Innovative digital marketplace specifically for Gen Z travelers
Crafting solution by engaging with backpackers and hostel operators
Touchpoints of the product
Competitor Analysis
Sitemap Overview
The goal was to offer free travel essentials while promoting sustainability, aligning with the values of young, budget-conscious travelers passionate about reducing environmental impact.
By directly engaging with backpackers and hostel operators, immersing ourselves in their experiences and challenges. Our insights led us to develop detailed user personas and journey maps, which guided the design of an intuitive, user-friendly marketplace. Prototypes were crafted to allow travellers easy access to free essentials, while hostel operators could conveniently offer unused items.
The concept behind Back2Pack was to create a sustainable digital marketplace for Gen Z travelers, enabling them to access free travel essentials left behind by other travelers at hostels. By connecting backpackers with hostel operators, the app aimed to reduce travel expenses, minimize waste, and foster a circular economy. This addressed Gen Z’s strong preference for affordability and sustainability, aligning with their values and enhancing their overall travel experience.
We analyzed platforms such as Facebook Marketplace, Wallapop, Olio, and Freecycle, noting they lacked a dedicated focus on travel essentials. Unlike these general marketplaces, Back2Pack uniquely offered an exclusive space for backpackers to easily locate and reserve free travel items in real-time, addressing specific sustainability and affordability needs of Gen Z travelers.
We created personas to deeply understand and empathize with the different types of users who would interact with the Back2Pack app. This allowed us to identify their specific needs, frustrations, and behaviors, guiding our design decisions to create a truly user-centered experience. To build these personas, we conducted one-on-one interviews with 26 backpackers and 4 hostel operators, focusing on their travel habits, pain points, and strategies for dealing with challenges. Analyzing these insights, we identified clear patterns and distilled them into representative personas, each highlighting distinct user motivations, behaviors, and frustrations.
"I pack just the essentials but sometimes
I find myself unprepared for unexpected situations."
Frustrated with purchasing multiple travel
essentials that are only used once.
Worries about not having the perfect outfit to wear when meeting new people during her travels.
Buys sustainable collapsible bags for extras.
Keeps a list of eco-friendly shops at
her destination.
Unwanted travel items
that get left behind
Get uploaded by
hostel operators
Backpacker can come and
get them for free or borrow
Hostel operators no longer
worry about storing the item
Exclusively free
travel items
marketplace
Olio
Wallapop
Criteria
Freecycle-Get
unused staff
Physical
Hostel
Back2Pack
Ability to
reserve items
Available
worldwide
Ability to
borrow items
Fast and easy
way to list items
Pain points
Workarounds
Perfectly Packed Patricia
Overpacked Oliver
Underpacked Ugine
Clear out Clair from the Hostel
Hippie Hank from the Hostel
"I always seem to pack things I don’t end up using, but I can't help thinking I might need them."
Annoyed by packing items that go unused.
Finds it difficult to reorganize.
Ships unnecessary items back home.
Repacking during travel to optimize space.
Pain points
Workarounds
"I pack light and figure I’ll sort out the rest when I get there."
Often realizes they forgot essential items.
Increased travel costs due to purchasing
essentials unexpectedly.
Uses the internet to locate essential items
or free giveaways nearby.
Chooses accommodation with easy access
to amenities.
Pain points
Workarounds
"Guests leave stuff everywhere. It’s useful to some, but it takes up space fast."
Finds it challenging to manage requests
from guests who need items.
Worries about overloaded with left-behind items
Implements a weekly "clean-out" routine.
Suggests nearby stores for guests needing
specific items.
Pain points
Workarounds
" It bothers me to see useful things go to waste. If only more travelers thought sustainably!"
Struggles with the waste generated from
essentials left behind.
Onboarding page
A.0
Onboarding page
A.0.1
Onboarding page
A.0.2
Change password
A.3
Sign up
A.2
Hostel operator
Home Page
0.0
Backpacker
Home Page
1.0
Log in
A.1
Limited space makes it hard to store
items sustainably.
Donates useful items to local shelters.
Places signs around the hostel to encourage guests to leave or share essentials responsibly.
Pain points
Workarounds
Home Backpacker
1.0
Item details
1.1.2
Backpacker details
1.1
Rating
1.1.1.1
Past order
1.1.1
Home HO
0.0
Upload item
0.2.2
Hostel details
0.2
Review
0.2.1
© Violeta Kukic 2025
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Back2Pack
Back2Pack is a marketplace app helping backpackers easily find free travel essentials at hostels and promoting sustainability.
Working on Back2Pack provided me invaluable insights into designing solutions that genuinely meet user needs while positively impacting sustainability efforts. Collaborating closely with my team and engaging extensively with users taught me the power of empathy-driven design and iterative development.
This project not only enhanced my UX and research skills but also reinforced my passion for creating practical, user-centered solutions. I look forward to applying these learnings to future projects, continually advocating for meaningful user experiences that align with core values like sustainability and affordability.
Eco-system is where are touchpoints of products, services that support users from start to end experience and the journey across different phases and needs. We did our eco-system to better understand Gen Z backpackers through the lends of low budget.