Kymari Bratton

Travel tech

TripTag

A self-initiated UX case study exploring how travel budgeting could feel more intuitive, collaborative, and less stressful.

The idea came from a real frustration I had while traveling. I wanted a simpler way to plan trips, track spending, split costs, and stay organized without bouncing between multiple apps.

Desktop prototype Mobile prototype

Concept prototype. Not live.

TripTag concept screens

Overview

A travel-first budgeting concept

I led the full UX/UI process from research to high-fidelity design. The project is not live, but it became one of the most important projects in my learning because it helped me understand how UX can turn a messy, stressful experience into something more useful and intentional.

Project details

Type

Self-initiated UX case study

Role

UX/UI Designer · Researcher

Scope

End-to-end UX/UI design

Tools

Figma · Interviews · Testing

Problem

Travel planning is fragmented.

The problem

Travel planning is often fragmented across multiple tools. Budgeting, expense tracking, itinerary planning, and group coordination are usually handled separately, which creates unnecessary stress and confusion, especially for group trips.

Why it mattered

I was looking for a travel-first budgeting experience that felt simple, helpful, and actually designed for the way people plan trips. I did not see that clearly reflected in the products I reviewed.

65% of Gen Z travelers say booking travel feels overwhelming.
50%+ of Gen Z and millennials traveling with friends report money disagreements.
71% of U.S. adults say planning and booking travel is at least somewhat stressful.

Research

What users were telling me

Target users

Budget-conscious travelers, especially people planning trips with friends, partners, or groups who want more clarity around spending without turning travel into a finance-heavy experience.

  • User Interviews
  • Usability Testing
  • Competitive Research
  • Concept Validation

Research approach

I conducted 4 interviews and usability sessions, and I also did competitor research to understand what existing budgeting and travel tools were missing. One of the clearest gaps was that users had to rely on multiple apps to do what should feel like one connected task.

01 Users rely on multiple apps for planning, budgeting, and communication.
02 Expense splitting is one of the most stressful parts of group travel.
03 Most budgeting tools feel too financial for how people actually plan trips.
04 There is room for a travel-first tool that blends planning and collaboration.

I like the idea of having everything in one place instead of switching back and forth.

This feels easier than using multiple apps just to plan one trip.

Direction

The opportunity was the flow.

Product opportunity

Through competitor research, I saw that users were often piecing together budgeting apps, notes apps, payment apps, and travel planners just to manage one trip. That fragmentation felt like the real problem.

  • Bring planning and budgeting into one flow
  • Make finance tools feel lighter and more travel-centered
  • Reduce tension through shared visibility
  • Use personalization to lower intimidation

Design decisions

  • Travel first, not finance first. The product should feel like part of the trip, not a traditional finance tool.
  • All in one experience. Planning, tracking, and coordinating should feel connected.
  • Shared visibility. Group trips needed clearer spending visibility without awkward back and forth.
  • Personalization through a quiz. A warmer entry point made budgeting feel more approachable.

Final solution

  • Personality quiz. A lighter starting point that supports tailored suggestions.
  • Shared budget dashboard. Trip context and spending progress in one place.
  • Expense tracking and splitting. Clear records of who paid for what.
  • AI suggestions. Guidance that helps users feel supported instead of judged.

Impact

What this project proved

  • Validated that travel budgeting feels fragmented and stressful for users.
  • Showed clear value in combining finance, planning, and collaboration into one experience.
  • Helped define a stronger product direction rooted in simplicity and travel-specific needs.

Reflection

How I grew

TripTag pushed me to think like both a designer and a product person. I had to identify a real gap, understand what existing products were missing, and turn that into a more thoughtful concept.

If I continued this project, I would expand the research, test the flows more deeply, and refine how the AI suggestions and shared budgeting features work together.