Best Friend
The Professional Unplanner
Wants the trip, not the effort
MEET THE TRAVELLER
MEET THE TRAVELLER
Nico is my best friend. Which is wild, because we travel nothing alike.
He’s the kind of traveler who’s not really in it for the “travel.”
He once said, “Basically when I’m traveling, I just do the same things I do on a weekend… just in a different city.”
And honestly? That checks out.
He’s not into itineraries, alarms, or hustling to “see everything.”
He likes good food, long walks, slow mornings, and maybe a few beers by sunset. it’s a vibe.
Our styles couldn’t be more different.
I want to squeeze the city. He wants to let it breathe.
Nico is my best friend. Which is wild, because we travel nothing alike.
He’s the kind of traveler who’s not really in it for the “travel.”
He once said, “Basically when I’m traveling, I just do the same things I do on a weekend… just in a different city.”
And honestly? That checks out.
He’s not into itineraries, alarms, or hustling to “see everything.”
He likes good food, long walks, slow mornings, and maybe a few beers by sunset. it’s a vibe.
Our styles couldn’t be more different.
I want to squeeze the city. He wants to let it breathe.
Nico is my best friend. Which is wild, because we travel nothing alike.
He’s the kind of traveler who’s not really in it for the “travel.”
He once said, “Basically when I’m traveling, I just do the same things I do on a weekend… just in a different city.”
And honestly? That checks out.
He’s not into itineraries, alarms, or hustling to “see everything.”
He likes good food, long walks, slow mornings, and maybe a few beers by sunset. it’s a vibe.
Our styles couldn’t be more different.
I want to squeeze the city. He wants to let it breathe.
WHAT I THINK HE NEEDS
WHAT I THINK HE NEEDS
Nico doesn’t want a trip.
He wants a vacation.
He’s not looking to “discover hidden gems” or “optimize his itinerary.”
He wants a slow morning, good food, a nice park, and a local beer—without digging through 40 tabs to get there.
The challenge isn’t about adding more to his trip.
It’s about taking things away—stress, planning, over-choice—and giving him only what fits his kind of peace.
Something that works with the way he travels, not against it.
I didn’t want more choices. I just wanted the right one.
Most travel tools help you pick based on time, price, or class. But no one tells you where the good side is—the side with the cows, castles, or sun spilling across the valley. If you don’t already know the route (or live on train forums), you’re guessing.
The problem isn’t bad design.
The problem is that most apps assume the journey doesn’t matter—only the destination does.
But for someone like me, the view is the point. And right now, that part is completely left to chance.
Nico doesn’t want a trip.
He wants a vacation.
He’s not looking to “discover hidden gems” or “optimize his itinerary.”
He wants a slow morning, good food, a nice park, and a local beer—without digging through 40 tabs to get there.
The challenge isn’t about adding more to his trip.
It’s about taking things away—stress, planning, over-choice—and giving him only what fits his kind of peace.
Something that works with the way he travels, not against it.
UX CHALLENGE
UX CHALLENGE
Design a travel experience that adapts daily to deliver maximum chill with minimum input.
Design a travel feature that helps people choose the best side—for views, not just time or price.
Design a travel experience that adapts daily to deliver maximum chill with minimum input.
WHAT I DESIGNED
YOU DON’T WANT TO PLAN. YOU JUST WANT VIBES.
INSTEAD OF A FULL APP EXPERIENCE, THIS ONE STARTS WITH A GENTLE NOTIFICATION.
“HEY, WANT A FEW LOW-EFFORT IDEAS FOR TODAY?”
HERE’S HOW IT WORKS:
YOU GET A DAILY NOTIFICATION—JUST ONE. NO PRESSURE.
TAP IF YOU WANT. IGNORE IF YOU DON’T.
IT OPENS INTO 2–3 CALM, CURATED SUGGESTIONS:
MAYBE A QUIET PARK. A COFFEE SPOT. A PLACE TO SIT BY THE WATER.
It’s not a to-do list. It’s a feel-like-it list.YOU CAN SHUFFLE, CHANGE YOUR MOOD, OR TURN IT OFF ENTIRELY.
IF YOU DO NOTHING, IT’LL TRY AGAIN TOMORROW. MAYBE.
YOU DON’T WANT TO PLAN. YOU JUST WANT VIBES.
