Acclim8s

Acclim8s is a conceptual mobile app designed to address the challenges of travelers adjusting to new climates, particularly the physical and mental effects of jet lag and sudden weather changes. Despite the abundance of travel apps, none provided a comprehensive solution that combines personalized acclimation plans, location-based insights, and real-time weather and health data to help travelers prepare efficiently. This app fills that gap by providing curated resources like packing lists, acclimation tips, local weather, and much more in one platform.

To validate the concept and uncover pain points around jet lag management, I conducted primary qualitative research through user interviews and a short survey.

After conducting interviews and surveys, I organized over 60 qualitative data points into an affinity map to identify recurring themes and unmet needs. I organized interview and survey notes into virtual sticky notes, grouped them by behaviors, frustrations, and desires, then refined them into 4 core themes.

After conducting interviews and surveys, I organized over 60 qualitative data points into an affinity map to identify recurring themes and unmet needs. I organized interview and survey notes into virtual sticky notes, grouped them by behaviors, frustrations, and desires, then refined them into 4 core themes. Say hello to our personas!

To narrow down feature scope for Acclim8s, I built an MVP matrix to rank potential features based on user value and implementation effort. This ensured we focused on what mattered most for travelers’ jet lag struggles.

Users cared most about easy, immediate actions they could control before and during travel. Data from surveys and journey mapping highlighted hydration, sleep, and pre-trip planning as top frustrations.

This MVP addressed 3 out of 4 core user pain points identified in research, allowing for fast delivery and focused testing. This helped reduce decision fatigue for users by providing quick, actionable plans customized to their flight schedule and destination.

After mapping out all potential features against user research insights and effort-to-build estimates, I focused on addressing the most immediate, high-impact pain points travelers faced - things they could control before and during their trips to reduce jet lag.

The 4 prioritized features hit those marks:
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• Directly tied to core frustrations users expressed (pre-trip planning, hydration, sleep management, arrival recovery)
• Quick to deliver tangible value without overcomplicating the app experience
• Feasible to prototype and test within MVP resources

To define the app’s structure and navigation, I created an Information Architecture map based on user goals and prioritized features from my MVP matrix. This allowed me to design a product flow that guides users through jet lag management tasks in a clear, intuitive way.

• Challenges: Iterating on the IA revealed some friction points, especially when balancing simplicity with optional features. I refined the structure to keep primary actions within 2–3 taps and defer secondary tools to a side menu.

• Outcome: This architecture became the foundation for my wireframes and prototypes, ensuring a user-centric experience tailored to travelers' real needs and priorities.

Before moving into detailed wireframes, I began by sketching out low-fidelity layouts to quickly test different ways users might interact with the app’s core features. This phase helped me stay focused on structure, task flow, and content hierarchy without getting caught up in visual details too early.

• Outcome: This architecture became the foundation for my wireframes and prototypes, ensuring a user-centric experience tailored to travelers' real needs and priorities.

After refining my sketches, I translated them into low-fidelity digital wireframes. This step allowed me to define screen structures, navigation flows, and content placement while staying flexible for feedback and adjustments.

• Outcome: These sketches laid the groundwork for my mid-fidelity wireframes, ensuring the final app would align with both business goals and user needs before investing time in polished designs.

To maintain consistency across the app, I created a design system covering core elements like typography, color palettes, iconography, button states, and form inputs. This ensured visual harmony and made it easier to scale the product as new features were added.

The design system also improved collaboration with developers by providing clear guidelines for spacing, states, and reusable components - reducing guesswork and streamlining handoff.

Building on the wireframes, low-fidelity and design system, I created high-fidelity screens to deliver a clean, accessible, and engaging visual experience. These screens incorporate the finalized color palette, typography, iconography, and interactive elements defined in the design system.

I designed a user-friendly onboarding process to introduce new users to the app’s core features and services, focusing on simplicity and efficiency. The flow emphasizes key features, like trip planning and safety services, and uses clear iconography and a reassuring tone to guide users.

The Home Screen serves as the main hub for users upon signing in. It features a search function, trending locations, articles on acclimation, and a travel checklist. These elements provide quick access to important content, offering users tools and inspiration for their travels.

Interactions are simple - clicking any of these sections leads to a deeper dive on separate screens, ensuring users can efficiently find information and plan their trips.

I designed the Locator Screen as a focused, lightweight alternative to a traditional map. Instead of overwhelming users with navigation tools, this feature lets them drag and drop a pin to instantly view local weather conditions and area names.

My goal was to give travelers a quick, reliable way to get situational awareness before heading out. By prioritizing essential details like climate and location context, I created a tool that improves decision-making without unnecessary clutter - keeping the experience clean, purposeful, and aligned with the app’s core mission.

I designed the Planner Page to serve as a centralized hub where users can manage their travel experience in one place. This section allows users to create, edit, and share acclimation plans — personalized guides that help them adjust to new climates and sudden weather changes while traveling.

Alongside this, users can access their Saved Locations, a curated list of destinations they’ve marked for future reference. I also introduced the Travel Bag, a feature where users can save and organize essential items, articles, and travel resources they’ve gathered while exploring the app. This page was built to streamline preparation, giving travelers practical tools to stay organized, informed, and ready for any environment.

I designed the Account Screens to give users clear, intuitive control over their personal settings and preferences. Here, users can manage their account details, adjust privacy settings, and customize app preferences to suit their travel habits. I focused on creating a straightforward, user-friendly layout that simplifies navigation while keeping essential actions easily accessible.

The goal was to minimize friction, giving travelers quick access to their personal information and the ability to tailor their experience without unnecessary complexity. This section ensures users feel confident managing their app profile with ease.

I designed the Supporting Screens to enhance the overall user experience by addressing essential but often overlooked interactions within the app. These include screens for error messages, loading states, confirmations, and notifications.

My goal was to ensure that every part of the user journey felt intentional and consistent, even in moments of friction or pause. I approached these screens with a clean, approachable visual language and clear messaging, reducing user anxiety and maintaining trust throughout the experience.

By giving attention to these details, I helped create a product that feels complete, reliable, and thoughtfully crafted from start to finish.

By incorporating a dark mode option, my goal is to improve accessibility and give users more control over their experience. This feature accommodates different lighting environments and visual preferences, allowing users to select the mode that best suits their needs.

On the Location screen, users can access detailed weather information, an essential travel packlist, a live COVID-19 dashboard, and an acclimation review system. This feature empowers users by offering first-hand acclimation tips from verified travelers and locals, ensuring they’re well-prepared for their destination.

On the Planner page, users can create a personalized Acclimation Plan by inputting their flight details (optional) and completing a brief questionnaire. Once set up, users can share their plan with friends, ensuring everyone is equipped for smooth acclimation to their new destination.

What’s Next?

‍I plan to expand Acclim8s into a smartwatch version for more seamless travel management and quicker acclimation support on the go. I’m also considering a desktop experience to give users flexible access, especially for those who may not have immediate access to a mobile device.