Hikey
The Hikey project explores how a mobile app can improve the hiking experience for young adults in Israel by addressing common problems in trip planning and navigation. Based on interviews with hikers aged 25-35, the research identified key challenges such as fragmented information across multiple apps, outdated trail data, and limited connectivity on trails. To solve this, the project proposes Hikey-an app that combines flexible trip planning (via filters, search, and AI), real-time community updates about trail conditions, and offline navigation into a single platform. The design focuses on supporting the entire hiking journey-from planning a route to navigating on the trail-while minimizing screen use so hikers can stay connected to nature. Through competitor analysis, prototyping, usability testing, and A/B testing, the study found that simple, unified interfaces and community-driven updates can significantly improve usability and reliability for hikers in Israel.
