67% – of bookers (1.4M) joined social, within 18 months
40→60% – bookings shifted to the app channel
+50% – YoY booking growth, 2023
3.8→4.5★ – Playstore ratings
Travel and Social App
Hostelworld
Hostelworld is one of the world’s largest hostel-booking platform, connecting millions of travelers with hostels.
I led the UX/UI redesign of iOS and Android apps, introducing social features and new booking flows to lift engagement and usability.
Platform
iOS · Android
Focus
UX, UI, Design System
Tools
Figma, Analytics, Lottie and Agile Structure
Impact
Methods
End-to-end UX/UI for iOS + Android, full audit first
Social and booking flows refined through A/B testing
Post-launch iteration with Product and Tech
Sitemap and Structure
My first task at Hostelworld was to audit the structure and user flows of the apps.
I created a visual map of the app’s architecture to show how sections and journeys were organized.
This helped identify pain points and opportunities for improvement.
Developing Social Features
Working alongside a product manager and a user researcher, I designed two new social features: Chats and Events.
Using the same mapping approach, I defined their structure with detailed sitemaps, UX mockups and early prototypes. These guided both development and testing.
Prototypes and Usability Tests
We focused on Chats for Cities, Hostels, and Individuals.
We tested multiple prototypes and ran usability studies to see how travelers engaged with these features.
This iterative process improved the UX to support real, meaningful connections.
App Release
Once we had built confidence through testing, we shipped the Chat feature as an A/B test in Madrid and Barcelona.
From there, the process became one of continuous iteration.
We ran regular interviews, surveys, and flow analysis. These helped us catch bugs, surface usability issues, and spot new opportunities as the feature evolved.
Events
We used the same user-centered approach for Events, later called Linkups. This feature helped travelers find nearby activities and connect with others.
The goal was to make social discovery as easy as booking a stay.
Social Profiles
As a natural next step, we reworked the user profile experience.
We redesigned the layout to better show personal details, travel preferences, and interests.
This update helped users find common ground and decide who to connect with during their travels.
Apps Redesign and Iterations
Beyond the new social features, we also modernized the overall app experience.
We redesigned key areas like Booking, Trips, and Account screens to make them cleaner and easier to navigate.
In addition, we added a dark mode for comfort in low-light settings and consistency across platforms.
