Nomad isn’t just about data and destinations — it’s about sharing the journey.This social interaction layer lets travelers post location updates, exchange tips, and stay inspired by real people on the road.
Whether it’s finding hidden spots, sharing your van setup, or just saying hello from the wild this space turns Nomad into a living, breathing travel community.
Nomad is an AI-powered travel companion designed for vanlifers, overlanders, and modern explorers. The app supports travelers in finding unique camping spots, planning sustainable routes, and discovering hidden locations – all powered by a smart combination of community insights and adaptive AI.At its core, the project explores how artificial intelligence can evolve from a functional tool to a trusted travel partner. Rather than optimizing for speed or automation, Nomads focuses on relational UX: building an interface that listens, learns, and guides – while remaining human-centered and transparent.
Developed as part of my final thesis, Nomad was documented in a 240-page design catalogue that captures the full process: from extensive user research and behavioral modeling to speculative AI scenarios and final UI design. Every decision was shaped by real travelers and tested iteratively to ensure practical value and emotional clarity.
“Nomad is more than a travel app. It’s an attempt to rethink how we design with AI not around it.”
Nomad is built on a deep understanding of modern travel types. I identified three core user groups—vanlifers, camping tourists, and overlanders—each with shared values like flexibility and nature access, but distinct needs and habits.
72% of companies that have already integrated AI consider its value to be rather low.
Less than one third of respondents are proud of what they have launched to the market.
Still, 89% believe AI will impact their products within the next 12 months—37% even expect a transformative effect.
These results reveal a major gap between expectations and actual benefit—highlighting the need for thoughtful implementation.
“People tend to overestimate the short-term impact of new technologies while underestimating their long-term effects.” – Roy Amara
To validate the assumptions gathered through research, I conducted a focused user survey. The goal was to gain a deeper understanding of who would use Nomad, which features are essential, and how artificial intelligence can be integrated in a meaningful way.
The survey consisted of 24 targeted questions based on previous research insights.
It explored user behavior, digital habits, openness to AI features, and interest in social interaction within a travel app.
Who Uses Nomad?
Nomad’s target group consists mainly of young, active travelers:
UX Impact: Nomad must support a wide variety of travel types—from structured campsite stays to flexible, alternative options.
Core challenges while traveling
Respondents identified multiple recurring issues that Nomad should solve:
Implication: Nomad must provide intelligent, real-time site search with clear infrastructure info and routing support.
Digital planning & usage behavior
Users primarily rely on:
Devices used:Smartphones are the dominant planning tool; tablets and GPS units are secondary.
Implication: Nomad must be mobile-first, offer structured user reviews, and intelligently aggregate external data sources.
AI acceptance & expectations
Findings revealed a mixed attitude toward AI integration:
Implication: Nomad’s AI must be transparent, flexible, and opt-in—it should assist, not override.
Social features & community dynamics
Design Direction: Nomad should offer optional social features and implement a credible, filterable review system.
Design Direction: Nomad should offer optional social features and implement a credible, filterable review system.
Strategic Implications for Nomad
The survey confirmed the importance of a user-centered approach for Nomad. Design priorities derived from the findings:
✔ Mobile-first UX
✔ Flexible, modular structure for different user types
✔ Personalization with full user control
✔ Integrated social but not overwhelming
✔ Real-time, trustworthy data
These insights provide the strategic foundation for the next phases of concept development and product design.
To position Nomad strategically within the travel app ecosystem, I conducted an in-depth competitor analysis based on two core research methods:
Heuristic Evaluation – using a customized set of Nielsen’s 10 Usability Heuristics to assess UX quality
Criteria derived from user survey data – focused on personalization, user feedback systems, community interaction, and real-time content
This dual-layered approach revealed usability patterns, market gaps, and UX opportunities. Both direct and indirect competitors were analyzed.
Pros:
Cons:
Conclusion:
A massive database, but unreliable information and freemium restrictions reduce long-term value—especially for new users.
Strengths:
Weaknesses:
Conclusion:
Perfect for curated eco-camping, but lacks social exchange and up-to-date discovery mechanisms.
