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Airbnb Bubble

2024

Concept design, user research, motion graphics

Collaborated with Wei-Hsin Chen

In response to the D&AD New Blood Awards 2024, the brief from Airbnb to 'Turn digital connection into meaningful IRL experiences' was chosen. We have enhanced Airbnb Experiences with a community space called "Bubble". Young people can connect with like-minded individuals worldwide, share recommendations for activities, and find fellow travellers to join them on their adventures. It is not just about knowing where to go but who they go with and what to do together.

2024

Concept design, user research, motion graphics

Collaborated with Wei-Hsin Chen

Research questions

After selecting the brief, we started by developing research questions to define the scope of our exploration around Airbnb and travel experiences.

Understanding the problem

Primary research

We interviewed 5 Gen-Z travellers about their preferences, pain points, memorable moments, and familiarity with the Airbnb Experience feature.

Secondary research

We also did more online research to learn about Gen-Z travel behaviour and their experiences with loneliness.

Analysing the current design

Next, we reviewed Airbnb’s current platform and the Experience feature to find gaps and opportunities for design integration. This helped us understand what information is available, how the design system works, and which parts of the user flow could be adapted.

Extracting insights

What we know from the interview

When selecting accommodations and experiences, they were concerned with value and safety. They read reviews to know other's opinions.
They desired authentic and immersive experiences that reflected a destination's culture and uniqueness.
Most were uninterested in Airbnb Experiences and raised concerns about safety and trustworthiness.

What Gen-Z value in travelling

Social media has a significant role in Generation Z's consumption decisions.
They value self-enhancement, unique experiences, and social interaction (Fan et al., 2022).

What to do with loneliness

Feeling a sense of belonging within a community can help with loneliness. It is a motivation for everyone to take the initiative and begin forging connections (Robertson, 2022).

Storyboard of the video

Connecting people with people, and experiences they belong to, Airbnb Bubble is a revolutionary feature enhancing Airbnb Experience tailoring to Gen Z travellers' needs and preferences.

Key features

Community

Select your interests, connect with like-minded people online, share experiences, and build lasting relationships through the integrated social features.

Explore Airbnb Experience

Discover a wide range of unique and authentic experiences recommended by people in the community.

Find Travel Groups

Join or create travel groups to explore activities together, connecting with others in real life and engaging in shared experiences.

I'm incredibly grateful to have had the support of around 20 friends who shared their travel videos, which were featured in the final project. Their contributions also helped shape ideas for activities preferred by a diverse range of Gen-Z travellers. I'm excited for future opportunities to have similar co-design projects that offer diverse, mind-opening experiences.

Although we didn't win the award, the experience was invaluable. It gave me the chance to create a design solution in response to a brief from a successful startup. I gained insight into how design decisions are made and was amazed by the level of detail required.

Balancing an award project with coursework was challenging, but it's no excuse. Reflecting on the outcome, I realized our concept lacked the strength, uniqueness, and boldness to stand out, mainly because we were hesitant to go too far from the brief. At the same time, the visual design was overworked and didn’t align well with Airbnb’s branding, while the script could have been more punchy. This experience taught me the importance of being more concise in pitch storytelling and balancing creative, out-of-the-box thinking with staying true to the brief. I know there's still much to learn when it comes to executing a project for an international award.

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