WeHike

weHike is a conceptual mobile app designed to assist hikers in planning upcoming trips and navigating novel trails curated by other users. The app aims to foster a community-driven environment with user-to-user created content.

Originally developed as an educational project in 2019 to gain hands-on experience in app design, I found the concept of weHike to be genuinely interesting. Consequently, I was motivated to redesign the app utilizing my improved skills and knowledge since then. The primary objective of the redesign was to further enhance my proficiency in User Interface (UI) design, with a specific emphasis on implementing and optimizing graphical user interfaces (GUI).

Press "App Demo" to see a temporary presentation of the weHike app in Figma. Click around the app to see the features

NOTE: weHike is unfinished and therefore new features will be added on an ongoing basis

WeHike

My projects / WeHike

Revisiting the old design

Looking back, I aim to preserve the core functionality of the app, which revolves around enabling users to record their own routes using the app. During their hike, the app tracks their progress. Upon completing the hike, they have the option to assess its difficulty, attach relevant tags, upload pictures, and subsequently publish it for other users to explore. Additionally, the app automatically incorporates the duration and length of the route. Once published, the route is displayed on the map as a waypoint, enabling other users to tap on it and access detailed route information.

In the original design, the user's profile picture was positioned in the lower-left corner of the app, intending to create a more immersive experience. However, I believe it would be more effective to incorporate a recognizable navigation bar at the bottom, aligning with Jakob's Law for enhanced usability and familiarity.

Customize your journey

Creating a community-powered hiking app entails enabling individuals to personalize their profile pages. As a result, WeHike grants users the ability to customize their leveling badge, by selecting colors that align with their personal style and choosing icons from a thoughtfully curated collection to help express their unique journey

Year: 2024 - Currently Ongoing

Trailblazing animation welcomes the user

The purpose of the animation is to introduce a visually pleasing element to the app, aiding in enhancing the app's storytelling. Additionally, I experimented with creating animations within Figma.

Selecting routes on the map

While navigating the map, users can select a waypoint pin to view a user-created hiking route. Upon selecting a waypoint pin, a user-friendly UI card opens, providing relevant information concerning the route. This includes details such as total distance, maximum elevation, average completion time by other users, and the difficulty level established by the route's original creator.

By swiping the card upward, the UI card expands to unveil more in-depth information about the hiking route, including images, weather forecasts, reviews, tags, and a detailed description. Should users decide to embark on the route after reviewing this information, they can simply click the "Start Hike" button. Alternatively, they have the option to click the bookmark icon at the top to save the route for future reference

Old app design

As highlighted in the introduction, the purpose of the old design was to gain practical experience in app design as a part of my bachelor's degree, resulting in a presentation and a report within a week's timeframe. However, due to the time constraint, our progress with the app was somewhat limited. As a part of the redesign process, I needed to reevaluate the original design and see what I could use and couldn't.

New app design

Guiding users into the app experience

The initial moments a user spends within an app are crucial. Therefore, it is essential to craft an onboarding sequence that captivates users right from the beginning of the adoption phase.

I focused on the simplicity of a carousel to avoid overwhelming the users, allowing them to swipe through at their own pace. The images are meant to foster a sense of connection and intrigue towards the essence of hiking. They visualize the stories and memories users are about to create when using the app.

Follow your favorite hikers

WeHike embraces interaction, knowledge sharing, and support among hikers. Users can follow their favorite outdoor enthusiasts and gain inspiration to explore new hiking routes from around the world.

Upon viewing a profile page, you can observe their interactions within the community, whether they involve comments or reviews on hikes. You can also explore the hikes a specific user has created and choose to follow them. 

Discover nature's hidden gems

Through the Discover page, users can utilize the search bar and customizable filters to find the perfect trail that matches their specific preferences. They can discover the best trails in their neighborhood with a list of the top hiking routes nearby.

Furthermore, users can explore trails across countries and continents through the feature that allows them to search by specific countries.

With weHike, users can easily find and follow other hiking enthusiasts, making it simpler than ever to discover new routes, exchange tips, and forge lasting connections with like-minded weHikers

Saved for later

Saved adventures are neatly stored and ready to be rediscovered on the Saved page.

Users can save hikes by clicking on the bookmark icon, and then the hike is saved to the 'Saved' subcategory in the navigation bar.