Strengths:
Weaknesses:
Conclusion:
Powerful for U.S. road trips—but personalization, transparency, and user contribution are limited without paying.
Strengths:
Weaknesses:
Conclusion:
Best for off-grid travelers with 4x4s—but not suitable for casual users or modern UX expectations.
Strengths:
Weaknesses:
Conclusion:
Excellent for hiking and biking—but not optimized for camper routes or campsite discovery.
Key Implications for Nomad
The competitive analysis exposed clear market gaps:
❌ No existing app combines site discovery, real-time updates, and route planning effectively
❌ Community features are often missing or underdeveloped
❌ Personalization and AI integration are still rare
Nomad addresses these challenges by:
✔ Combining real-time site data, smart routing, and trustworthy recommendations
✔ Empowering users through community contribution and transparent moderation
✔ Offering opt-in personalization driven by usage patterns, not monetization
To gain a deeper understanding of how competing travel apps perform in everyday use, I analyzed public user reviews—specifically focusing on 1-star ratings in the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.The goal: to uncover recurring UX, technical, and support-related issues that frustrate users—and to learn how Nomad can do better.
Methodology
Critical issues:
Design implications for Nomad:
✔ Reliable offline functionality and stable updates
✔ Clear community guidelines and transparent moderation
✔ Clean, ad-free user interface
Critical issues:
Design implications for Nomad:
✔ AI-supported route logic that adapts dynamically
✔ Detailed, intuitive filter system for campsite types, prices, and features
✔ Fast performance and simple subscription management
Critical issues:
Design implications for Nomad:
✔ Lightweight, high-performance app architecture
✔ Reliable offline maps optimized for remote use
✔ Live content curation via community activity and AI
✔ Optional peer-to-peer interaction through focused forums or messaging
The reviews make one thing clear: even popular travel apps suffer from outdated tech, unreliable data, and frustrating UX.
Nomad addresses these gaps with:
✔ Real-time updates and data accuracy through AI-enhanced logic
✔ Responsive support and transparent community management
✔ A fast, minimalistic interface tailored for travel conditions
✔ Filterable content and intelligent sorting, even offline
At the start of the concept phase, I applied the Lean UX model to define the core of Nomad using three focused components: People, Problem, and Solution.
This reduction created clarity and ensured that all subsequent personas and features were aligned with real user needs—grounding the design process in meaningful context.
Instead of classic name-based personas, Nomad uses role-specific user types derived from survey and research data.
These were stripped of unnecessary detail and focused instead on core behaviors, needs, and challenges.This streamlined approach made it easier to translate user insights into targeted, relevant features and improved UX alignment throughout development.
To verify the relevance of each segment, I created user segment spectrums based on user survey results.
These visualize how key behaviors like travel frequency, trip length, AI openness, and interest in personalization are distributed across the user base.
This data-backed method helps confirm user coverage and reveal gaps or opportunities for refinement.
Empathy maps were used to further explore how each user group thinks, feels, says, and does during travel and app use.
By connecting emotional needs to behavioral patterns, these maps ensured that Nomad responds to functional, emotional, and social user drivers—not just interface-level problems.
The JTBD framework helped define exactly what users need to accomplish with Nomad—from finding safe overnight spots to discovering new destinations or connecting with like-minded travelers.
Each persona group has different "jobs" to get done. The analysis revealed core needs that translated directly into app functionality—grounding the UX strategy in real-world goals.
The VPC made it possible to map user pains and gains directly against Nomad’s proposed features.This ensured a tight fit between needs and value creation, and helped refine the product strategy to reflect what matters most to users.
The BMC defined Nomad’s strategic structure:
– Target groups
– Value propositions
– Key activities and channels
– Revenue model
It connects Nomad’s user-facing value with long-term sustainability, reinforcing both impact and viability.
Nomad is built around a carefully curated set of features designed to make travel more flexible, secure, and inspiring.
Each feature addresses specific pain points identified in research—from navigation to personalization to social sharing.
Nomad operates on an active loop of discover – contribute – reward – improve.
