Ryan Schork

Product Designer

Ryan Schork

Product Designer

Yasumi | やすみ

Yasumi | やすみ

Yasumi | やすみ

The app that bridges the gap between optimized travel and exploratory discovery.

The app that bridges the gap between optimized travel and exploratory discovery.

The app that bridges the gap between optimized travel and exploratory discovery.

01 Overview

Project Summary

I created a travel app that empowers users to maximize their vacation experience, but on their own time and at their own speed. By creating a navigation system that updates in real time, users are no longer beholden to a strict itinerary. Instead, the itinerary is beholden to the user.

I created a travel app that empowers users to maximize their vacation experience, but on their own time and at their own speed. By creating a navigation system that updates in real time, users are no longer beholden to a strict itinerary. Instead, the itinerary is beholden to the user.

Through various features, users can get on-the-fly recommendations from friends and influencers, find locations that most tourists miss, and avoid wasting a second of their trip so their experience is fully unique to their wants and interests.

Through various features, users can get on-the-fly recommendations from friends and influencers, find locations that most tourists miss, and avoid wasting a second of their trip so their experience is fully unique to their wants and interests.

Problem

Not everyone travels the same way, yet travel apps treat users as if they do, providing a one-size-fits-all experience that focuses explicitly on optimization.

Not everyone travels the same way, yet travel apps treat users as if they do, providing a one-size-fits-all experience that focuses explicitly on optimization.

Insight

Many travelers want to see all the sights, try all the foods, shop in all the stores, but creating an itinerary for each day can be overly time-consuming.

Many travelers want to see all the sights, try all the foods, shop in all the stores, but creating an itinerary for each day can be overly time-consuming.

Opportunity

Create a platform that allows non-planning travelers to live their vacation to the fullest without confining their exploration to a strict itinerary.

Create a platform that allows non-planning travelers to live their vacation to the fullest without confining their exploration to a strict itinerary.

02 Product

Features

Route My Day

Imagine you've landed in Japan. You're over the moon, excited about finally being on the vacation that you have been saving up for all year.


But… now what? It can be incredibly overwhelming because there is so much to do that you don't know where to start. For those who don’t like to plan, this feeling of decision paralysis can be even greater—they want to do it all but have no plan of action.

Imagine you've landed in Japan. You're over the moon, excited about finally being on the vacation that you have been saving up for all year.


But… now what? It can be incredibly overwhelming because there is so much to do that you don't know where to start. For those who don’t like to plan, this feeling of decision paralysis can be even greater—they want to do it all but have no plan of action.

To solve this issue, Route My Day allows users to input what they would like to do for the day and have the app create an optimized route to accomplish everything they want. According to my user survey, over 95% of participants ranked this feature as 'Most Important'.

To solve this issue, Route My Day allows users to input what they would like to do for the day and have the app create an optimized route to accomplish everything they want. According to my user survey, over 95% of participants ranked this feature as 'Most Important'.

Yasumi home screen with current route up top and saved locations below.

Yasumi home screen with current route up top and saved locations below.

Saved location overlay.

Saved location overlay.

Search feature with filters.

Search feature with filters.

Users are first greeted with their current list of places to visit and locations that they have previously saved. On each location, if a user's friend has visited they can read their review and any helpful tips they have about the location. They can also simply search for a location through various filters.


Users are first greeted with their current list of places to visit and locations that they have previously saved. On each location, if a user's friend has visited they can read their review and any helpful tips they have about the location. They can also simply search for a location through various filters.


Scrollable map to find visiting locations.

Scrollable map to find visiting locations.

Vibes vs Specific search overlay

Vibes vs Specific search overlay

Location overlay

Location overlay

Users can also scroll through the map to find new locations that they would like to visit. From there, they can simply type in a feeling or emotion they want to experience, like 'Relax in a lush garden.' They can also search for specific locations if they already have one in mind, and choose to add it to their route or save it for later.

Users can also scroll through the map to find new locations that they would like to visit. From there, they can simply type in a feeling or emotion they want to experience, like 'Relax in a lush garden.' They can also search for specific locations if they already have one in mind, and choose to add it to their route or save it for later.

See Route My Day in Action

Friends & Influencers

As you plan your trip and browse the internet to decide what sights you'd like to see, it can be impossible to remember everything you want to do. Not only that, but scrolling back through your notes app and bookmarks to find what you want to do can be overly time-consuming.


The implementation of friends and influencers allows users to get on-the-fly recommendations simply by going to their friend's profiles. Additionally, Japan influencers can create accounts and give recommendations to their followers.


