Airbnb City Cereals
For this project, I designed a line of city-themed Airbnb Cereal products. These unique products act as an extension of Airbnb services and products while also connecting Airbnb’s brand values with tangible guest experiences to create more memorable travel experiences.
Post Pandemic Problems | Context and Background
The COVID-19 pandemic brought a dramatic downturn in global tourism, with a reported 72% decline in international tourist arrivals between 2020 and 2021, according to a report by the UNWTO. As the world transitions into a post-pandemic era, travel is gradually resuming, yet many travelers are finding themselves unfamiliar with the local communities and cultures they visit. This disconnect is further highlighted in a Brookings article, which explores the broader economic impacts of reduced international travel on tourism-dependent economies and emphasizes the growing gap between travelers and local communities.
Airbnb hosts, who aim to provide authentic local experiences, face challenges in bridging this gap. Many hosts do not live with or even meet their guests, making it difficult to foster genuine connections. Although the Airbnb app facilitates basic communication between hosts and guests, there is a significant need for scalable and tangible tools that can enhance the guest experience and create more meaningful travel memories.
Problem Statement
While Airbnb’s digital services are well developed, from the UI to the booking experience of the app, there is a lack of tangible guest experiences they provide. This gap presents an opportunity to enhance the guest experience by introducing more tangible elements that connect travelers with the local culture.
Research and Analysis
The insights from the personas of Sarah Johnson and Jason Li guided the development of a product that caters to both individual and family travelers seeking unique, authentic experiences. By understanding their needs and pain points, I was able to design a more personalized and memorable guest experience.
Personalization of Travel Experiences
The Airbnb City Cereals concept enables travelers to connect with local cultures through personalized, city-themed products, creating a culturally immersive experience that aligns with their personal interests and enhances their overall journey. This approach enhances their overall travel experience by offering unique and culturally relevant interactions that align with their personal interests.
The Concept
Airbnb City Cereals serve as both a practical part of the guest's stay and a meaningful keepsake. Through the research and analysis that I conducted I came to an understanding the need for personalization led to the creation of city-themed cereals that reflect local culture. Inspired by local flavors, these cereals foster a deeper connection between guests and their temporary home, while the removable postcard inside serves as a tangible memory of their experience.
In 2007, founders Joe Gebbia and Brian Chesky paid off $30,000 in debt by selling limited edition Obama O’s and Captain McCain’s inspired by the 2008 presidential election. Reintroducing cereal boxes as an extension of Airbnb’s products and traveler experience is not only a nod to their entrepreneurial roots but also a modern take on traditional bed and breakfast dining culture.
Design Process
Visual Style
In order to create a cohesive body of products, I analyzed Airbnb’s existing brand guidelines and illustration style and created color palettes based on existing illustrations from Airbnb’s website. Many of their illustrations were largely characterized by textured vector shapes with reduced detail. Both these factors are designed to evoke a sense of approachability and warmth, which aligns with Airbnb’s brand values of belonging and adventure.
Prototyping
Based on the Airbnb style guidelines I experimented with vector-based illustrations of different cities. I used Figma to begin the process of vectorizing images, before taking them into Procreate to add detail, texture, and shading. I produced three different illustrations, highlighting Pittsburgh, Sydney, and Beijing. Three cereal boxes were produced, along with prints of each illustration as postcards for people to take away.
Journey Map
These emotions reflect the guest's evolving experience from the stress of planning to the satisfaction of a well-curated and memorable trip, with the Airbnb City Cereals playing a key role in enhancing their connection to the local culture.
Dive into the messy behind-the-scenes process of how I made these designs on Figma! ◡̈
Competencies
Branding, Graphic Design, Concept Development, User Research, Prototyping, Visual Storytelling
Project Duration
Fall 2021 (2 week sprint)
Strengthening Host-Guest Connections
The cereal box serves as both a functional element of the guest's stay and a lasting keepsake. It forges a tangible connection between the Host and the guest, providing a meaningful memento that deepens their emotional bond and reinforces the narrative of their shared experience.
