Mobile Search Experience Redesign
Redesigning the search flow to reduce friction and improve usability on mobile
UX & Product Design
Search Flow Redesign
Mobile
Usability, Accessibility, Interaction Flow
Overview
The mobile search experience was a key entry point for users looking to browse travel offers. During internal
product reviews, the Product Manager identified the search flow as unnecessarily complex on mobile, requiring
too much effort to refine searches. The objective was to simplify the experience, reduce interaction cost, and
create a faster, more intuitive search flow.
Business Goal
Improve the mobile search experience to reduce interaction cost and support faster search completion
on mobile devices.
Discovery
Initial observations
Users had to scroll back to the top to refine their search.
The search module occupied a large portion of the screen with multiple full-width inputs.
Updating search criteria interrupted the browsing experience.
Refining searches required more effort than necessary on mobile.
Key assumptions
Users want to refine searches without losing browsing
context.
Multiple visible inputs increase cognitive load.
Search should remain easily accessible throughout
browsing.
Reducing interaction effort would improve the search
experience.
Expected product metrics
Fewer interactions required to refine a search.
Faster search refinement.
Improved search accessibility.
Lower interaction effort.
Previous design
Research
Stakeholder Input
The opportunity originated from recurring observations made by the Product Manager, who identified the mobile search experience as unnecessarily complex on smaller screens. These discussions helped define the problem and prioritize the redesign.
Heuristic Evaluation
I reviewed the existing search flow against mobile usability principles to identify friction points. The evaluation highlighted unnecessary interaction steps, interrupted browsing, and a layout that increased cognitive load.
Microsoft Clarity Review
I reviewed session recordings to compare our assumptions with real user interactions and ensure the proposed direction aligned with existing user behavior.
Competitive Analysis
I reviewed search experiences from travel and booking platforms to identify interaction patterns that simplify search refinement on mobile.
Key takeaways
Persistent access to search reduces
unnecessary navigation.
Progressive disclosure helps reduce
cognitive load.
Key Findings
The main challenge was refining search criterias
without interrupting browsing.
Keeping search accessible throughout the
experience could reduce unnecessary
interactions.
Breaking the process into focused steps would
simplify the interaction without reducing
functionality.
Define
Problem Statement
Mobile travelers need a way to refine searches without losing browsing context because interrupting the experience makes search feel slower and more effortful.
How Might We
How might we help users refine their searches quickly without interrupting the browsing
experience?
Design Principles
Reduce interaction cost.
Keep search accessible.
Preserve browsing context.
Reduce cognitive load.
Support efficient search refinement.
Design Exploration
Instead of asking users to manage multiple search fields at once, I explored a progressive, step-based flow that exposes only the information needed at each step while keeping search accessible throughout the experience..
Search entry (sticky)
Departure selection
Destination selection
Date selection (optimized calendar)
Passenger selection & Short summary for quick changes
Internal Validation
The proposed interaction was reviewed iteratively with the Product Manager and development team to validate
usability, implementation feasibility, and overall consistency with the existing product.
High fidelity wireframes
The redesign focused on simplifying interaction, reducing effort, and aligning the experience with mobile behavior patterns.
Reduce friction when modifying search inputs
Improve accessibility of the search feature
Create a more fluid, step-based interaction
Search Entry Point
The search was redesigned as a compact and accessible entry point that opens a focused experience, rather than displaying all inputs at once.
Moreover, the search is now fixed to the top while scrolling, so users can access it at any time during their exploration.
Modal-based interaction
Search opens in a dedicated modal overlay, helping users stay focused on a single task without distraction while creating a more immersive, app-like experience on mobile.
Departure and destination selection
Users select their departure and destination in a dedicated screen, allowing them to focus on one decision at a time and reducing cognitive load.
There is also showcased the transport type available for each destination (by plane or by bus).
Date Selection
The calendar was optimized for mobile interaction, making it easier to scan availability and select dates quickly.
Pricing is highlighted directly within the calendar using color-coded dates, making it easy to compare options at a glance. At the bottom, users can select the number of nights for their stay.
Passenger Selection
Passenger selection was simplified with clear controls and structured grouping, improving clarity and usability.
The final step provides a clear summary of the stay, while allowing users to easily revisit and adjust any previous step.
Conclusions
Expected outcomes
Search refinements require fewer interactions.
Users can modify searches without interrupting browsing.
Search remains accessible throughout the journey.
The overall experience feels lighter and more intuitive.
Future improvements
Validate with end users.
Measure search refinement time.
Measure interaction count.
Explore personalized search defaults.
