The Origin
This project started in a UX/UI class as a prototype user flow. Then in my App Development class, my team built a crude version in Xcode using JSON. But I couldn't let it go — because the problem was real.
My parents are retired campers. Every trip meant fifteen browser tabs, three group chats, emails no one responded to, and someone always forgetting something critical. By the time everyone figured out who was bringing what, half the group had already backed out.
I spent two years turning that frustration into a solution.
The Problem
Group camping trips fail in the planning stage — not because people don't want to go, but because coordination is scattered across texts, emails, and verbal agreements no one remembers.
The coordinator — usually the most enthusiastic person — ends up doing all the work. They burn out. The trip falls apart. And everyone says "we should do this again sometime" knowing they probably won't.
Research & Discovery
I conducted user interviews and competitive analysis, speaking with campers who had attempted to organize group trips. The findings were consistent across every conversation:
No Single Source of Truth
Everyone assumed someone else was handling something. No shared space meant constant overlap and gaps.
Social Isolation
Existing camping apps treated trips as solo experiences. The community aspect — comparing spots, sharing tips, connecting with nearby campers — was completely missing.
Coordination Fatigue
Users didn't quit because camping was hard. They quit because the planning was exhausting. The problem wasn't lack of tools — it was too many disconnected ones.
Knowledge Gap
First-time campers had no trusted place to get help. They needed community knowledge, not just gear lists.
Paper Wireframes — Early Ideation
Low Fidelity Wireframes
Low Fidelity Prototype Flow
The Solution
inTents consolidates planning, coordination, and community into one experience. The core insight: people don't need more features. They need less friction and a shared space where everyone can see what's happening.
Shared Trip Dashboard
One place for dates, location, members, and gear. Everyone sees the same information. No more "I thought you were bringing that."
Community Feed
A social layer — Global for the broader camping community, Local for people at or near your campsite. Inspired by the real culture of camping and RV communities.
inTents Situations
A community-led knowledge hub. Real campers sharing real tips — how to start a fire, how to identify plants, what to do if it rains.
Helper Network
Experienced campers available to connect with and learn from. Rated by the community, so first-timers know who to trust.
High Fidelity Mockups
Final Prototype Flow
Final App Screens
Impact & Learnings
Iterative usability testing showed a 40% improvement in task completion rates from initial prototype to final design. Users consistently described the experience as feeling "like everyone's finally on the same page."
People don't need more features
They need less friction. Every feature I considered adding went through one filter: does this reduce coordination effort or add to it?
Community is a feature
The social layer wasn't an afterthought — it was the insight. Campers already have a community culture. The app just needed to support it.
Two years was the right call
The version that shipped was fundamentally different from the version I started with. Staying with a problem long enough to really understand it produces better design than moving fast and shipping something that looks right but doesn't work.