Welcome to a world where paradise meets innovation. Discover how our interactive map design became a potential a game-changer for Tourism Fiji.
Overview
Fiji, with its stunning array of islands and rich cultural heritage, offers an unparalleled experience for travelers. However, navigating through its numerous attractions and planning the perfect itinerary can be daunting. To address this challenge, our team embarked on a project to create an interactive map that not only showcases Fiji's geographical beauty but also serves as a comprehensive trip planning tool. The goal was to provide users with a visual representation of Fiji's islands and regions, highlight points of interest, facilitate trip planning, and foster engagement through wishlist features.
Challenge
The challenge was to design an interactive map that not only captured the essence of Fiji's diverse offerings but also provided users with the tools they needed to plan their trips efficiently. This included the need to visualize geographical locations, understand transfer requirements for travel to smaller islands, and accommodate various user preferences such as region, experience, traveler type, and budget. Additionally, the map needed to seamlessly integrate into the existing website while also being adaptable for use in other campaign materials.
Approach
Our approach began with extensive market research, encompassing an analysis of existing tourism websites and interactive maps across various industries. Additionally, we conducted stakeholder interviews and thoroughly examined user feedback and analytics from the existing website.
Drawing upon the insights gained from our research and stakeholder engagement, we crafted wireframes that aligned closely with the project goals and addressed the identified needs. One particular emphasis during this phase was on optimizing the mobile experience, recognizing it as a significant pain point for existing users that had not been adequately addressed on the current site. For instance, we made deliberate UX decisions for the mobile interface, such as providing users with the flexibility to toggle between a split-screen map and card view, as well as offering a card grid-only view where applicable. This approach was driven by our understanding that users would likely require the map for contextual information while searching within a general area, while also benefiting from the efficiency of a grid view for quicker selection of locations.
Solution
During the UI design phase of this project, I had the privilege of tapping into Tourism Fiji's remarkable photo library. Starting with the existing design system utilized on their current website, I integrated it into the basic wireframe structure. It quickly became evident that a plethora of primary call-to-action (CTA) button styles were scattered throughout the site. To enhance user navigation, exploration, and decision-making processes, I reorganized the button hierarchy to encompass primary, secondary, and tertiary styles.
In alignment with the wireframes, I placed significant emphasis on ensuring an enjoyable and user-friendly mobile experience. To help users focus, I predominantly employed white for the cards and navigation elements. This deliberate choice created a high contrast against the vibrant tropical greens and blues of the map itself, contributing significantly to its effectiveness.
The final result was an interactive map that exceeded or clients expectations in terms of functionality, usability, and adhering to their existing design system. Users could easily visualize Fiji's geographical layout, plan transfers to small islands, filter results by region, experience, and traveler type, and sort results by prices. The wishlist feature allowed users to save favorite destinations for future reference. The map seamlessly integrated into the website and was adaptable for use in other campaign materials, providing a cohesive and immersive experience for travelers exploring Fiji.
Results
Despite meticulous planning, development, and quality assurance efforts, the project encountered an unexpected setback. After the interactive map was ready in staging and poised for launch, it was discovered that the client was undergoing a complete rebranding process with another agency concurrently. This rebranding effort resulted in a significant departure from the visual style of the existing website, rendering our interactive map incompatible with the new brand identity.
Unfortunately, due to this mismatch in visual styles, the project was ultimately shelved, and the interactive map was not launched as originally intended. As a result, users visiting the newly branded Tourism Fiji website do not have access to the interactive map functionality that would have enhanced their trip planning experience and provided valuable insights into Fiji's attractions.
This unforeseen circumstance highlights the importance of effective communication and alignment between stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle. Despite the setback, my team remained committed to delivering innovative solutions, and potential future opportunities to collaborate with Tourism Fiji, or other clients in the travel and tourism industry.