My Role : Persona Creation | User Journey Mapping | User Flow, Mood Board | Logo | High Fidelity Designs | Gathering Expert Feedback.
Duration : 4 weeks
Team : Yavnika Miglani | Jatin Palande | Riya Gowaikar | Shreya Rajesh Bane | Salome Sanjeev Dongerdive
At the start, we were pulled in different directions, and time was running out. A decision had to be made—quickly and logically. So, we broke the problem down, asked the right questions, and mapped out three solid ideas. With everything laid out, we voted and quickly moved forward.
Alright, team. Figjam collaboration time.
5 Whys Strategy! Let’s dig into what makes a problem a real problem.
No last-minute pitches! Just vote. 😂
Alright, we’ve got our three ideas on the board. Time to vote!
Inside the Design War Room
Problem : Building a Hiking itinerary is a hassle and time intensive process.
Decided Winner!
Excessive information to process.
Fragmented resources across platforms.
No unified information source.
Diverse community with varying needs.
Hard to standardize regionally.
WHY? (Based on Desk Research)
“You’re standing at the base of a mountain, eager to start your hike—but first, you spend an hour scrolling through scattered blogs, mismatched trail maps, and outdated weather reports. Frustrating, right? That’s exactly the problem we set out to solve with Pointless Trails.”
We didn’t want to assume we knew the answers—so we went straight to the experts. We spoke to avid hikers, outdoor enthusiasts, and trekking groups, trying to understand what frustrated them the most.
How do hikers currently plan their trips?
What challenges do they face while searching for trails?
What features would make planning easier for them?
How important is community engagement in their experience?
Key Questions we explored.
Hiker 1
One site says the trail is ‘easy,’ another says ‘dangerous.’ Who do I trust?
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Hiker 2
I wish there was a way to connect with other hikers—real advice beats generic reviews.
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Hiker 3
Planning takes forever because I have to check five different sites just to get basic details.
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Hiker 4
I don’t want to follow a fixed route—I want to tweak my trail based on my experience and fitness.
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“
Inside the Design War Room
Alright, so… our interviews threw us a curveball. Some of these insights were not what we expected.
Yeah, I thought people just wanted better maps, but turns out, community and customisation matter way more.
And the way they plan hikes? It’s all over the place. No one follows the same process.
Agreed. Let’s get everything on the board and find the patterns.
Exactly. Before we jump into solutions, we need clarity—who are we really designing for?
Yep. Let’s map out our users and their journeys. Otherwise, we’re just guessing.
Personas?
Identified Issues
Interests
Influences
Goals
Needs & Expectations
Motiovations
Pain points & Frustrations
Persona
User Journey Map
We kicked off ideation by mapping out the user flow, but things escalated fast. What started as a simple structure quickly spiraled out of control—too many features, too little time. Realizing we were overcomplicating things, we hit reset and refocused on what truly mattered: the MVP. Every feature had to earn its place by answering one question: is this essential for version one?
To refocus on the MVP, we took a step back and challenged every feature with tough questions:
Does this directly solve a core user problem?
Can users still achieve their goal without this?
Is this necessary for the first version, or can it wait?
Wireframes were created for the version 1!
Inside the Design War Room
Okay, we started with a simple user flow… so how did we end up with this monster?
We kept adding ‘just one more thing’—and now it’s way beyond scope.
Agreed. Let’s go screen by screen and ask: Is this essential for version 1?
Perfect. Let’s trim it down, prioritise and make it doable.
Yeah, I blinked, and suddenly we’re building an entire hiking ecosystem. 😂
Time check—we don’t have months to build this. We need to cut the fluff and focus on MVP.
If it’s not solving a core problem, it goes in the ‘later’ pile.
1. Onboarding & Account Setup
Users sign up or log in and set hiking preferences.
Home Screen – Explore & Save Trails
Users start on the home screen, where they can search for trails, apply filters, view detailed trail information, and favorite hikes for later access.
Profile & Packing List
In the profile section, users can manage their account details and set up a packing list to organize essential gear for upcoming hikes.
Favourites & Maps
Saved trails appear in the Favourites section for quick access. The Maps section provides interactive navigation and offline support for seamless trail exploration.
Community & Social Engagement
Users can engage with the hiking community by posting updates, sharing experiences, reading and participating in forums, and interacting with fellow hikers.
I’m thinking freedom. It needs to feel like an adventure—fresh, but grounded in nature.
Yeah, simple, earthy... not too complicated. We want it minimal.
Let’s talk brand identity. What vibe are we going for?
Exactly. It should be timeless. Like you're on a trail, just breathing in fresh air.
And let’s go with earth tones—greens, browns, grays. Keep it natural.
Perfect. Now, let’s put together the mood board. Think mountains, forests, trails... anything that screams "outdoor."
Inside the Design War Room
Mood Board
Logo
Sure. And let's try all kinds of geometric and organic shapes, something simple but powerful.
Alright, let’s switch it up. Time for the tissue paper challenge! Grab some tissue paper and sketch out any shapes that remind you of hiking—mountains, trails, footprints, whatever comes to mind.
Inside the Design War Room
This project taught us that hiking is more than just reaching a destination—it’s about the journey, the people, and the experience. We have created a platform that not only helps users plan their hikes but also inspires them to explore, connect, and share their adventures. In the end, Pointless Trails isn’t just an app—it’s a companion for those who seek adventure, connection, and the freedom to explore the great outdoors.
Thanks for stopping by! 👋
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