MOODI
A free iOS app that recommends free activities in Bangkok based on people’s current mood.
Role
UX/UI Designer
Timeline
6 weeks, 2026
Services
UX Strategy, UI Design, MVP, Information Architecture, Usability Testing
Tools
Figma
Finding activities while traveling can be overwhelming
Gen Z backpackers visiting Bangkok often struggle to decide what to do during their free time. With countless travel recommendations across social media and travel websites, finding activities that match their mood, interests, and budget can feel overwhelming. Moodi is a mobile application that helps backpackers discover free activities in Bangkok based on how they feel in the moment.
After looking at the travel experience across the pre-travel, during-travel, and post-travel phases, we found a clear gap in the “during travel” stage, especially around deciding what to do next.
Many backpackers feel overwhelmed by too many recommendations and spend more time searching than exploring. This creates an opportunity for a solution that helps them quickly discover activities based on their mood and explore Bangkok with less planning stress.
Spotting the gap in the travel experience
TikTok
TikTok
Guide Books
Word of Mouths
Words of Mouth
Words of Mouth
Guide Books
Websites
Chatgpt
Chatgpt
Google Map
HostelWorlds.com
12Go
Booking.com
Trip.com
Agoda
Words of mouth
Paid Ads
Family
Friends
Paid Ads
Paid Ads
Travel Insurances
Guide book
Guide book
Guide book
Visa
Visa
Back pack
Physical Notes
TikTok
TikTok
TikTok
Photos
Photos
What’s app
Chatgpt
Words of mouse
Words of mouth
Family
Family
Friends
Friends
Physical Notes
TikTok
TikTok
TikTok
GuideBook
Gallery
What’s app
Chatgpt
Words of mouse
Family
Family
Friends
Friends
Physical Notes
TikTok
TikTok
Guide Books
Word of Mouths
Words of Mouth
Words of Mouth
Guide Books
Websites
Chatgpt
Chatgpt
Google Map
HostelWorlds.com
12Go
Booking.com
Trip.com
Agoda
Paid Ads
Family
Friends
Paid Ads
Paid Ads
Guide book
Guide book
Visa
Visa
Back pack
Physical Notes
TikTok
TikTok
What’s app
What’s app
Chatgpt
Chatgpt
Google Map
Words of Mouth
Google Map
Google Map
Get-your-guide
Guide-Book
GoogleTranslate
Guide Book
Websites
Nomadtable
Grab
Grab
GoogleTranslate
GoogleTranslate
Bolt
Bolt
Paid Ads
Visa
Physical Notes
Sign board
Sign board
Money exchange
Hostel stuff
Hostel stuff
Sim card
Locals
Locals
Tourists
Tourists
Other backpackers
Other backpackers
Other backpackers
During-Journey
PRE
POST
We conducted a competitor analysis to understand how existing travel apps support backpackers. We found that most apps provide recommendations and travel content, but users still need to spend time searching and deciding what to do next.
Too many choices, not enough guidance
While some competitors suggest free activities, none offer mood-based recommendations. This creates an opportunity for Moodi to help backpackers make quick, stress-free decisions and discover free experiences that match how they feel.
Researching backpackers' behaviors and pain points
To better understand their motivations, travel habits, and frustrations, we conducted field interviews at Khao San Road, Bangkok's backpacker hub. We explored how backpackers discover activities, make spontaneous decisions, and manage their budgets while traveling.
19 backpackers interview
Ages between 18 to 24
6 countries
To better understand the challenges Gen Z backpackers face, we created representative personas based on our interviews. Each persona highlights common frustrations and the workarounds travelers use when deciding what to do, finding free activities, and navigating Bangkok with limited time and budget.
Creating personas that reflect different travel behaviors
“I came here to see the world, but I’m spending all my time looking at my screen.”
PAIN POINTS
WORKAROUNDS
Too many travel apps show long lists and maps, making decisions stressful
Scrolls through maps and blogs until something feels right.
Free activities are hard to identify among paid options
Saves many places but visits only one or two
Planning every step drains energy and reduces enjoyment
Chooses nearby options by convenience, not interest
Decision-Fatigued Daniel (Primary Persona)
“I saved so many places online… but now I don’t know where to go”
Pain Points
Workarounds
Social media flood her with recommendations, making it hard to choose.
Asks experienced backpackers or follows nearby crowds.
Most content feels staged or optimized for likes.
She checks comments or searches for “real” opinions across posts.
Too many recommendations lead to decision fatigue.
She scrolls until tired and chooses what feels familiar.
Social-Media-Overloaded Sophia
“I don’t want to plan—just tell me something free I can do right now.”
Pain Points
Workarounds
Planning feels like work after a long travel day.
Avoids planning and hopes something nearby looks interesting.
Most travel apps take too many steps to show useful results.
Opens an app briefly, then closes it if results aren’t instant.
Paid activities dominate recommendations, making him hesitant.
Skips activities to avoid spending money.
Lazy Larry
How might we help Decision-Fatigued Daniel?
We chose Decision-Fatigued Daniel because planning feels stressful for him. Moodi helps him quickly find activities that match his mood.
Introducing Moodi
Moodi will introduce Decision-Fatigued Daniel to the app through onboarding screens. This helps him learn how to find activities based on his mood and spend less time planning.
Discovering places that match Daniel's mood
Based on the mood he selects, Moodi recommends places that fit Decision-Fatigued Daniel's current feelings. He can swipe through recommendation cards one by one, making it easier to explore options and decide where to go next.
Exploring place details
Moodi allows Decision-Fatigued Daniel to scroll down and view detailed information about each recommended place. This helps him make informed decisions without leaving the app.
Keeping track of favorite activities
Decision-Fatigued Daniel can access all of his saved activities in one place. He can view or remove activities and use mood filters to quickly find experiences that match how he feels.
Tracking Daniel's mood journey
Moodi helps Decision-Fatigued Daniel track his moods over time. He can view his mood history by month and see charts that summarize his average mood, making it easy to reflect on his travel experiences.
Recommending nearby activities
Moodi notifies Decision-Fatigued Daniel when a nearby place matches his current mood. By tapping the notification, he can view the activity details page and quickly decide whether to visit.
This is how Decision-Fatigued Daniel navigates through Moodi to find activities that match his current mood.
Making activity discovery fast and stress-free
Site Map
Through this project, I learned that travelers do not always need more information. They often need help making decisions. Researching backpackers in Bangkok helped me understand how planning stress and too many choices can affect their experience.
I also improved my UX research, wireframing, and design thinking skills by turning user insights into practical solutions. Most importantly, I learned how focusing on a specific user problem can lead to a more meaningful and enjoyable experience.
Key learnings