Project Goal
A collaborative travel blog co-founded with a university friend. The goal was to build a platform that delivers highly actionable info while establishing a solid business foundation for monetization, all wrapped in a “playful yet sophisticated” brand identity
UX Solutions & Key Features
1) Content Hierarchy & Monetization SEO
Prioritized scannability by strictly following standard blog structures (H-tags, TOCs). I strategically placed internal links and “Recommended Reads” to boost SEO rankings and ad-viewing opportunities, ensuring a high-conversion infrastructure for monetization.
2) Interactive Storytelling with Playful UI
To reflect the authentic, friendly, yet professional tone of the duo, I blended simplicity with whimsical animations. I designed the article entry buttons to look like “Boarding Passes”—when hovered, they tilt slightly to mimic the tactile sensation of picking up a ticket for a new journey.
3) Global Contextual Design
Incorporated world map motifs throughout the site to immediately communicate the focus on international travel, adding a sense of adventure and visual depth to the browsing experience.
4) Maximizing Ecosystem Synergy (Instagram x Web)
Strategically integrated touchpoints between the blog and Instagram. By treating Instagram as the visual “hook” and the blog as the “logistical guide,” I created a seamless ecosystem that maximizes user engagement across both platforms.
