Revolutionising the Travel Experience
Designing the in-app and web experiences for Italy's #1 Travel Startup
Revolutionising the Travel Experience
Designing the in-app and web experiences for Italy's #1 Travel Startup
Revolutionising the Travel Experience
Designing the in-app and web experiences for Italy's #1 Travel Startup
Client
blinkoo
Client
blinkoo
Client
blinkoo
Industry
Travel, Lifestyle
Industry
Travel, Lifestyle
Industry
Travel, Lifestyle
Timeline
2020 - 2025
Timeline
2020 - 2025
Timeline
2020 - 2025
Role
Founding Product Designer
Role
Founding Product Designer
Role
Founding Product Designer
My Contribution
I played a pivotal role in designing the app and web experiences 0-100, developing a cohesive Design System and crafting seamless experiences on both web and app platforms. Over the course of my tenure, blinkoo secured millions in funding with pitch decks and presentations I designed. I also supported the scaling of the Product team.
My Contribution
I played a pivotal role in designing the app and web experiences 0-100, developing a cohesive Design System and crafting seamless experiences on both web and app platforms. Over the course of my tenure, blinkoo secured millions in funding with pitch decks and presentations I designed. I also supported the scaling of the Product team.
My Contribution
I played a pivotal role in designing the app and web experiences 0-100, developing a cohesive Design System and crafting seamless experiences on both web and app platforms. Over the course of my tenure, blinkoo secured millions in funding with pitch decks and presentations I designed. I also supported the scaling of the Product team.
Outcomes
🏆 Top 10 most downloaded travel apps in Italy 🏆 4,8 Star App Store rating 🏆 Engaged a community of users and content creators 🏆 Established as a trusted platform for turning leads into customers on social media, website, or app.
Outcomes
🏆 Top 10 most downloaded travel apps in Italy 🏆 4,8 Star App Store rating 🏆 Engaged a community of users and content creators 🏆 Established as a trusted platform for turning leads into customers on social media, website, or app.
Outcomes
🏆 Top 10 most downloaded travel apps in Italy 🏆 4,8 Star App Store rating 🏆 Engaged a community of users and content creators 🏆 Established as a trusted platform for turning leads into customers on social media, website, or app.
Discovery and research
We started with some research on which problems this product needed to solve. We noticed that video content quickly was becoming prevalent in the majority of internet traffic. But it's not just traffic, 90% of consumers said that their decisions were impacted by how authentic a video looks and feels. So, people before traveling look up videos, and they need to feel authentic.
Discovery and research
We started with some research on which problems this product needed to solve. We noticed that video content quickly was becoming prevalent in the majority of internet traffic. But it's not just traffic, 90% of consumers said that their decisions were impacted by how authentic a video looks and feels. So, people before traveling look up videos, and they need to feel authentic.
Discovery and research
We started with some research on which problems this product needed to solve. We noticed that video content quickly was becoming prevalent in the majority of internet traffic. But it's not just traffic, 90% of consumers said that their decisions were impacted by how authentic a video looks and feels. So, people before traveling look up videos, and they need to feel authentic.
Boosting engagement with social interactions
The main experience is centered around the videos trough a video feed, and the community is engaged trough social interactions like likes, save, comment and share.
Boosting engagement with social interactions
The main experience is centered around the videos trough a video feed, and the community is engaged trough social interactions like likes, save, comment and share.
Boosting engagement with social interactions
The main experience is centered around the videos trough a video feed, and the community is engaged trough social interactions like likes, save, comment and share.
Advanced Search Options, Categories & Filtering
Each video pinpoints its exact location and provides links to book the experience. The advanced categorisation for each video allows for a place tag, that can go as deep a country, region,city, and activity categories. Each video provides a link to accomodation, travel o any platform to book the experience.
Advanced Search Options, Categories & Filtering
Each video pinpoints its exact location and provides links to book the experience. The advanced categorisation for each video allows for a place tag, that can go as deep a country, region,city, and activity categories. Each video provides a link to accomodation, travel o any platform to book the experience.
Advanced Search Options, Categories & Filtering
Each video pinpoints its exact location and provides links to book the experience. The advanced categorisation for each video allows for a place tag, that can go as deep a country, region,city, and activity categories. Each video provides a link to accomodation, travel o any platform to book the experience.
Guided video upload
When uploading a video, users can choose to hyper categorise them, or let blinkoo's AI do it instead. There are strict guidelines to respect and the system suggests categories to choose from, but there is also a rewarding system for those who choose to upload more detailed information.
Guided video upload
When uploading a video, users can choose to hyper categorise them, or let blinkoo's AI do it instead. There are strict guidelines to respect and the system suggests categories to choose from, but there is also a rewarding system for those who choose to upload more detailed information.
Guided video upload
When uploading a video, users can choose to hyper categorise them, or let blinkoo's AI do it instead. There are strict guidelines to respect and the system suggests categories to choose from, but there is also a rewarding system for those who choose to upload more detailed information.
Rewarding System and Gamification
Partnerships with brands such as Airbnb, Booking.com, Skyscanner and The Fork allowed us to provide discounts for users that contribute to the community. Some rewarded actions are uploading videos consistently and interacting with the community. All of this is tracked with a system called blinkoin, you can exchange these coins for real-world discounts. For an added layer of gamification, each week there is a public leaderboard displaying the top performing creators.
