RouteWise MVP
I worked with a small, cross-functional product team to create an MVP of a travel itinerary planner, initiated through the Co.Lab Product Bootcamp. RouteWise helps you easily create travel itineraries that optimize the proximity of the places you want to visit for efficiently-planned days on your next adventure.
Fall 2023 - Spring 2024
Helping travelers plan smarter, not harder
Overview
In Fall 2023, I joined forces with a product manager and two developers through the Co.Lab product bootcamp. Our challenge? Design, build, and ship an MVP in under two months.
That MVP became RouteWise, a travel itinerary generator that helps users create smart, proximity-based travel plans with ease.
But what started as a bootcamp project didn’t stop there. What began in a 8-week sprint evolved into something more: a continued collaboration, a product we believed in, and the seed of a startup.
Role
Product Designer
Collaborators
1 Product Manager
2 Developers
Problem
Planning a trip sounds fun…until you get into the weeds.
Solution
RouteWise generates a location-optimized itinerary based on where travelers want to go.
How it Started
RouteWise began in Phase 1 (Oct–Dec 2023) during the Co.Lab Product Bootcamp. We had less than 8 weeks, 4 members, and one goal: to build a ship a working MVP.
We chose travel because we were all travelers in some capacity or another ourselves which meant we knew the problem well.
After the bootcamp, we asked: “What if we kept going?”
So we did.
Phase 2 (Winter-Spring 2024) has been about iteration, improvement, and implementing design and technical upgrades to ensure a better user experience and prepare RouteWise for a public launch.
Research and Discovery
How might we help travelers plan smarter itineraries faster and without the overwhelm?
To validate our direction, I surveyed nearly 30 travelers and conducted 6 in-depth interviews. The insights were loud and clear:
🕓 62% said trip planning takes too much time
📍 48% feared missing out on key attractions
📑 52% struggled to keep everything organized
🚗 48% wanted help planning an efficient route
Based on the findings, we came up with the following hypothesis:
If we help users generate itineraries based on location proximity, they’ll save time and reduce planning stress while maximizing their travel experiences.
Designing the MVP: Core Flow
Before jumping into pixels, I created a simple user flow to align the team and scope the MVP:
Create a trip
Add a list of places
Generate a proximity-based itinerary
Edit and refine
Usability Testing and Insights
Clean design, but how do we reduce friction?
I led 3 rounds of usability tests: First with a prototype in Figma (pre-dev), again with our first MVP at the end of Phase 1, and once more at the end of Phase 2. Here’s what we learned:
✅ 90% said the interface felt intuitive and easy to use
✅ Users loved the clean design and organization
But there were friction points:
🔍 The search bar lagged when loading place suggestions
🙋♀️ 88% mentioned curated recommendations or a way to add places faster
📝 75% asked for more details to help them decide what to add
To address user feedback and improve the UX, we made several major updates in Phase 2:
🔁 Upgraded from OpenMap (free) to MapboxAPI
To validate our idea, the development team opted for a free map and search API during Phase 1. After usability testing of our working MVP, we decided to upgrade to Mapbox based on user feedback. This update gave us access to richer data, more flexibility in product features, and a smoother experience for the end user.
🧾 Redesigned Place Cards
Users wanted more context to the places they were adding to their itinerary: What type of place is it? Where is it? What's the rating? What are the reviews?
Before: Just the name and hours
After: Star rating, category, address, website, phone, and Google Maps link
🎨 Color-Coded Itineraries
Pins now align with each day for a visual cue that reduces confusion.
The End of Phase 2
RouteWise now helps travelers:
✅ Explore suggestions based on their interests
✅ Generate a smart itinerary grouped by proximity
✅ Edit freely while staying optimized
✅ Save time and reduce stress all in one clean, modern interface
What I Learned
As the sole designer, I had to balance user needs with technical constraints and tight timelines. I stretched beyond UX and UI, creating everything from user flows and wireframes to branding and visual design.
Working cross-functionally taught me how to:
Prioritize features that deliver the most value
Communicate design trade-offs clearly
Collaborate with engineers and PMs toward a shared vision
What's Next
We're only just getting started.
In Q3 of 2025, we’ll be launching RouteWise for beta testing.
I’m excited to:
Build a scalable design system
Expand the brand identity
Get even more user feedback
And of course… help more people travel smarter, not harder. ✈️
