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See you in Iran
A short description on the platform
Tools Used
The Problem
Initially, perceptions of traveling to Iran were often overshadowed by concerns about safety and uncertainty. However, as attitudes began to shift towards recognizing Iran's rich cultural and historical significance, a need arose for a centralized platform that could facilitate end-to-end travel experiences and provide support for travelers seeking to explore the country.
Project Overview
The "See You in Iran" platform combines digital and physical realms to enhance cultural interaction and understanding between international visitors and Iranians. It features a celebrated hostel, engaging cultural events, and immersive storytelling to authentically represent Iranian culture and break down cultural misconceptions.
User problems
Finding up-to-date, trustworthy information about traveling to/in Iran, including cultural norms, local laws, and safety advice
Identifying and booking accommodations that meet specific preferences and standards, especially for those looking for authentic local experiences
Confusing and lengthy visa application processes
Challenges in managing cash due to limited acceptance of foreign credit cards
Navigating local transport options without local language skills
Limited access to authentic traveler reviews, past experiences and insights
Step-by-step visa guide and application support
A service to connect travelers with certified local guides based on language skills, expertise areas, and traveler reviews
Interactive cultural sessions and e-learning modules to educate travelers about Iranian customs, and language basics
A booking system that features a range of vetted accommodations, from hostels to local guesthouses
A tool that allows travelers to build personalized itineraries based on interests, duration, and travel style
Platform-affiliated prepaid debit card reducing reliance on cash
A detailed transport guide with options, schedules, and booking facilities for trains, buses, and internal flights
Possible Solutions
Based on the all the information collected through research and findings, I figured that a platform that covers the end-to-end travel experience for tourists in Iran will require following functionality:
Project Goals
To enable meaningful local interactions
To simplify all aspects of travel planning & management
To empower informed decision-making
Understanding the Problem
To better understand the experiences of travelers to Iran, I initiated a detailed survey followed by interview sessions with guests when checking in to our hostel, focusing on their travel-related challenges and plans.
During these research phase, I also tried to understand;
Detailed planning habits, or the lack thereof, affecting travel experiences and destination choices within Iran.
Initial plans to travel to Iran, including the decision-making process and expectations.
Accommodation preferences and the factors influencing these choices
Transportation choices within Iran and the perceived ease or difficulty of navigating these options
User Surveys
Survey Questions and results
User Interviews
Following the survey, we conducted user interviews with a subset of participants to gain insights into their traveling behavior patterns. The interviews focused on understanding their decision-making processes, pain points, and opportunities, based on which I developed the user personas.
After collating insights from interviews and discussions with past visitors to Iran, I pinpointed the key factors that enhance a traveler's experience:
Start with Detailed Pre-Travel Information and an overview of the whole experience
Facilitating users to build their itineraries gradually, with suggestions and customizable options
Facilitating travel planning by breaking it down into manageable chunks, e.g. visas, accommodations, local transport, and cultural experiences
Enabling a travel experience going beyond conventional tourism to foster genuine cultural exchange and understanding
User Personas
The First-Timer
Sarah is excited for her first trip to Iran and wants to dive into its culture. She prefers using public transport or joining group tours to feel safe and avoid getting lost. Sarah watches her spending, e.g., choosing affordable local dishes. She's learning a few Farsi phrases to get by. Sarah plans some activities ahead but likes discovering new things on the go. She's mindful of safety and prefers experiences that let her engage with the local culture, even if they're a bit outside her comfort zone.
Ughh, so many ads. It’s overwhelming wait a minute, I think I’ve seen this one before. Are these ads repeated?
Sarah, 25
“
The Budget Adventurer
Mark seeks adventure and values cost-effective travel options, utilizing local transport like buses and shared taxis to explore. He's enthusiastic about sampling a wide array of street food and local delicacies, balancing his budget with his desire to taste everything. Mark's approach to travel is spontaneous, preferring to make decisions on the fly based on what he finds interesting each day. He enjoys traveling alone, believing it offers more authentic encounters and the freedom to explore.
Ughh, so many ads. It’s overwhelming wait a minute, I think I’ve seen this one before. Are these ads repeated?
Mark, 27
“
The Cultural Connoisseur
Maria is passionate Iran's cultural tapestry, preferring immersive experiences like art galleries, museums, and cultural workshops over typical tourist attractions. She's not just a diner but a culinary explorer. Maria is methodical in her travel planning. She is particularly focused on forging connections with local artists and historians to gain profound insights. Her travel is not just about seeing but experiencing, prioritizing depth and engagement over mere sightseeing.
Ughh, so many ads. It’s overwhelming wait a minute, I think I’ve seen this one before. Are these ads repeated?
Maria, 35
“
Beta Version
Early Sketches & Ideations
To test out the usability of the product with real users and improve the experience, before public release, we launched a beta version first.
Also, in this phase, we aimed to evaluate our closed marketing strategy of advertisement through the See You In Iran Facebook Group.
User Flow
Information Architecture
To get innovative solutions into the hands of your users, I needed to concentrate on idea generation. Based on my understanding of the problem, I brainstormed the Information architecture and user flow to ensure smooth experience for the users.
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Hi-Fi Designs
Date Picker
Quickly view current & upcoming tasks for the week
Add New Tasks
Helps add new task to the list
Analytics
Basic information about the daily progress
# Home Screen
Progress Overview
Includes stats for Success rate, Best Steak, Pending activities, & challenges
Analytics
Provides an average completion rate of task, habits & challenges
# Progress Tracker
# Add New
# New Habit
Habits details
Add the Habit name and sub text for context
Select Days & set reminder
Set daily reminders to keep habits in check
Category wise listing
Create habits based on categories to keep things organised
# New Challenge
# Challenge Page
# Challenge Progress
Where users can start a new challenge based on their goals
Provides users with detailed path they need to follow
List of ongoing challenges with users progress
# Friends list
#Explore Friends
Users can chat with friends & share their achievement
Explore and connect with like minded people having similar goals as you
Key Learnings
Working on this problem helped me widen my understanding of sedentary lifestyle and its ill-effects. Finding the right features that solved the users problem was challenging, but this project helped me get out of my comfort zone & challenge myself to deliver user centric solutions.
However, there are still a lot of inputs & features that could be added with proper testing and identifying the problem with the help of real-time user data.
Thank You For Watching
Designer
Amin Forootan
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