Rewarding System and Gamification
Partnerships with brands such as Airbnb, Booking.com, Skyscanner and The Fork allowed us to provide discounts for users that contribute to the community. Some rewarded actions are uploading videos consistently and interacting with the community. All of this is tracked with a system called blinkoin, you can exchange these coins for real-world discounts. For an added layer of gamification, each week there is a public leaderboard displaying the top performing creators.
Rewarding System and Gamification
Partnerships with brands such as Airbnb, Booking.com, Skyscanner and The Fork allowed us to provide discounts for users that contribute to the community. Some rewarded actions are uploading videos consistently and interacting with the community. All of this is tracked with a system called blinkoin, you can exchange these coins for real-world discounts. For an added layer of gamification, each week there is a public leaderboard displaying the top performing creators.
Backoffice and B2B Experience
The backoffice experience gives an overview of all videos uploaded into the platform, which moderators can then categorize and check. Each creator has their own statistics, with a breakdown into their expertise.
Backoffice and B2B Experience
The backoffice experience gives an overview of all videos uploaded into the platform, which moderators can then categorize and check. Each creator has their own statistics, with a breakdown into their expertise.
Backoffice and B2B Experience
The backoffice experience gives an overview of all videos uploaded into the platform, which moderators can then categorize and check. Each creator has their own statistics, with a breakdown into their expertise.
Shaping a strategic future vision
I worked with blinkoo to craft a future vision with a more strategic approach into the years after 2025. A future version of the platform could have more structured gamification features, like community challenges and client missions from companies, users could earn badges and have upload streaks, in order to be motivated to upload consistently.
Shaping a strategic future vision
I worked with blinkoo to craft a future vision with a more strategic approach into the years after 2025. A future version of the platform could have more structured gamification features, like community challenges and client missions from companies, users could earn badges and have upload streaks, in order to be motivated to upload consistently.
Shaping a strategic future vision
I worked with blinkoo to craft a future vision with a more strategic approach into the years after 2025. A future version of the platform could have more structured gamification features, like community challenges and client missions from companies, users could earn badges and have upload streaks, in order to be motivated to upload consistently.
User Testing and iterative approach
I also took initiative into doing user testing and research, by doing regular interviews with users at least once a week. One example of insight we gathered was that users were struggling to find high quality content in the app, so the solution was creating an editorial playlist, a collection of videos hand picked by our team in order to highlight the best videos. The result was an immediate increase in engagement.
User Testing and iterative approach
I also took initiative into doing user testing and research, by doing regular interviews with users at least once a week. One example of insight we gathered was that users were struggling to find high quality content in the app, so the solution was creating an editorial playlist, a collection of videos hand picked by our team in order to highlight the best videos. The result was an immediate increase in engagement.
User Testing and iterative approach
I also took initiative into doing user testing and research, by doing regular interviews with users at least once a week. One example of insight we gathered was that users were struggling to find high quality content in the app, so the solution was creating an editorial playlist, a collection of videos hand picked by our team in order to highlight the best videos. The result was an immediate increase in engagement.
Conclusions
My Key Takeaways
Conclusions
My Key Takeaways
Conclusions
My Key Takeaways
Challenges
❌ Increasing user engagement by encouraging photo-taking within the first 7 days of app download. ❌ Boosting conversion rates by making the value of Pro features clear to free users. ❌ Ensuring seamless integration between the app and physical hardware grips, maintaining a smooth user experience.
Solutions
✅ Introduced an interactive, animated onboarding flow to guide users through app features and inspire first-time use. ✅ Implemented tailored paywalls and A/B testing to optimize conversion strategies, testing placement, copy, and timing. ✅ Enabled free users to experience Pro features with branded frames, offering a taste of premium tools while reinforcing brand visibility.
Challenges
❌ Increasing user engagement by encouraging photo-taking within the first 7 days of app download. ❌ Boosting conversion rates by making the value of Pro features clear to free users. ❌ Ensuring seamless integration between the app and physical hardware grips, maintaining a smooth user experience.
Solutions
✅ Introduced an interactive, animated onboarding flow to guide users through app features and inspire first-time use. ✅ Implemented tailored paywalls and A/B testing to optimize conversion strategies, testing placement, copy, and timing. ✅ Enabled free users to experience Pro features with branded frames, offering a taste of premium tools while reinforcing brand visibility.
Challenges
❌ Increasing user engagement by encouraging photo-taking within the first 7 days of app download. ❌ Boosting conversion rates by making the value of Pro features clear to free users. ❌ Ensuring seamless integration between the app and physical hardware grips, maintaining a smooth user experience.
Solutions
✅ Introduced an interactive, animated onboarding flow to guide users through app features and inspire first-time use. ✅ Implemented tailored paywalls and A/B testing to optimize conversion strategies, testing placement, copy, and timing. ✅ Enabled free users to experience Pro features with branded frames, offering a taste of premium tools while reinforcing brand visibility.
Sofia Berselli © 2025
Made with ❤️ from Italy
Sofia Berselli © 2025
Made with ❤️ from Italy
Sofia Berselli © 2025
Made with ❤️ from Italy
