Rehab – UX/UI Design of a Hotel Booking Mobile App

A UX/UI case study for a hotel booking mobile app designed to simplify the process of finding, comparing, and reserving hotels. Rehab focuses on creating a seamless booking flow, personalized search filters, and a user-friendly interface tailored for both travelers and business users.

Role

UX/UI Designer – Research, Wireframing, Prototyping, and Visual Design

Industry

Travel & Hospitality / Mobile App / Technology

Duration

6 Weeks – January to February 2024

Stage 1. Market research and analysis

The project began with in-depth market research to analyze the competitive landscape of hotel booking and travel apps. I evaluated popular platforms such as Booking.com, Agoda, and Airbnb to identify strengths, weaknesses, and user pain points—especially related to mobile booking experiences, trust in reviews, and clarity of pricing.
To gain firsthand insights, I conducted surveys and informal interviews with travelers, frequent business trip users, and families. The research revealed key frustrations such as overwhelming search results, lack of localized offers, and confusing booking flows. These findings helped shape a clear value proposition for Rehab, focusing on simplified hotel discovery, smart filtering, and transparent pricing tailored to the needs of modern travelers.

Stage 2. Concept development and user flow design

During the concept development phase, I translated research insights into actionable design ideas by brainstorming potential features and booking flows that align with user expectations. I created detailed user personas and scenarios representing key user types, such as solo travelers, families, and business users, to guide a human-centered design process.
I then mapped out user flows for core app functionalities—including hotel search, filtering, room selection, booking confirmation, and profile management. The focus was on creating an intuitive navigation structure that minimizes friction and simplifies decision-making. By prioritizing clarity and ease of use, the Rehab app was designed to offer a smooth and efficient hotel booking experience tailored to the needs of diverse users.

Stage 3. UI design and prototyping

Created mid- and high-fidelity wireframes using Figma, with a strong focus on delivering a clean, intuitive interface that enhances the hotel booking experience. I carefully selected a warm and inviting color palette, paired with clear, legible typography to promote trust, comfort, and ease of use.
Built interactive prototypes showcasing the app’s key features—including hotel search and filtering, detailed property pages with photo galleries, and a secure, step-by-step booking process. Regular peer reviews and design iterations helped refine the UI, resulting in a visually consistent and user-friendly app that meets the expectations of modern travelers.

Stage 1. Market research and analysis

The project began with in-depth market research to analyze the competitive landscape of hotel booking and travel apps. I evaluated popular platforms such as Booking.com, Agoda, and Airbnb to identify strengths, weaknesses, and user pain points—especially related to mobile booking experiences, trust in reviews, and clarity of pricing.
To gain firsthand insights, I conducted surveys and informal interviews with travelers, frequent business trip users, and families. The research revealed key frustrations such as overwhelming search results, lack of localized offers, and confusing booking flows. These findings helped shape a clear value proposition for Rehab, focusing on simplified hotel discovery, smart filtering, and transparent pricing tailored to the needs of modern travelers.

Stage 2. Concept development and user flow design

During the concept development phase, I translated research insights into actionable design ideas by brainstorming potential features and booking flows that align with user expectations. I created detailed user personas and scenarios representing key user types, such as solo travelers, families, and business users, to guide a human-centered design process.
I then mapped out user flows for core app functionalities—including hotel search, filtering, room selection, booking confirmation, and profile management. The focus was on creating an intuitive navigation structure that minimizes friction and simplifies decision-making. By prioritizing clarity and ease of use, the Rehab app was designed to offer a smooth and efficient hotel booking experience tailored to the needs of diverse users.

Stage 3. UI design and prototyping

Created mid- and high-fidelity wireframes using Figma, with a strong focus on delivering a clean, intuitive interface that enhances the hotel booking experience. I carefully selected a warm and inviting color palette, paired with clear, legible typography to promote trust, comfort, and ease of use.
Built interactive prototypes showcasing the app’s key features—including hotel search and filtering, detailed property pages with photo galleries, and a secure, step-by-step booking process. Regular peer reviews and design iterations helped refine the UI, resulting in a visually consistent and user-friendly app that meets the expectations of modern travelers.

Stage 4. User testing and iteration

Conducted usability testing sessions with a diverse group of users, including frequent travelers, families, and business professionals. Sessions were held both remotely and in-person to gather a broad range of feedback on the app’s interface, booking flow, and overall usability.
The feedback revealed key areas for improvement—such as the clarity of filter options, room selection steps, and the visibility of important booking details. Based on these insights, I implemented several design iterations to refine the navigation, simplify interactions, and enhance the overall user experience. These changes significantly improved the app's usability, making the hotel booking process faster, clearer, and more enjoyable.

Stage 5. Final presentation and handoff

Compiled and delivered a comprehensive case study and project presentation, summarizing the full UX design process—from market research and user insights to prototyping and usability testing. The presentation, shared with mentors and stakeholders, highlighted Rehab’s potential to improve hotel booking experiences through user-centered design and intuitive interactions.
Prepared detailed design specifications and exported final assets using Figma to ensure a smooth and efficient handoff to the development team. I remained available during the initial development phase to clarify design decisions, answer technical questions, and maintain design consistency across implementation.

Reflections

This project was a valuable opportunity to apply UX/UI design principles in a practical, travel-focused context. Designing Rehab challenged me to think critically about how users search for and book accommodations, and how thoughtful design can reduce friction in that process. It strengthened my skills in user research, prototyping, and collaborative problem-solving.

Most importantly, the experience reinforced the value of continuous user feedback and iteration. Seeing how small design changes could significantly improve usability deepened my appreciation for the impact of human-centered design on real-world user satisfaction.

Additionally, since the app was primarily designed for Arabic-speaking travelers, I paid special attention to cultural nuances, language accessibility, and right-to-left (RTL) interface support. This helped ensure the final product resonates with the unique expectations and behaviors of the Arab travel market.

Reflections

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