FlapTrip
FlapTrip is a personal travel planner that builds itineraries around your mood, personality, and interests.
Project Overview
FlapTrip — AI travel companion
FlapTrip is a personal travel planner that helps people turn scattered ideas into a clear, balanced itinerary.
My role:
Product design → Head of design
Type:
Startup
Platforms:
iOS & Android (Flutter)
Focus:
UX, product strategy, brand & visual system
How it started
Hi, that's me—looking for a project worth getting excited about.
And that's Nastya, a former colleague looking for a designer.
That's how FlapTrip began.
At first, we planned a small side project: something for our portfolios, experience, and blogs. But early research showed that the idea addressed a real frustration
and a clear problem we wanted to solve.
So we decided to go all in
and build a real product. Here is how we shaped the MVP of the FlapTrip app.
Problem
Why is planning a trip
still so much work?
The planning itself can be delightful. People love imagining a trip, collecting ideas, and picturing where they might go.
But existing planners often make the practical part harder than it should be. People fall back on Notes, Instagram Reels, Booking, Google Maps, and more—leaving ideas scattered across apps and turning excitement into mental load.
The main issues
we found in research:
We looked closely at how existing products handle the interface. Most travel apps feel crowded: too much information on one screen, confusing hierarchy, and a tone that feels more like admin than adventure.
Travel planners collect places, but many do little
to improve the experience of the trip itself.
They demand constant attention, especially once the trip is underway. You may have a plan, but using it on the go is another challenge.
These findings shaped the product's foundation.
We knew FlapTrip first had to feel effortless
and approachable, preserving the joy that makes people want to plan a trip in the first place.
Research
How we explored the problem
→ Customer interviews
→ Journey mapping
→ Competitor analysis
What we studied
→ How people plan
→ Where and when they use a planner
→ Onboarding and getting started
→ The trip timeline
What stood out
→ People enjoy planning, but planning apps exhaust them.
→ The product matters most when it stays with you.
→ Existing tools struggle with spontaneous trips.
→ The purpose of a trip is not always clear from the start.
Brand & tone
Flappy
Flappy is FlapTrip's in-app character. It accompanies people through key planning moments and gives AI responses, clarifications, and status updates a consistent voice.
Tone of Voice
FlapTrip speaks plainly and directly. Copy is short
and easy to understand at a glance. We use a friendly, conversational voice and the occasional emoji, reflecting how people communicate online today.
What is live today
Flappy appears at key moments:
• Building an itinerary
• Changing trip preferences
• System updates
• Wrapping up a trip
What comes next
In future iterations, Flappy will do more:
• Help people while they travel
• Respond when plans change
• Support reminders and progress
Ongoing...
This case study is still in progress
and will be expanded.
