PackPilot
Your smart, all-in-one mobile assistant to help you navigate the stress of packing.
PackPilot
Your smart, all-in-one mobile assistant to help you navigate the stress of packing.
PackPilot
Your smart, all-in-one mobile assistant to help you navigate the stress of packing.
PackPilot is an AI-powered app that generates a fully customizable packing list, perfectly tailored to specific trips, personal preferences, weather, activities, and more.
PackPilot is an AI-powered app that generates a fully customizable packing list, perfectly tailored to specific trips, personal preferences, weather, activities, and more.
PackPilot is an AI-powered app that generates a fully customizable packing list, perfectly tailored to specific trips, personal preferences, weather, activities, and more.
Project Type
Project Type
Project Type
TAC310 Final Project
Entrepreneurship, UI/UX
TAC310 Final Project
Entrepreneurship, UI/UX
TAC310 Final Project
Entrepreneurship, UI/UX
TAC310 Final Project
Entrepreneurship, UI/UX
Role + Team
Role + Team
Role + Team
Founder, UX/UI Designer, Researcher
Team: Joan Song, Faiz Ahmed
Founder, UX/UI Designer, Researcher
Team: Joan Song, Faiz Ahmed
Founder, UX/UI Designer, Researcher
Team: Joan Song, Faiz Ahmed
Duration
Duration
Duration
Jan 2025 - May 2025
Jan 2025 - May 2025
Jan 2025 - May 2025
The Initial Pitch [ Problem + Research + User Interviews ]
The Initial Pitch [ Problem + Research + User Interviews ]
The Initial Pitch [ Problem + Research + User Interviews ]
The Problem
Packing for a trip can be chaotic and overwhelming, especially with others.
The Problem
Packing for a trip can be chaotic and overwhelming, especially with others.
65%
of travelers say packing is one of the most stressful parts of planning a trip.
65%
of travelers say packing is one of the most stressful parts of planning a trip.
65%
of travelers say packing is one of the most stressful parts of planning a trip.
1 in 3
travelers forget at least 1 essential item when packing
1 in 3
travelers forget at least 1 essential item when packing
73%
of travelers would pay for a tool that makes packing easier.
73%
of travelers would pay for a tool that makes packing easier.
Sources: Travelodge, Google Travel, OnePoll.
User Interviews → Pain Points
Based on my user interviews, I gathered the following common pain points:
User Interviews → Pain Points
Based on my user interviews, I gathered the following common pain points:
Forgetting essentials / under-packing
Forgetting essentials / under-packing
Poor communication within group trips → duplicate / missing items
Poor communication within group trips → duplicate / missing items
Overpacking due to uncertainty or travel anxiety
Overpacking due to uncertainty or travel anxiety
Lack of information regarding the destination (weather conditions, cultural standards, etc.)
Lack of information regarding the destination (weather conditions, cultural standards, etc.)
The Solution
PackPilot addresses these challenges with a customizable, AI-powered packing assistant, featuring:
The Solution
PackPilot addresses these challenges with a customizable, AI-powered packing assistant, featuring:
Smart list generation — tailored to your trip duration, weather forecast, online destination/trip reviews, and personal preferences
Collaborative packing — share and assign items across travel groups to simplify communication
Real-time sync
Full customization — AI does all the hard work, then users can freely add, remove, or edit items as needed
Smart list generation — tailored to your trip duration, weather forecast, online destination/trip reviews, and personal preferences
Collaborative packing — share and assign items across travel groups to simplify communication
Real-time sync
Full customization — AI does all the hard work, then users can freely add, remove, or edit items as needed
Market Opportunity
Market Opportunity
Market Opportunity
$2.3 trillion global travel industry.
$2.3 trillion global travel industry.
$2.3 trillion global travel industry.
Of 80M+ U.S. Travelers, 65% say packing is stressful.
Of 80M+ U.S. Travelers, 65% say packing is stressful.
AI in Travels Apps → $1.2B Market by 2027.
AI in Travels Apps → $1.2B Market by 2027.
Competitive Analysis
Competitive Analysis
Competitive Analysis
Business Model [Feasibility]
Business Model [Feasibility]
Business Model [Feasibility]
01.
01.
Researching & Building Empathy
Researching & Building Empathy
Researching & Building Empathy
Our Target Audience
Our Target Audience
From first-time travelers to experienced adventurers, PackPilot caters to each individual's needs.
From first-time travelers to experienced adventurers, PackPilot caters to each individual's needs.
Primary User — Extreme case 1
Primary User — Extreme case 1
The mostly organized, but overwhelmed business traveler.
The mostly organized, but overwhelmed business traveler.
Secondary User — Extreme case 2
Secondary User — Extreme case 2
The spontaneous traveler who wants quick reminders with minimal work.
The spontaneous traveler who wants quick reminders with minimal work.
The "Other" Pool
The "Other" Pool
Casual travelers, frequent flyers, group planners, etc.
Casual travelers, frequent flyers, group planners, etc.
User personas
User personas
02.
02.
Ideation
Ideation
Testing out different concepts:
1. Minimalist
2. Playful
3. Modern Tech
Testing out different concepts:
1. Minimalist
2. Playful
3. Modern Tech
03.
03.
Lo-Fis
Lo-Fis
Low Fidelity - Early Prototype
Low Fidelity - Early Prototype
To get a feel for the overall function and layout we wanted to create, we started off with a very simple vision for the lo-fi prototype. Using basic elements, I created this flow, which we later conducted user testing with to figure out the next steps.
To get a feel for the overall function and layout we wanted to create, we started off with a very simple vision for the lo-fi prototype. Using basic elements, I created this flow, which we later conducted user testing with to figure out the next steps.
