Travelbook

Travelbook

Travelbook

Laptop showing Travelbook homepage interface with destination search and travel categories, placed on a sunlit beachside table with a tropical background.
Laptop showing Travelbook homepage interface with destination search and travel categories, placed on a sunlit beachside table with a tropical background.
Laptop showing Travelbook homepage interface with destination search and travel categories, placed on a sunlit beachside table with a tropical background.

Role:

Lead Product Designer

Role:

Lead Product Designer

Role:

Lead Product Designer

Role:

Lead Product Designer

Role:

Lead Product Designer

Date:

2019

Date:

2019

Date:

2019

Date:

2019

Date:

2019

Tags:

Social, Travel

Tags:

Social, Travel

Tags:

Social, Travel

Tags:

Social, Travel

Tags:

Social, Travel

Summary

Summary

Summary

Travelbook combines itineraries, journaling, social sharing and booking into one traveler-first platform. It turns planning into exploration and memories into stories that live on.

Travelbook combines itineraries, journaling, social sharing and booking into one traveler-first platform. It turns planning into exploration and memories into stories that live on.

Travelbook combines itineraries, journaling, social sharing and booking into one traveler-first platform. It turns planning into exploration and memories into stories that live on.

Travelbook mobile app screens showcasing city guides and restaurant listings, including Rouge Tomate Chelsea in New York.
Travelbook mobile app screens showcasing city guides and restaurant listings, including Rouge Tomate Chelsea in New York.
Travelbook mobile app screens showcasing city guides and restaurant listings, including Rouge Tomate Chelsea in New York.
Travelbook mobile app screens showcasing city guides and restaurant listings, including Rouge Tomate Chelsea in New York.
Travelbook mobile app screens showcasing city guides and restaurant listings, including Rouge Tomate Chelsea in New York.

the challenge

the
challenge

From sharing trips to shaping journeys

Travelbook began as a simple social platform for travellers to connect and share experiences. As the community grew, expectations changed. Users wanted to plan, book and review within the same space. The challenge was to evolve from a feed of stories into a complete travel product, without losing the authenticity that made it special.

the challenge

From sharing trips to shaping journeys

Travelbook began as a simple social platform for travellers to connect and share experiences. As the community grew, expectations changed. Users wanted to plan, book and review within the same space. The challenge was to evolve from a feed of stories into a complete travel product, without losing the authenticity that made it special.

Laptop displaying a pop-up window with information about a vacation. Pop-up contains information about a vacation rental.
Laptop displaying a pop-up window with information about a vacation. Pop-up contains information about a vacation rental.
Laptop displaying a pop-up window with information about a vacation. Pop-up contains information about a vacation rental.
Laptop displaying a pop-up window with information about a vacation. Pop-up contains information about a vacation rental.
Laptop displaying a pop-up window with information about a vacation. Pop-up contains information about a vacation rental.

the constraints

the
constraints

Growth without losing soul

The platform had to grow fast while keeping its social roots intact. Integrating booking systems, maps and user reviews added technical and design complexity. Each new feature risked crowding the interface or confusing intent. The team operated with a small design crew spread across time zones and had to ship each release without disrupting the live product.

the constraints

Growth without losing soul

The platform had to grow fast while keeping its social roots intact. Integrating booking systems, maps and user reviews added technical and design complexity. Each new feature risked crowding the interface or confusing intent. The team operated with a small design crew spread across time zones and had to ship each release without disrupting the live product.

Travelbook city guide page for Bangkok displayed on a laptop, highlighting places to eat and top local experiences.
Travelbook city guide page for Bangkok displayed on a laptop, highlighting places to eat and top local experiences.
Travelbook city guide page for Bangkok displayed on a laptop, highlighting places to eat and top local experiences.
Travelbook city guide page for Bangkok displayed on a laptop, highlighting places to eat and top local experiences.
Travelbook city guide page for Bangkok displayed on a laptop, highlighting places to eat and top local experiences.

the process

the
process

Designing connection at every level

We started by defining what “belonging” meant inside a product. Mapping user journeys revealed that planning, booking and sharing were emotionally linked people wanted to tell the story of their trip from start to finish. The interface evolved around that insight.

I led design across flows and worked closely with engineering to merge travel data, booking APIs and user content into one coherent experience. Each release was designed modularly, allowing the platform to expand feature by feature without losing visual or structural consistency.

the process

Designing connection at every level

We started by defining what “belonging” meant inside a product. Mapping user journeys revealed that planning, booking and sharing were emotionally linked people wanted to tell the story of their trip from start to finish. The interface evolved around that insight.

