Abstract

Global Trail is an interactive mobile app designed for travellers or culture seekers to reimagine how they discover new places, engage with cultural sites and remember their travel experiences. In this digital world, photos get easily lost in phone galleries and sometimes lack an organized way to find specific memories to places visited. Through design, the app experience addresses three core objectives: Discover — users explore Unesco sites represented by badges through an interactive world map; Engage — they unlock and earn those badges when they visit those sites where they can post their memories on a community platform; and Remember — the app uses AI to select specific photos and videos from each sites visited and create a memory page tied to each location. Inspired by gamified learning, logging travel experiences and social media patterns, Global Trail balances fun and functionality. It makes memory organization simpler, gamification through badges rewarding, and connections through a community platform meaningful. Through research, user surveys and prototyping, this project aimed at designing a user-friendly experience combining emotion, education and technology together. Global Trail redefines travel as more than just moving to places but as the act of discovering, engaging and remembering. This thesis serves as a design exploration of how digital tools can enhance location-based memories, encourage engagement, and foster a sense of shared experience for both travelers and culture seekers.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Unesco--Interactive multimedia--Design; Travel--Interactive multimedia--Design; Tourist maps--Interactive multimedia--Design; Memory--Interactive multimedia--Design; Mobile apps--Design

Publication Date

8-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Student Type

Graduate

Degree Name

Visual Communication Design (MFA)

Department, Program, or Center

Design, School of

College

College of Art and Design

Advisor

Mike Strobert

Advisor/Committee Member

Daniel DeLuna

Additional Files
Promo video.mp4 (116600 kB)
Supplement

Campus

RIT – Main Campus

Plan Codes

VISCOM-MFA

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