Think Beyond When Designing a Product: UX/UI Case Study of Ticket Booking App
See how strategic UX/UI design increased conversions and made booking tickets faster and easier for users.
A client approaches us with a request to design a ticket-booking app. At first glance, it seems like a straightforward project. But for us, it’s never just about creating something visually appealing. Our approach goes deeper than that. Before we even touch design tools, we start with a conversation.
We sit down with the client, not to discuss colours or fonts, but to talk about how their business works. We ask questions like, “What’s the biggest pain point for your customers?” and “How do you want your app to help users?” It’s about understanding what drives their business and how the app can be more than just a booking tool it needs to solve real problems.
Once we understand the business side, we focus on the users. Who are they? What do they need? In the case of a ticket booking app, we know users value speed and ease. No one wants to jump through hoops to book a ticket, and every extra second spent on a confusing interface means a potential lost customer.
That’s why, when we design, we think beyond just what looks good. We create seamless experiences, removing obstacles between users and their goals. It’s about making the process so intuitive that users don’t even think about it they book and go.
This story is at the heart of every project we take on. It’s not just design for the sake of design. It’s a process that considers the business, the users, and how to make both work together effortlessly.
The Role of Communication in Designing for Success:
Good design starts with clear communication. It’s not just about aesthetics; it’s about understanding the bigger picture. When we begin any project, especially something as user-centric as a ticket booking app, the most critical step is talking with our clients. We want to know how their business works, what their customers struggle with, and where the app fits into their overall strategy.
This communication helps us align the design with real business goals. For example, if the client’s main concern is reducing booking abandonment rates, our focus shifts to creating a faster, more intuitive booking flow. Without open and continuous communication, the design would risk being just a pretty interface rather than a functional tool that drives results.
Through clear discussions, we learn about the key performance indicators (KPIs) that matter most to the business, whether it’s higher conversions, increased user retention, or enhanced customer satisfaction. Once we understand these priorities, we can design with purpose, ensuring every decision supports the client’s business objectives while keeping the user experience front and center.
Meeting Tight Deadlines with the Design Sprint Process
When a project has a tight deadline, like delivering a ticket booking app in one month, we rely on the Design Sprint Process. This structured approach helps us work quickly without compromising on quality.
You can learn the design sprint from the Google Sprint
When building a product, there are several key factors to consider understanding user needs and gathering ongoing feedback are two of the most critical steps in the process.
1. User Interviews: The Foundation of Product Design
One of the first steps in designing a product is conducting user interviews. These interviews help us understand the users’ problems, goals, and behaviours. By directly speaking with potential users, we can gather insights on what challenges they face and how the product can solve these issues.
For example, if we’re designing a ticket booking app, user interviews may reveal frustrations with confusing layouts or slow checkout processes. These insights allow us to design a solution that addresses these pain points from the very beginning, ensuring that the product is built around the user’s needs.
2. User Feedback: Iterating for Improvement
After the initial design phase, gathering user feedback is essential for refining the product. Once we have a working prototype or an early version of the product, we present it to users to see how they interact with it. Their feedback helps identify areas for improvement, such as navigation issues or confusing features.
For instance, in a ticket booking app, user feedback may show that certain buttons are hard to find, or that the payment process feels too complicated. By acting on this feedback, we can make necessary adjustments before final development, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable user experience.
By prioritizing user interviews and continuous feedback, we ensure that the product evolves based on real user needs, resulting in a more successful, user-centered design.
When designing a product, understanding human psychology and digital psychology plays a critical role in creating a seamless user experience.
3. Human Psychology: How People Think and Behave
Human psychology helps us understand how people process information, make decisions, and react to visual stimuli. When designing, we consider basic principles like cognitive load, which refers to how much mental effort is required to complete a task. If a design is too complex or overwhelming, users may feel frustrated and abandon the process.
Another key factor is habit formation. People are creatures of habit, and they tend to prefer familiar patterns and experiences. By following common design conventions (like placing the “Buy” button in expected locations), we create a sense of comfort and trust.
Learn UX Psychology from Growth. Design and build for Mars
The Importance of a Design System:
A design system is a set of standards, guidelines, and reusable components that streamline the design and development process. When creating a product, especially at scale, a well-defined design system ensures consistency, efficiency, and scalability.
For developers, a design system acts as a blueprint that defines how components should be built and implemented. It saves time and reduces ambiguity in translating design to code.
- Reusable Code Components: Developers can reuse the same components across different parts of the app, avoiding redundancy and speeding up development. Once a component is coded, it can be used multiple times, ensuring consistency in both design and functionality.
- Clear Communication: A design system provides clear specifications, reducing back-and-forth between designers and developers. Developers know exactly how elements should behave, which cuts down on errors and misunderstandings.
Getting the Figma File Ready for Developers
When we finish the design in Figma, we create a special “Ready for Development”. This page helps developers by organizing everything they need, making their job easier and faster.
1. Organizing the Figma File
On this page, we include:
- Design Components: Things like buttons, icons, and fonts are clearly labelled and easy to find.
- Style Guides: We list important details like colors, font sizes, and spacing, so everything looks consistent in the app.
- Interactive Elements: We show how things like hover effects or animations should work, so developers know how elements should behave.
2. Meeting with Developers
Before the developers start working, we have a meeting to go through the Figma file together. In this meeting, we explain:
- Key Design Elements: We point out important parts of the design and how they should work.
- Animations and Interactions: We explain how any animations or transitions should behave in the app.
- Using the Design System: We show developers how to use the design system to speed up their work.
Why Visual Appeal Matters in Design
Humans are naturally visual creatures. We process images much faster than text, which is why a visually appealing design is so powerful. When something looks good, it catches attention, builds trust, and makes the experience more enjoyable.
For example, Dieter Rams, in his book “Ten Principles for Good Design”, talks about the importance of simplicity and functionality. His designs, which are visually clean and minimal, make it easy for users to understand and interact with a product. Similarly, Don Norman in “The Design of Everyday Things” explains how good design makes things not only look good but also work effortlessly.
But visual appeal is not just about looks it’s about clarity. A well-organized design helps everyone involved in the project. For developers, a visually structured design makes it easier to understand how elements should behave. They don’t need to guess where things go or how they work because it’s clear from the design itself.
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Check out the full case study on Behance and view the complete design on Figma Community:
If you’re a designer and want to collaborate, feel free to reach out. Let’s create something amazing together!
- Contact me: m.yasir.k.2001@gmail.com