I led design across flows and worked closely with engineering to merge travel data, booking APIs and user content into one coherent experience. Each release was designed modularly, allowing the platform to expand feature by feature without losing visual or structural consistency.

Travelbook booking interface open on a laptop, displaying hotel deals and a date picker for Bangkok, Thailand.
Travelbook booking interface open on a laptop, displaying hotel deals and a date picker for Bangkok, Thailand.
Travelbook booking interface open on a laptop, displaying hotel deals and a date picker for Bangkok, Thailand.
Travelbook booking interface open on a laptop, displaying hotel deals and a date picker for Bangkok, Thailand.
Travelbook booking interface open on a laptop, displaying hotel deals and a date picker for Bangkok, Thailand.

the principles

the
principles

Stories that move with you

Every interaction reflected motion. From scrolling through feeds to exploring maps. Components were reusable, typography adaptive and navigation lightweight. The brand identity stayed human and warm, so even as the system scaled, it never felt corporate. The design aimed to keep travel personal, not transactional.

the principles

Stories that move with you

Every interaction reflected motion. From scrolling through feeds to exploring maps. Components were reusable, typography adaptive and navigation lightweight. The brand identity stayed human and warm, so even as the system scaled, it never felt corporate. The design aimed to keep travel personal, not transactional.

Gold laptop displaying the Travelbook login screen with pink accent branding, set against a beige background with soft palm leaf shadows.
Gold laptop displaying the Travelbook login screen with pink accent branding, set against a beige background with soft palm leaf shadows.
Gold laptop displaying the Travelbook login screen with pink accent branding, set against a beige background with soft palm leaf shadows.
Gold laptop displaying the Travelbook login screen with pink accent branding, set against a beige background with soft palm leaf shadows.
Gold laptop displaying the Travelbook login screen with pink accent branding, set against a beige background with soft palm leaf shadows.

the decisions

the
decisions

Staying social, expanding horizons

As Travelbook evolved from a pure sharing app into a platform that offered bookings and partner tours, we needed to protect its community feel. We ran A/B tests with existing users that pitted separate “Booking” tabs against contextual actions embedded within the social feed and experimented with sign‑up flows that foregrounded travel‑planning tools versus ones that emphasised stories first.

The tests showed that keeping navigation centred on the feed and surfacing booking options in‑line preserved engagement and conversion, while feature‑first layouts led to a drop in social activity. That insight guided us to integrate commercial features seamlessly into itineraries and posts, allowing the platform to grow without losing its social heart.

the decisions

Staying social, expanding horizons

As Travelbook evolved from a pure sharing app into a platform that offered bookings and partner tours, we needed to protect its community feel. We ran A/B tests with existing users that pitted separate “Booking” tabs against contextual actions embedded within the social feed and experimented with sign‑up flows that foregrounded travel‑planning tools versus ones that emphasised stories first.

The tests showed that keeping navigation centred on the feed and surfacing booking options in‑line preserved engagement and conversion, while feature‑first layouts led to a drop in social activity. That insight guided us to integrate commercial features seamlessly into itineraries and posts, allowing the platform to grow without losing its social heart.

Close-up of Travelbook map view showing travel destinations across Asia on a laptop screen beside a coconut.
Close-up of Travelbook map view showing travel destinations across Asia on a laptop screen beside a coconut.
Close-up of Travelbook map view showing travel destinations across Asia on a laptop screen beside a coconut.
Close-up of Travelbook map view showing travel destinations across Asia on a laptop screen beside a coconut.
Close-up of Travelbook map view showing travel destinations across Asia on a laptop screen beside a coconut.

the reflection

the
reflection

Design that travels well

Travelbook proved that growth doesn’t have to dilute character. With the right structure and intent, a social idea can evolve into a scalable platform. One that still feels made by travellers, for travellers.

the reflection

Design that travels well

Travelbook proved that growth doesn’t have to dilute character. With the right structure and intent, a social idea can evolve into a scalable platform. One that still feels made by travellers, for travellers.

Impact

Impact

Impact

Travelbook launched as a complete travel ecosystem where users could discover, plan and share in one place. Engagement grew as community content connected directly to real destinations and bookings. The unified design system supported new partnerships and regional launches without reinventing the product.

Travelbook launched as a complete travel ecosystem where users could discover, plan and share in one place. Engagement grew as community content connected directly to real destinations and bookings. The unified design system supported new partnerships and regional launches without reinventing the product.

Travelbook launched as a complete travel ecosystem where users could discover, plan and share in one place. Engagement grew as community content connected directly to real destinations and bookings. The unified design system supported new partnerships and regional launches without reinventing the product.

Stella

Braive

Braive

Braive