04.
04.
User Testing
User Testing
Function Research — 5 Second Test
Function Research — 5 Second Test
Goals
Goals
Assess the app's overall experience
Gather feedback on functionality
Assess the app's overall experience
Gather feedback on functionality
Questions we want to answer
Questions we want to answer
Do people find the product useful?
Can users understand the purpose of each screen easily?
Is the app intuitive?
Do people find the product useful?
Can users understand the purpose of each screen easily?
Is the app intuitive?
— Demographics
— Demographics
We used Useberry to conduct an initial test of our lo-fi prototype.
We used Useberry to conduct an initial test of our lo-fi prototype.
We used Useberry to conduct an initial test of our lo-fi prototype.
Age
Age
Age
Main reasons for travel
Main reasons for travel
Main reasons for travel
Travel frequency
Travel frequency
Travel frequency
Current packing list method
Current packing list method
Current packing list method
We also asked participants: What do you find most challenging about packing?
We also asked participants: What do you find most challenging about packing?
We also asked participants: What do you find most challenging about packing?
Listing and remembering what to bring
Minimizing the package
Fitting everything into their bag
Listing and remembering what to bring
Minimizing the package
Fitting everything into their bag
Listing and remembering what to bring
Minimizing the package
Fitting everything into their bag
— Results
— Results
We showed users a flyer of PackPilot for 5 seconds to gauge their initial impression and understanding.
We showed users a flyer of PackPilot for 5 seconds to gauge their initial impression and understanding.
We showed users a flyer of PackPilot for 5 seconds to gauge their initial impression and understanding.
People think the app seems useful, BUT…
People think the app seems useful, BUT…
People think the app seems useful, BUT…
they were hesitant to express interest in using PackPilot because its full function was unclear.
they were hesitant to express interest in using PackPilot because its full function was unclear.
they were hesitant to express interest in using PackPilot because its full function was unclear.
Design Research — Single Task
Design Research — Single Task
Goals
Goals
Find out if the current UI is functional and intuitive.
Gauge importance of certain features (asking for luggage size, planned trip activities, etc.)
Find out if the current UI is functional and intuitive.
Gauge importance of certain features (asking for luggage size, planned trip activities, etc.)
— The Test
— The Test
Task: Generate a packing list, starting from the landing page.
Task: Generate a packing list, starting from the landing page.
Task: Generate a packing list, starting from the landing page.
— Results
— Results
Not intuitive enough.
Not intuitive enough.
Not intuitive enough.
UI is too cluttered
Lack of descriptions makes it hard to navigate
Some users wish they could know WHY certain items were included in their list
UI is too cluttered
Lack of descriptions makes it hard to navigate
Some users wish they could know WHY certain items were included in their list
UI is too cluttered
Lack of descriptions makes it hard to navigate
Some users wish they could know WHY certain items were included in their list
Next steps:
Next steps:
Next steps:
Simplify UI
Add more verbal instructions
Break long sections into multiple smaller parts
Simplify UI
Add more verbal instructions
Break long sections into multiple smaller parts
Simplify UI
Add more verbal instructions
Break long sections into multiple smaller parts
05.
05.
Hi-fis & Delivery
Hi-fis & Delivery
High Fidelity
High Fidelity
After many iterations and feedback from the class/users, we adjusted to the following:
After many iterations and feedback from the class/users, we adjusted to the following:
Flow 1 - Creating a new list, editing items, solo packing.
Flow 1 - Creating a new list, editing items, solo packing.
Onboarding — make a new list.
Create a new list simply by entering your trip details. AI will do the rest!
Custom list tailored to personal preferences, trip duration, weather conditions, online reviews, etc.
Checklist format
Onboarding — make a new list.
Create a new list simply by entering your trip details. AI will do the rest!
Custom list tailored to personal preferences, trip duration, weather conditions, online reviews, etc.
Checklist format
Customize your list — add, delete, edit items.
Add items - notes which items are manually added
Delete items that you don't want
Edit items
Customize your list — add, delete, edit items.
Add items - notes which items are manually added
Delete items that you don't want
Edit items
Flow 2 - Inviting others into a group, utilizing the AI Chatbot, Pack.
Flow 2 - Inviting others into a group, utilizing the AI Chatbot, Pack.
Group travel — sharing a list.
Easily turn any list into a collaborative list by sending your group-mates an invite.
Notes who added which items
Can view each person's packing progress via profile progress bars at the top of the page
Group travel — sharing a list.
Easily turn any list into a collaborative list by sending your group-mates an invite.
Notes who added which items
Can view each person's packing progress via profile progress bars at the top of the page
AI Chatbot — meet Pack.
Want to tweak your list? Have specific questions? Ask Pack anything, whether you want to organize the list, pack for certain weather conditions, etc.
Notes which items were added by Pack (AI)
Gives updated suggestions
Perfect for when you add a spontaneous activity
AI Chatbot — meet Pack.
Want to tweak your list? Have specific questions? Ask Pack anything, whether you want to organize the list, pack for certain weather conditions, etc.
Notes which items were added by Pack (AI)
Gives updated suggestions
Perfect for when you add a spontaneous activity
Assign Items.
Eliminate the hassle of texting in the group chat and directly assign items on the list.
Avoid bringing duplicate items
Ensures that items won't be missing
Assign Items.
Eliminate the hassle of texting in the group chat and directly assign items on the list.
Avoid bringing duplicate items
Ensures that items won't be missing
2025 © Designed by Ella Su
Connect with me on LinkedIn
2025 © Designed by Ella Su
Connect with me on LinkedIn
2025 © Designed by Ella Su
Connect with me on LinkedIn
2025 © Designed by Ella Su
Connect with me on LinkedIn