CLIENT
The Dyrt
ROLE
UI/UX Designer
TIMELINE
Oct 2018 - Jan 2019
TOOLS
Sketch, InVision, Abstract
SKILLS
UX/UI Design, Interaction Design, Prototyping, UX Research
Overview
Now the fastest growing camping app on web and mobile, The Dyrt provides a Yelp/TripAdvisor type platform for camping and outdoor enthusiasts. In 2019, The Dyrt is aiming to be the leader in campground bookings and reservations.
I was brought on for a 6-month contract as a UX/UI Designer to help The Dyrt launch the user experience and marketing for the bookings product line revenue stream.
Objectives
Begin discovery for first phase of campground bookings system for launch on web (with launch on mobile to follow)
Explore solutions for a bookings box, a payment process, a user portal for bookings management, and a series of email templates
Maintain consistent branding and style
Define & Research
My first priority was to become a subject matter expert in campground bookings. Some of the questions I asked were: Who is camping? How are they camping (accommodations)? Where are they camping? What do they look for when finding a place to camp?
To determine how The Dyrt can compete against other campground bookings platforms, I searched for indirect and direct competitors and researched their approaches and strategies. This helped to identify strengths and weaknesses across platforms. The major takeaway in conducting a competitive analysis was determining what components and options are expected when booking a campground reservation.
With a focus on user generated content, The Dyrt has worked hard to create and grow a robust community of campers and outdoor lovers across the United States. With a platform that is driven by user-generated content, fostering a strong community was (and continues to be) of great importance. As the community continued to grow, a group of super-users began to form. These users were identified for their major content contributions on The Dyrt and were awarded the title of Dyrt Rangers.
“Rangers review campsites often, helping us grow and shape our community. Because they are top reviewers, we also work to get Rangers free gear to review in the field. Rangers know how hard it can be to find camping information, and they want to help solve the problem.”
We went to these Rangers via The Dyrt Ranger Station Facebook group to get an idea of what they look for when booking a campsite. We previously identified that booking an RV site was most complex, so we directly sought feedback on that process.
The most important considerations when booking a campsite for an RV were maximum length, power capacity, restroom options, privacy of site, and overall cost. These insights helped shape further research surrounding RV specifications when booking a campsite.
Ideate
Insights from our research helped to identify touch points needed throughout the booking process. To explore this further, I created a user flow diagram of the booking process from start to finish. Breaking down the bookings process into manageable sections allowed me to better organize my design work flow.
Design
With a plethora of insights from users and company stakeholders, I set out to explore possible solutions. Using Sketch combined with Abstract I was able to quickly create and share ideas with stakeholders for feedback.
The first step was to determine the location of the bookings box. To eliminate the need for users to go back and forth between the campground page and a bookings form, I placed the bookings box on the campground page itself. This gives users access to general information published by the campground, user reviews, and photos.
Next began the process of determining what needed to be included in a bookings box. The challenge was to create something that would accurately reflect all possible campsite options and customizations without being too complicated and overwhelming for the user.
Iterate
Once users have selected their booking options, they are brought to a new screen where an overview of their selections are presented. Additional information like cancellation policies and check in/out times are also included. Users see a sidebar where the most important information is displayed in one place including the total cost of their bookings.
Users are then guided through a secure payment process. Once payment has been submitted, users see a final confirmation screen with all relevant information regarding their booking reservation. A series of email communication follows the online booking process including confirmation of users booking request, trip confirmation, and follow-up communication.
This initial discovery of the first phase of a campground bookings system will launch first on web, with a launch on mobile to follow in the future. To provide a starting point for the projected mobile bookings system, I designed for both web and mobile. This will provide a point of comparison between mobile-based competitors and our content down the road.
Projected Results
The first phase of the bookings system is expected to go live March 2019, with additional capabilities like instant booking scheduled for the near future. The Dyrt is expecting to generate $1.9 million in revenue from bookings alone by the end of 2019.
What I Learned
How to work with a development team throughout the entire process
How to work with a design system in Sketch
How to better communicate design processes and decisions to non-designers
How to identify and communicate with stakeholders and seek feedback as needed
How to quickly adapt to new project management tools