Tripnastic mobile app interface

Tripnastic

Mobile-first marketplace connecting travelers with local operators, from concept to launch

Role

Product Designer (End-to-End)

Client

Tripnastic (Startup)

Deliverables

Product strategy, mobile app, web platform, design system

Timeline

2016

The Challenge

Tripnastic was an early-stage startup with an ambitious mission: democratize travel by connecting travelers directly with local tour operators through a frictionless digital marketplace. The founders had the vision, but no product yet.

I was brought in to help shape the product from the ground up, defining the core user experience, information architecture, and interaction patterns for both sides of the marketplace: travelers searching and booking experiences, and operators managing availability, pricing, and customer communication.

Strategy & Approach

The product needed to work seamlessly on mobile, where most travelers would discover and book experiences on the go. I led discovery workshops with the founding team to map user journeys, identify core jobs-to-be-done, and prioritize features for the MVP.

The design strategy focused on simplicity and trust: clear navigation, visual hierarchy that guides users through search and booking, and social proof elements to build confidence in local operators.

Mobile Experience

The mobile app was the primary touchpoint for travelers. I designed the complete user flow from discovery to booking, including search filters, experience detail pages, booking confirmation, user profiles, and in-app messaging between travelers and operators.

Tripnastic app homepage
Homepage - discovery and search
Tripnastic user profile
User profile and saved experiences
Tripnastic messaging and calendar
In-app messaging and booking calendar

Desktop Platform

While the mobile app served travelers on the go, the desktop platform catered to users planning longer trips and operators managing their listings. I designed responsive layouts that adapted the mobile-first patterns to larger screens, optimizing for content density and task efficiency.

Tripnastic desktop homepage
Desktop homepage with enhanced filters
Tripnastic product detail page
Experience detail page with booking flow

Outcome

The platform launched successfully, enabling Tripnastic to onboard local operators across multiple markets and facilitate bookings for travelers worldwide. The mobile-first approach proved essential, as the majority of users discovered and booked experiences directly from their phones.

The design system and interaction patterns I established provided a scalable foundation for the product, allowing the team to iterate quickly and expand to new markets without compromising experience consistency.