Hike With Me is a mobile concept designed to help people discover hiking trails, connect with others, and plan outdoor experiences in a simple and intuitive way.
The project focuses on creating a safe and engaging platform for users to explore nature together while building a sense of community.
Role: UX designer
Course: Treehouse
Problem
Many hiking platforms focus primarily on locations and routes but lack social features that enable users to connect and plan hikes together.
At the same time, users may feel uncertain about safety, coordination, and finding like-minded people to hike with.
This creates a gap between discovering a hike and actually going on one.
Audience
Primary audience:
Young adults and outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy hiking but want a more social and accessible experience.
They:
-
Seek new hiking locations and inspiration
-
Want to connect with others who share similar interests
-
Value safety, trust, and ease of planning
The design was guided by user needs around simplicity, clarity, and social interaction.
Hike With Me
Solution
The solution focuses on bridging the gap between discovery and action by combining exploration, planning, and social interaction in one platform:
1. Social hiking experience
Users can create and join hikes, making it easier to connect with others and build a community around shared interests.
2. Simplified planning flow
The process of organizing a hike is streamlined, allowing users to quickly set details, invite others, and manage participation.
3. Trust and safety features
User profiles and reviews provide transparency, helping users feel more confident when joining group activities.
4. Intuitive exploration
A clean and visual interface makes it easy to discover new trails and activities without feeling overwhelmed.
Design decisions focused on reducing friction and creating a seamless user journey.
-
Clear visual hierarchy to support quick decision-making
-
Minimalistic interface to avoid cognitive overload
-
Familiar interaction patterns to increase usability
The goal was to make the experience feel effortless, especially for first-time users.
User flow
Shaina
Joaquin
Wireframe
Shaina
.png)
Joaquin
Mockups
Shaina
Joaquin
Key learnings
This project reinforced the importance of designing beyond functionality—focusing on emotional factors such as trust, safety, and motivation.
Creating a social experience within a practical tool requires balancing usability with human connection.
If I were to continue developing this concept, I would:
-
Conduct usability testing with real users in outdoor contexts
-
Further explore safety features and verification systems
-
Measure how social features impact engagement and retention