Solving A Traveller’s Dilemma:
A Last-minute Packing App Case Study
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1. Introduction:
Overwhelmed and Unprepared: Tackling the Chaos of Last-Minute Packing
Overwhelmed and Unprepared: Tackling the Chaos of Last-Minute Packing
Packing for a trip often becomes an overwhelming and chaotic task, especially for those who tend to procrastinate. Many find themselves staring at an empty suitcase just hours before departure, paralyzed by indecision and anxiety. The uncertainty of what to pack, paired with the fear of forgetting something essential, often leads to hasty, disorganized packing or even abandoning the process altogether.
This common struggle leaves travelers feeling frustrated, stressed, and unprepared for their journey. The problem goes beyond simply forgetting items—it becomes a mental burden that detracts from the excitement of travel. This case study seeks to address the pressing question: How can we create a solution that alleviates the stress of last-minute packing and helps travelers feel more organized and in control?
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2. Research
From Overpacking to Last-Minute Panic: Unpacking the Causes of Travel Stress
To design an effective solution, it was essential to understand why packing becomes such a stressful experience for travelers, particularly those who procrastinate. Through a mix of user interviews, quick surveys, and online observations, we uncovered several key reasons why travelers often feel overwhelmed by packing. Here are the main causes:
Information Overload
When faced with endless packing lists and suggestions, many travelers experience anxiety. Without progressive disclosure, they are bombarded with a flood of information all at once, leading to confusion and disorganization.
Border Entry Requirements
The uncertainty surrounding entry requirements, such as visas, vaccinations, and travel insurance, adds an extra layer of stress. Many travelers struggle to find clear and concise information on what is needed to enter their destination country, often realizing last minute that they are missing essential documents.
Overpacking vs. Underpacking
The fear of not packing enough, or conversely, packing too much, is a constant source of frustration. Without a clear sense of what is necessary for different climates or activities, travelers tend to either overload their luggage or forget key items entirely.
The fear of not packing enough, or conversely, packing too much, is a constant source of frustration. Without a clear sense of what is necessary for different climates or activities, travelers tend to either overload their luggage or forget key items entirely.
Last-Minute Rush
Procrastination turns packing into a frantic, last-minute scramble. As time runs out, travelers are left trying to stuff random items into their suitcase, resulting in overlooked essentials and disorganized packing.
Procrastination turns packing into a frantic, last-minute scramble. As time runs out, travelers are left trying to stuff random items into their suitcase, resulting in overlooked essentials and disorganized packing.
Through the Landscape: Competitive and General Analysis
Despite having packing assisting apps such as Time2Pack and Packr, they may potentially discourage users to invest their time in packing, due to their sudden disclosure of hundreds of items, and many of them the user may not need.
Competitive Landscape
Time2Pack
+ Detailed, and wide variety
+ Burden-free, generated list
+ Kanban-styled checklist- NO location-specific alerts
- Suggests too much than
needed
- Information overload
Packr
+ Detailed, and wide variety
+ Burden-free, generated list- NO location-specific alerts
- Suggests too much than
needed
- Information overload
+ Burden-free, generated list- NO location-specific alerts
- Suggests too much than
needed
- Information overload
General Landscape and Key Takaways
Task-Managing Apps
- We shouldn't make the tasks numerous and cluttered, which will make it impossible for the user to recognize the logic of the whole packing process.
- We can guide the user more to have a macro view of the whole process, and the main menu buttons can be used to get the user to the various functions.
Local ForecastApps
There is a range of established weather forecasting APIs, that we can directly use the data and predict the weather at the user's destination, thus determine clothing packing recommendations.
Checklist Apps
- Lists, like the ones often used in ordinary memos, are not intuitive enough and put a lot of pressure on the reader due to the dense typography.
- We should use images and icons to help users pack more visually
Relaxing Apps
We can use both visual and auditory relaxation
to calm the user.
For example, cute patterns, smiley faces, animations, and guided breathing exercises.
to calm the user.
For example, cute patterns, smiley faces, animations, and guided breathing exercises.
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3. Define
Meet Our Persona
Emotional Emma
Freelance Designer
Age: 28
Location: New York, NY
︎Goals
︎Personality
︎ Pain Points
- Create organized packing lists tailored to different types of trips and specific
destinations
- Ensure she doesn’t forget essentials while packing
︎Personality
- Disorganized
- Detail-oriented
- Easily overwhelmed
- Forgetful
︎ Pain Points
- Difficulty in keeping track of what to pack for various climates and activities
- Tendency to overpack or forget crucial items due to last-minute packing
- Making sure that her luggage and what she packs meets airline regulations
- Wanting to give up when the list goes on and on.
A User’s Journey
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4. Design
Packing Meets Peace of Mind: Pack.Calm
With Pack.Calm, every trip becomes a seamless experience, free from the stress of last-minute packing and overwhelming checklists. Designed to support disorganized travelers who often find themselves panicking just hours before departure, Pack.Calm turns the chaotic act of packing into a calming, guided process. By integrating smart packing suggestions, tailored reminders, and streamlined organization tools, the app ensures that every traveler is fully prepared for their journey—without the usual anxiety or confusion.
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