2023
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Solo female travel is celebrated as an experience of self-discovery, independence, and self-empowerment–but it remains an endeavor not all women feel comfortable taking. Be it concerns of safety, social isolation, or lack of confidence in navigating uncertainty, women want to travel the world, but are less likely to do so alone.
And when it comes to women-focused travel resources, the market is small–lacking the depth of diversity among women; devoid of the nuances of their experiences and needs.
Working to create a more progressive and equitable travel experience, Solo Sisters is a community-generated travel toolkit and connection app for the vulnerable community that is solo female travelers. The platform connects an international Sisterhood of solo female travelers, whether they’re out exploring the world or just at home. It provides its users (referred to as Sisters) the resources and knowledge to navigate the nuances of traveling alone while still preserving the magic of adventure.
For women traveling alone, being in spaces where they feel comfortable and secure is top of mind. To make this possible, Solo Sisters provides “Recommended Spaces”–informing them of places with shared communities, including: woman-owned, LGBTQIA+ friendly, places of worship, etc. The app also provides both general and location-specific “Travel Tips”, generated by locals and past travelers to the area.
Meeting people alone in a new area has its own set of concerns. And because people often approach travel differently than they do everyday life, there results a shift in interests and goals [in relation to their trip]. With that comes contracting comfort levels that impact both personality and priorities. So to develop a successful social network, Sisters’ profiles reflect who they are as travelers on their current trip, as opposed to a more holistic depiction of them as people. To build trust, Sisters profiles list “References” and “Superlatives” from past meetups to legitimize them.
The intended impact of Solo Sisters extends far beyond the platform. As part of the community, women are inspired to continue expanding their comfort zones and cultivating a fascination with people and places.
Credits
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Di Chai, Yuanyuan Song, Bingru Xue, Sarita Sun, Yueming Lai, and Kaihuan Huang
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User Experience Design (UX) - Best User Interface / Experience
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Macau University of Science and Technology
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Conceptual Design - Entertainment
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School of Visual Arts
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User Experience Design (UX) - Experimental / Innovative
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NYO3 International AS
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Packaging Design - Health & Wellness