Travel Platform for Guides & Tours (ru)

Mobile App Design & Development

As part of the project, I designed and developed a mobile application focused on discovering and booking curated, author-led tours across Russia. The app was built to simplify tour selection, help users compare experiences, and reduce decision fatigue during trip planning.

I was responsible for the full product lifecycle: from defining user scenarios and designing key user flows to creating the visual design and supporting the development process. Special attention was paid to mobile-first UX, clear navigation, and content-driven layouts that highlighted tour value, itineraries, and trust signals.

The application supported the broader ecosystem of travel products and served as an additional acquisition and conversion channel, strengthening the overall product offering and improving accessibility for mobile users.

This mobile application was designed as an MVP and was not taken to production.

Instead, the project focus shifted toward designing and launching a desktop web interface, which better supported the business goals and early-stage validation

Research & Product Thinking

Throughout the project, I applied a structured product thinking approach to ensure each service met real user needs. I conducted customer development interviews, UX testing, and surveys to validate ideas before building, and continuously iterated on the services based on feedback and analytics. I also mapped user flows and customer journeys to identify pain points and optimize the overall experience.

In addition, I integrated key metrics and analytics to track user behavior, conversion, and engagement across the platform. This data-driven approach allowed me to make informed design and product decisions, prioritize features, and create solutions that improved usability, monetization, and customer satisfaction. The combination of user research, metrics, and iterative design ensured the product was both user-centered and business-oriented.

Research artifacts created in Notion: audience segmentation and interview guides used for customer development and product discovery.

Customer Journey Map used to identify friction points and guide product and UX decisions for the travel service. Translated into English for portfolio purposes

This table is part of a competitive analysis comparing key travel platforms to identify differences in functionality, product focus, and user experience patterns

UX & Design Process

I led the design process end-to-end, creating design concepts for web services and high-converting landing pages. This included designing and developing all travel guides, as well as the full web platform, ensuring a consistent and user-centered visual language across the product.

In addition, I designed the brand identity, including the logo, and developed supporting materials such as printed assets and marketing emails. I worked closely with developers to implement designs accurately, translating concepts into functional, responsive interfaces.

Throughout the process, I focused on usability, visual hierarchy, and alignment with user needs and business goals, iterating designs based on feedback and testing to optimize the overall user experience.

The screens above showcase the MVP version of the website designed for selling travel guides and author-led tours.

Website Link

The screen above presents the stable version of the website for selling travel guides.

Website Link

Travel Guide Design & Layout

I designed and fully laid out all travel guides in PDF format, taking full ownership of both visual concept and final production.

For each guide, I crafted a distinct visual style that reflects the mood of the destination, the character of the location, and the cultural context of the country, combining editorial design, typography, and imagery to enhance readability and immersion.

The guides were designed not only as informational products, but as a key part of the overall brand experience and a revenue-driving digital product.

An example of a fully designed and formatted travel guide for North Ossetia in PDF format.

Development & CTO Role

As CTO and product owner, I managed the development and operational side of the platform. I wrote detailed specifications for marketers and copywriters, set goals and deadlines following Agile methodology, and coordinated external freelancers, including illustrators and SEO specialists, to ensure timely delivery of high-quality work.

I was responsible for integrating and managing payment systems, tracking revenue, and ensuring smooth technical operations. Additionally, I provided technical support to users, resolving issues and maintaining a reliable platform experience.

This combination of design, development, and operational management allowed me to oversee the product end-to-end, ensuring both functional stability and alignment with business goals.

Results

• Improved key product metrics (Retention, DAU/WAU/MAU, CTR, LTV, GMV) through iterative UX improvements and data-driven design.

• Launched the digital travel guide sales platform across Russia, generating ~2 million RUB in revenue.

• Launched a travel agency platform selling tours across Russia, generating ~3 million RUB in revenue and selling ~30 tours.

• Launched an online school for beginner bloggers, extending platform reach and diversifying revenue streams.

• Demonstrated the effectiveness of end-to-end product ownership, combining design, development, and operational management.