Okidays simplifies the way parents find and book the perfect activities for kids. From birthday parties to weekend fun, it makes planning effortless, enjoyable, and stress-free.

Context

Planning and organizing parties can be a fun and rewarding experience. However, it often proves stressful for busy parents — endless website searches, countless venue calls, and juggling different services.

Background

Research has shown that having a fun activity for a kids' party is important, but finding the right one that meets the specific needs of different families is not an easy task. Currently, no tool is available to streamline the process of finding family-friendly (kid-friendly) venues and activities.

53%

of parents say that balancing the responsibilities of their job with the responsibilities of their family is very or somewhat difficult.

58%

of parents say that activities  are among parents’ absolute must-haves to make their kids’ birthday a success.

of parents say that their youngsters are not so easy to impress for their birthdays.

73%

  • In the party planning process, users place a high priority on coming up with creative ideas such as themes, decorations, and activities.

  • Users find that researching party themes, exploring food options, and creating a guest list along with their budget constraints is time-consuming and overly intricate tasks.

  • Users do NOT use any tools that can expedite the research process other than Google Search, Pinterest and online shops such as Amazon and Etsy.

Problem

Inefficient navigation

Current websites that provide information on kids' activities and local events in my city use a tree navigation structure, categorizing content with subcategories. While they have a strong database, the problem is that there are too many main menu items, each with an excessive number of subcategories. This makes it difficult for users to digest such extensive information through a hierarchical navigation method.

Too many menus with too many subcategories (Fun 4 RALEIGH KIDS)

Too many steps to find subcategories (Kidsoutabout.com)

Too general and not designed with family-friendly filters

Kids' activities, events, and venues are highly diverse and complex, making tree navigation an inefficient way to organize the information. Google Search allows users to sort by distance, rating, indoor activities, and free options. However, while its filtering system is user-friendly, it is also very limited—too general and not designed with family-friendly filters. As a result, it does not provide a customized search experience for users.

Limited filters (Google)

Fragmented information and disconnected booking process

In addition, users have to visit each service provider’s website individually to gather more information and make reservations. This extra step adds friction to the booking process. When browsing multiple providers, the process becomes even more time-consuming and overwhelming, making it difficult for users to compare options efficiently and make quick decisions.

User Story

  • "I want to see a complete list of all available options."

    Research-savvy mom

  • "I want to quickly narrow down choices based on my specific criteria."

    Efficiency-driven dad

  • "I want to easily discover affordable choices that meet my needs."

    Cost-conscious mom

  • "I want a streamlined booking process with as few steps as possible."

    Time-saving mom

Solution

Smart Filtering & Tag-Based Search

Smart filtering and tag-based search offers a more flexible and intuitive way to organize information compared to traditional tree navigation. Here's why this new approach is beneficial for the Okidays project:

Combined Criteria Search
Instead of navigating multiple menus to find a specific category, users can simply apply multiple filters at once and narrow down the search results. For example, they can look for venues that are both suitable for preschoolers and offer catering services in one go.

Efficiency & Flexibility
Users don't need to backtrack or switch between different subcategories. The flexible filter system allows them to mix and match tags, creating a combined list of options that meet all their criteria. For example, you can select both nature parks and indoor play parks to get a list of the two. This reduces the number of steps required to refine their search, saving time and reducing frustration.

Dynamic and Personalized Experience
With tag-based search, users can easily add or remove filters on the fly, adjusting their search as their needs change. Whether they're looking for a museum that doubles as an indoor play park or any other combination, the system adapts to provide a tailored list of results.

Enhanced Discoverability
By enabling a multi-faceted search, users are more likely to discover venues and activities that they might have missed using a strict hierarchical navigation. This approach supports a broader exploration of options, enhancing overall user satisfaction.