This system encourages:
✔ User contributions
✔ Peer-driven discovery
✔ Reputation building
✔ Real-time content improvement
The result: a self-reinforcing travel community.
Experience maps visualize how different personas interact with Nomad—step by step.
They highlight functional and emotional peaks and gaps from onboarding to repeated use.
This allows for continuous optimization of navigation, interaction patterns, and emotional engagement.
Nomad’s AI is not just decorative—it actively improves relevance, accuracy, and discoverability.
Smart Search with Dynamic Tagging
AI-based tagging auto-classifies points of interest based on user behavior and context—matching results to real preferences without requiring complex filters.
Learning Algorithms & Real-Time Feedback
Nomad’s system adapts based on user actions, reviews, and community activity—delivering always-relevant suggestions.
Conversational, Intuitive AI UX
Instead of technical filters, users can interact with the AI via natural language or voice—making planning feel personal and effortless.
A highlight feature is the Adventure Buddy—a GPT-4o–based assistant designed to help users plan, organize, and explore.
Current capabilities:
This board collects visual references from existing travel and map-based platforms. It focuses on intuitive navigation, clear information hierarchy, and a clean interface.
It provided inspiration for key UI elements like map views, filter structures, and interaction flows—helping define the foundation for Nomad’s visual language.
This second moodboard captures the emotional essence of the app. It visualizes the spirit of vanlife—freedom, solitude, connection to nature—through imagery of landscapes, roads, and emotional moments.
The goal: a UI that doesn't just guide, but accompanies the lifestyle Nomad is built to support.
The sitemap structures Nomad’s content and defines how key areas connect. At its core:
– the interactive main map,
– the Adventure Buddy,
– POI detail views,
– and the community forum.
Secondary layers like filters, profile settings, and community tools are clearly organized to support seamless navigation.
This logical hierarchy became the foundation for the app’s user-friendly layout and interaction model.
To structure the main screens of Nomad, I created priority guides—a content-first UX tool. They define what should be visible, where, and why.
Example: the main map screen and user profile were outlined in detail to ensure users immediately see what matters:
✔ Key actions up front
✔ Supportive tools accessible, but not overwhelming
✔ Clear visual hierarchy to reduce cognitive load
These guides informed both the wireframes and the final UI design.
The wireframes visualized Nomad’s user flows and functional layout. Each screen was shaped by the defined use cases and validated needs.This early structuring helped:
✔ Optimize screen space
✔ Define recurring components
✔ Test navigational logic before visual designThe wireframes laid the groundwork for consistent, scalable screen design across devices.
Nomad uses a restrained palette that complements the color-rich nature of maps.
– Primary: Deep blue for trust, space, and freedom
– Accent: Warm highlights for interactivity
– Neutrals: Grays for structure and readability
A clean, minimalist icon system enhances usability. Icons vary by function (UI, services, map items) and remain visually quiet—supporting, not distracting.
Nomad’s logo blends modern geometry with a sunset emblem—symbolizing travel, independence, and shared experiences. Typography, shape, and symbolism were tested to create a look that is both bold and welcoming.
Nomad’s UI unites a range of tools into a clean, user-friendly interface. The modular layout ensures intuitive navigation throughout the app.
The map is Nomad’s core. It serves as a launch point for discovering POIs, saved locations, and planning personalized routes.
Nomad's onboarding isn’t just a tutorial—it’s an interactive AI session.
Via the Adventure Buddy, users not only learn about the app, but actively train their own assistant through contextual use.
(Available for testing via GPT-based prototype.)
Users create, edit, and adapt routes using personalized suggestions and real-time inputs.
The forum is Nomad’s social core. Users can share insights, ask questions, and connect over shared routes and interests.
Users can manually add new sites—or generate them with AI assistance.
Nomad uses behavioral and geographic context to create realistic, well-tagged locations.
(Available for testing in the Adventure Buddy prototype.)
The final product landing page introduces Nomad with clear messaging, a live feature overview, and a strong brand narrative.
It adapts to mobile and desktop workflows and reflects the product’s focus on personalization, exploration, and community-driven discovery.