INSTEAD OF A FULL APP EXPERIENCE, THIS ONE STARTS WITH A GENTLE NOTIFICATION.
“HEY, WANT A FEW LOW-EFFORT IDEAS FOR TODAY?”
HERE’S HOW IT WORKS:
YOU GET A DAILY NOTIFICATION—JUST ONE. NO PRESSURE.
TAP IF YOU WANT. IGNORE IF YOU DON’T.
IT OPENS INTO 2–3 CALM, CURATED SUGGESTIONS:
MAYBE A QUIET PARK. A COFFEE SPOT. A PLACE TO SIT BY THE WATER.
It’s not a to-do list. It’s a feel-like-it list.YOU CAN SHUFFLE, CHANGE YOUR MOOD, OR TURN IT OFF ENTIRELY.
IF YOU DO NOTHING, IT’LL TRY AGAIN TOMORROW. MAYBE.
YOU DON’T WANT TO PLAN. YOU JUST WANT VIBES.
INSTEAD OF A FULL APP EXPERIENCE, THIS ONE STARTS WITH A GENTLE NOTIFICATION.
“HEY, WANT A FEW LOW-EFFORT IDEAS FOR TODAY?”
HERE’S HOW IT WORKS:
YOU GET A DAILY NOTIFICATION—JUST ONE. NO PRESSURE.
TAP IF YOU WANT. IGNORE IF YOU DON’T.
IT OPENS INTO 2–3 CALM, CURATED SUGGESTIONS:
MAYBE A QUIET PARK. A COFFEE SPOT. A PLACE TO SIT BY THE WATER.
It’s not a to-do list. It’s a feel-like-it list.YOU CAN SHUFFLE, CHANGE YOUR MOOD, OR TURN IT OFF ENTIRELY.
IF YOU DO NOTHING, IT’LL TRY AGAIN TOMORROW. MAYBE.
This could grow into:
A “DO NOTHING TODAY” BUTTON
CHILL CHECK-INS – “WANT TO PAUSE FOR A FEW DAYS?”
“REPEAT THIS VIBE TOMORROW” TO STAY IN A FLOW
BUT THE CORE IDEA STAYS HONEST:
give the peaceful traveler just enough and only if they want it
This could grow into:
A “DO NOTHING TODAY” BUTTON
CHILL CHECK-INS – “WANT TO PAUSE FOR A FEW DAYS?”
“REPEAT THIS VIBE TOMORROW” TO STAY IN A FLOW
BUT THE CORE IDEA STAYS HONEST:
give the peaceful traveler just enough and only if they want it
KEY SCREENS: WIREFRAMES
KEY SCREENS: DESIGNS
DESIGNERS NOTES
DESIGNERS NOTES
DESIGNERS NOTES
This wasn’t designed for the hyper-planner.
This was designed for Nico.
For people who don’t want to figure out their day. They just want
to live it.
Because sometimes, travel isn’t about ticking off attractions.
It’s about taking it slow, and letting the city surprise you.
No maps. No pressure. Just vibes.
So I designed Mayhaps:
An app that casually asks how you’re feeling, then gently nudges you toward something nice - a canal-side nap spot, a fries stand, a craft beer meet-up — whatever fits the mood.
This wasn’t designed for the hyper-planner.
This was designed for Nico.
For people who don’t want to figure out their day. They just want
to live it.
Because sometimes, travel isn’t about ticking off attractions.
It’s about taking it slow, and letting the city surprise you.
No maps. No pressure. Just vibes.
So I designed Mayhaps:
An app that casually asks how you’re feeling, then gently nudges you toward something nice - a canal-side nap spot, a fries stand, a craft beer meet-up — whatever fits the mood.
This was designed for Nico. For someone who doesn't want to figure out their day. They just want to live it.
Designing for him meant designing for effort-averse, plan-resistant wanderers who still want to do cool things, just not enough to Google them. The challenge? No overwhelm. No FOMO. Just a tiny nudge when they might want one.
It doesn’t ask for energy. It doesn’t demand decisions. It shows up like a friend who’s like, “Hey. Do you maybe wanna do something?”
the UI stays light, and everything can be ignored without guilt. This app is not here to change your life. It’s here if you’re bored and mildly open to a suggestion.
And if that’s not the most Nico thing ever, I don’t know what is.