Wander Maps

Building the best travel and mapping app

Partnership
6 mo

Stage
Startup

Deliverables
Product design, Strategy, Design system

Wander Maps on iPhone showing a curated Moab guide with route stops

We teamed up with Wander—a mapping app for discovering and saving the best destinations—to sharpen their product vision and unify their user experience design.

Wander Maps map of Utah with saved places pinned from Instagram and YouTube
Wander category icons: All, Outdoor, Beaches, Historic, Food and Thrills

The challenge

The challenge

Make it easy for people to turn inspiring moments into actionable journeys.

We collaborated closely with Wander’s founder and product manager to distill the 'why' of our users: empower everyday travelers to save and explore must-see spots, whether found on social media or recommended by friends. With this vision in place, our team could shape a cohesive roadmap.

We collaborated closely with Wander’s founder and product manager to distill the 'why' of our users: empower everyday travelers to save and explore must-see spots, whether found on social media or recommended by friends. With this vision in place, our team could shape a cohesive roadmap.

We collaborated closely with Wander’s founder and product manager to distill the 'why' of our users: empower everyday travelers to save and explore must-see spots, whether found on social media or recommended by friends. With this vision in place, our team could shape a cohesive roadmap.

Wander place page for Slickrock Biketrail with rating, address and tabs
Wander route controls showing distance, drive time and walking time
Wander screens: route map, activity card, Moab guide and save-to-list sheet

In-App Branding & Design System

Since Wander already had an overall brand direction, we focused on refining in-app branding—from color schemes and typography to iconography and layouts—creating a visually consistent experience. The interface is intentionally friendly, outdoor-focused, and travel-oriented, featuring large, immersive photos that guide users through their journey.

Row of Wander map pins, each framing a destination photo
Wander search bar variants with a Search Wander and Paste link toggle
Wander line icons for open, globe, share, pin and bookmark
Wander body and display typography scale with sizes and weights
Annotated Wander destination header labeling banner, navigation and type styles
Wander color palette: Shades, Almond, Jasper and Forest ramps with hex values
Hiker drinking from a bottle on a misty rock ledge

Streamlined UX for Social Sharing

A key feature of Wander’s app is social sharing: tap “Share” on an Instagram post, and Wander automatically identifies any destinations in the photo, pinning them right on your map. To support this innovative workflow, we created a clear, intuitive user flow. Our goal: minimize friction and invite users to keep discovering, saving, and returning to Wander.

iPhone on a table showing the Save to Wander sheet for a YouTube video
Five-star review card about turning an Instagram reel into a road trip
Wander feature card explaining Social Sharing from Instagram and YouTube posts
Three iPhones showing an Instagram post saved to Wander and pinned on a map
Wander confirmation sheet: Post/Video saved to Wander, with Done button
Person holding an iPad showing Wander with a saved list and 3D map route

41%

New user growth

300%

Retention boost

Funded

Venture capital raised

2 partners that have changed the game for Wander in the last year, both saving us thousands of dollars each month in R&D while more than doubling our velocity. One of them is Distro, and the other is Upstory – The world's best product design studio for startups.

AJ Brau

Founder — Wander

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