User Reviews & Community Insights

User Reviews & Community Insights

Parents trust other parents! By incorporating a review system with photos and testimonials, users can access detailed, family-friendly insights directly from those who have experienced the venues and activities firsthand. This system allows parents to share their specific criteria and interests, ensuring that reviews reflect genuine, community-driven perspectives. Additionally, service providers can receive valuable feedback, helping them understand customer needs better and improve their offerings. Overall, this approach empowers both users and providers, fostering a more informed and supportive community.

Quick Booking & Contact Integration

This solution streamlines the booking process by integrating key actions directly within the platform, eliminating the need for users to navigate to external service providers' websites.

Real-Time Availability Check
Users can instantly view current availability for venues and activities on the platform. This means no more switching between different websites or making phone calls to verify availability.

Direct Contact with Providers
Built-in contact features allow users to reach out to service providers directly from the platform. Whether it's to ask questions or get more details, users can communicate seamlessly without leaving the platform.

On-Platform Booking
The system enables users to complete reservations and bookings directly. Integrated payment and confirmation processes ensure that the entire transaction—from checking availability to finalizing a reservation—is handled in one place.

Reduced Friction
By consolidating these steps into one integrated experience, users no longer face the extra step of visiting external websites or making calls. This seamless process not only saves time but also reduces user frustration and increases overall satisfaction.

Process

The design process was essential in developing Okidays to ensure a family-friendly, simple-to-use platform that reflects how parents naturally search for and book kids’ activities.

Empathy, Define, and Ideate

  • User Research

    I conducted user interviews with five participants to uncover their needs and challenges in party planning - navigating scattered information across multiple sites and struggling with finding a choice that perfectly match with their needs.

  • User Persona

    Based on user research, I created a persona to quickly internalize my findings and reference it when making user experience decisions.

  • Storyboard

    I sketched a storyboard to quickly validate whether my idea would have a positive impact.

  • Feature Set

    To prioritize essential features, I created a list of what my minimum viable product (MVP) needed in order for it to be functional, useful, and engaging for users.

  • Card Sorting

    To structure content effectively, I conducted card sorting sessions, helping me understand how parents categorize activities.

  • Navigation design

    Using insights from the card sorting exercise, I developed a filter system that aligns with users' mental models, allowing them to quickly narrow down options based on location, budget, age group, and activity type.

  • Sitemap

    I created a sitemap diagram that provides a bird-eye-view of the platform’s structure, ensuring a smooth and intuitive user flow.

Prototype

Mapping out key screens

I started by creating a task flow to ensure a simple and intuitive booking process, allowing users to narrow down their search by date, location, budget, and filters, leading seamlessly to a booking. Based on this flow, I developed a user persona’s story to illustrate how a parent would interact with the product. Finally, I translated these insights into a wire flow with low-fidelity wireframes, mapping out key screens and interactions to create a smooth and user-friendly experience.

I then designed mid-fidelity wireframes for both mobile and desktop versions, ensuring a responsive website design that provides a seamless experience across devices. This step helped refine the layout, navigation, and interactions to create a user-friendly interface tailored to parents' needs.

Envisioning a brand

I developed the brand name, core values, and a mood board centered around the keywords family-friendly, inviting, festive, and simple. Guided by these values, I crafted a color palette and typography to establish a cohesive visual identity. Finally, I designed a logo and icons that represents the brand’s essence, ensuring a warm and engaging presence for users.

Leveling up my designs

Building on the brand identity, I applied the branding elements to the design and created an interactive prototype to visualize how the product would function in real user interactions. This step prepared the design for usability testing, ensuring a seamless and engaging user experience.

Test & Iterate

Refining through testing

I conducted both remote and in-person usability tests, gathering valuable feedback from users. Based on their insights, I continuously updated my prototype, testing and validating iteratively to refine the design and enhance the user experience.

Next step

To further improve the product and elevate user engagement, I suggest to introduce a social feature that fosters community connections. This addition will empower parents to share experiences, exchange recommendations, and support each other, making the platform not only a booking tool but also a collaborative space for planning memorable events.