I originally thought that the 'Rookie Mistakes' feature would be a core feature of Yasumi. However, after user testing, most people reported that the feature didn't need to be a core function of the app. Instead of scrapping the feature, I instead consolidated it into users' profile pages.

As you plan your trip and browse the internet to decide what sights you'd like to see, it can be impossible to remember everything you want to do. Not only that, but scrolling back through your notes app and bookmarks to find what you want to do can be overly time-consuming.


The implementation of friends and influencers allows users to get on-the-fly recommendations simply by going to their friend's profiles. Additionally, Japan influencers can create accounts and give recommendations to their followers.


I originally thought that the 'Rookie Mistakes' feature would be a core feature of Yasumi. However, after user testing, most people reported that the feature didn't need to be a core function of the app. Instead of scrapping the feature, I instead consolidated it into users' profile pages.

Friends Profile with their saved locations.

Friends Profile with their saved locations.

Friends Profile with their routes.

Friends Profile with their routes.

Friends Profile with their tips and Rookie Mistakes.

Friends Profile with their tips and Rookie Mistakes.

See Friends Feature in Action

In-app Navigation

Yasumi offers in-app navigation so users don't have to search for addresses or leave the app to get to their next locations. It is fully integrated with Apple iOS Maps to give users a consistent experience. This feature will also send push notifications based on your location for cultural reminders so you can be a respectful tourist.

First stop - Start Route

First stop - Start Route

Apple Maps integration

Apple Maps integration

Push notifications provide cultural tips and reminders.

Push notifications provide cultural tips and reminders.

See Navigation in Action

Hidden Gems

Users want a unique experience different from other tourists. However, in the age of the internet, finding truly “underground” spots can be difficult. Hidden Gems allows users to get the most out of their experience by showing them places that most tourists miss.


In the user survey, 70% of users stated that finding hidden gems, hole-in-the-wall spots, and traveling off the beaten path was their favorite part of travel.

Users want a unique experience different from other tourists. However, in the age of the internet, finding truly “underground” spots can be difficult.


Hidden Gems allows users to get the most out of their experience by showing them places that most tourists miss.


In the user survey, 70% of users stated that finding hidden gems, hole-in-the-wall spots, and traveling off the beaten path was their favorite part of travel.

Hidden Gem icon on Map Navigation

Hidden Gem icon on Map Navigation

Hidden Gem Push Notification

Hidden Gem Push Notification

Add Hidden Gem to Route

Add Hidden Gem to Route

See Hidden Gems in Action

Gentle Nudges

Travelers want to live their vaction to the fullest, but there's only so much you can do in a day. However, tourists are also terrified about missing out on great experiences.


Take it from me—nothing is worse than having an amazing trip, flying home, landing, browsing Instagram… and boom. A "Don't miss this Ramen Spot in Tokyo!" video starts playing and you see the most delicious looking bowl of ramen you have ever seen in your life.


So users never have this feeling, Yasumi will send push notifications to users when they are near trending, popular, or previously viewed locations.


Instead of having that feeling of dread when those "Don't miss this ____ in Japan" videos pop up, Yasumi users can say, "Been there, done that."

Travelers want to live their vaction to the fullest, but there's only so much you can do in a day. However, tourists are also terrified about missing out on great experiences.


Take it from me—nothing is worse than having an amazing trip, flying home, landing, browsing Instagram… and boom. A "Don't miss this Ramen Spot in Tokyo!" video starts playing and you see the most delicious looking bowl of ramen you have ever seen in your life.


So users never have this feeling, Yasumi will send push notifications to users when they are near trending, popular, or previously viewed locations.


Instead of having that feeling of dread when those "Don't miss this ____ in Japan" videos pop up, Yasumi users can say, "Been there, done that."

Dinner Recommendation Notification

Dinner Recommendation Notification

Dinner Recommendation Overlay

Dinner Recommendation Overlay

So, your dinner location has been selected, but you aren't quite finished exploring Ueno Park. You take a moment to rest on a bench by the lake there, and before you know it, time has gotten away from you. Yasumi will send you push notifications letting you know that it closes soon. However, it leaves the decision up to the user and always provides an alternative location.

So, your dinner location has been selected, but you aren't quite finished exploring Ueno Park. You take a moment to rest on a bench by the lake there, and before you know it, time has gotten away from you. Yasumi will send you push notifications letting you know that it closes soon. However, it leaves the decision up to the user and always provides an alternative location.

See Gentle Nudges in Action

03 Process

03 Process

YASUMI

YASUMI

YASUMI

DESIGN PROCESS

DESIGN PROCESS

DESIGN PROCESS

VIEW

VIEW

Ryan Schork

Product Designer

Ryan Schork

Product Designer

Ryan Schork

Product Designer