Most travel platforms design for the destination. Pana starts with the decision to go.
User Research · Experience Mapping · Service Design · Brand Strategy · Community-driven Service Concept
Many first-time solo travelers aren't only planning a trip. They're navigating fear, uncertainty, and the pressure of staying safe in unfamiliar environments. The research revealed that young women were looking for more than travel information. They needed confidence, community, and a sense of emotional safety.
Safety wasn't just physical.
It was emotional.
The project explored the tension between independence and reassurance. The challenge wasn't only helping women travel safely. It was designing a system that allowed people to feel supported without losing autonomy. This shifted the concept from a travel platform into a community-driven service experience.
A support system designed into the journey itself
Pana pairs first-time solo travelers with experienced local women through a community-based buddy system.
The service focused on:
trusted local connection
emotional reassurance
community-driven support
offline accessibility during travel
One key feature allowed buddy communication to continue through Bluetooth connection when internet access was unavailable.
Designing trust through brand and interaction
The identity system was designed to feel supportive, calm, and human. The name Pana means “savior” in Zoroastrianism, while the logo symbolized protection, community, and connection. Every visual and interaction decision aimed to reinforce the same message: You are not navigating the journey alone.
Safety and independence are not opposites.
Trust is not created through features alone. It is shaped through language, interaction, community, and emotional experience across the entire journey.
The best services don't remove uncertainty, they help people move through it with confidence.
That's what I design for.