Paving the way through the 'For You' page.

Introduction

Wanderlust is a digital artefact project that aims to revolutionise solo backpacking by offering personalised travel planning, local recommendations, and, most notably, a chat feature that connects solo travellers heading to the same destinations. Initially, Instagram was chosen as the primary platform for building a community around Wanderlust, but as engagement fell short of expectations, I’ve pivoted to using TikTok as a more effective platform. This report will explore the app’s growth, design process, chat feature, and the shift to TikTok, supported by academic insights into social media engagement and user experience design.

App Growth and Design Process

Wanderlust aims to address common issues for solo backpackers, including trip preparation, local hidden gems, and connecting with other travellers. As I worked on the app, it became evident that the visual design and user interface were critical to providing a straightforward and engaging user experience. Wanderlust was designed with a younger, adventurous demographic in mind, with much thought given to colours, fonts, and aesthetics.

Fonts have also been carefully considered, with simplicity being the top priority, ensuring the app remains accessible to all users. Studies show that clear and attractive design elements enhance user engagement and make applications more appealing to users (Moshagen & Thielsch, 2010).

In addition to aesthetics, I’ve focused on functionality, particularly around language barriers, a critical issue for global travellers. Wanderlust will incorporate a built-in translation feature for the chat, allowing users to communicate seamlessly across language differences. This is vital, as overcoming language barriers is one of the biggest challenges for solo travelers (Kaur & Sharma, 2022). In order to improve accessibility for a wide range of users, the app's design also makes sure that all of the navigation and important instructions are available in several languages. It now includes a page where people from all around the world can learn the basic phrases of the nation they are visiting. To help a solo traveller, I have also developed other features like this, like a checklist, money conversion, and danger advice for the nation.

The Power of the Chat Feature

The chat function allows users to coordinate meetups, exchange travel tips, and even plan parts of their trips together. Incorporating this feature was one of my main goals for this project as from experiencing solo travelling myself I personally believe it would of assisted me a lot.

Throughout the process of designing this I realised the language barriers involved and changed the function accordingly: the chat feature is designed to address language barriers, with automatic translation tools enabling seamless communication between travellers from different countries. Language diversity is considered a core feature, aligning with research that shows travel apps with translation tools significantly enhance user satisfaction (Kaur & Sharma, 2022).

This is featuring the section where there are reviews from past travellers and advice from the locals in the area.

The Shift from Instagram to TikTok

Initially, I focused on Instagram as the main platform to promote Wanderlust, believing that its visual nature would help showcase destinations, share user stories, and build a strong community. However, despite consistent posting and engagement strategies, the platform did not deliver the level of engagement I expected. Instagram's algorithm tends to favour established influencers, making it difficult for new projects to gain visibility (Cotter, 2019).

Recognizing these challenges, I began exploring TikTok as a more effective platform for reaching Wanderlust’s target audience of young travellers. TikTok’s algorithm is designed to promote new creators by surfacing fresh content through its "For You" page, offering a much higher chance of organic reach compared to Instagram (Xu et al., 2020).

Throughout the development of Wanderlust, several key learning moments have shaped the direction and refinement of the project. One major learning moment was recognizing the limitations of Instagram in reaching and engaging the target audience, which led to the strategic shift towards TikTok. This pivot highlighted the importance of platform selection in audience engagement, demonstrating the need for adaptability in project development. Additionally, I have applied the concept of iterative design, a strategic project development approach, in refining both the app’s features and user interface. By continuously testing, receiving feedback, and making adjustments, particularly around the app's chat function and the integration of language translation tools, I am ensuring that Wanderlust evolves in a way that meets user needs while remaining responsive to real-world challenges. This process of refining and testing has been crucial in enhancing the user experience, driving engagement, and ensuring the app aligns with solo travellers' expectations.

Studying Video Trends for Engagement

As part of the transition to TikTok, I’ve been studying the types of video content that perform best on the platform. Research suggests that short-form videos that are either highly entertaining, informative, or authentic have the greatest impact (Smith, 2021).

This aligns perfectly with the type of content Wanderlust can provide, such as travel tips, destination highlights, and quick how-to guides.

Conclusion

The development of Wanderlust has been a dynamic process, from refining its design and aesthetics to incorporating key features like the chat function and addressing language barriers. While Instagram initially seemed like the ideal platform for building a community, the shift to TikTok reflects a strategic adaptation based on audience behaviour and content trends. As Wanderlust continues to develop, I see it evolving into more than just a travel app, it has the potential to be a global platform for solo travellers, offering not only logistical support but also fostering deep connections and shared experiences. To come is the study of TikTok and how Wanderlust will pave the way through the 'For You' page.

References

Assisted by ChatGPT.

Cotter, K. (2019). Playing the visibility game: How digital influencers and algorithms negotiate influence on Instagram. New Media & Society, 21(4), 895-913.

Kaur, R., & Sharma, P. (2022). The role of technology in overcoming language barriers in travel. Journal of Tourism Technology, 12(1), 50-65.

Moshagen, M., & Thielsch, M. T. (2010). Facets of visual aesthetics. International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, 68(10), 689-709.

Pearce, P. L., & Foster, F. (2016). Travel motivations and experiences. Annals of Tourism Research, 27(4), 352-370.

Smith, J. (2021). The power of short-form video: How TikTok is reshaping content creation. Journal of Digital Media, 12(3), 45-60.

Statista. (2021). Solo travel trends worldwide. Retrieved from https://www.statista.com/statistics/555500/solo-travel-global-market.

Xu, C., Kang, Y., Song, Z., & Clarke, M. (2020). Understanding the role of TikTok in content creation and distribution. Journal of Media and Communication Studies, 9(2), 91-105.