Users associate aspirational images with “must-visit” experiences
Because of this, discovery tools that prioritize text-heavy listings or generic photos fail to capture attention in early decision-making stages.
DEFINE
From research insights were translated into a clear design focus
How might we help users easily discover personalized experiences, then plan and share them without friction?
IDEATION
Designing a user flow with a focus on fluidity and ease of use
Feature Concepts
Personalized Feed: Recommendations based on preferences
Itinerary Builder: Drag‑and‑drop planning
Rewards & Moments: Celebrate experiences users complete
Large, immersive hero imagery for each experience
Curated image selection that emphasizes mood, atmosphere, and scale
Visual consistency to create a social-media-inspired discovery flow
This approach mirrors how users already discover destinations organically and taps into FOMO-driven exploration behavior.
Flows & Wireframes
Started with sketches then moved to mid‑fi wireframes and polished hi‑fi mockups.
User flows helped visualize the core experience from discovery to sharing.
