Travel Curator and Group Trip Log Website (Caitlyn Lubas)
Brook Slagle
Web Designer
UX Designer
UI Designer
Carrd
Figma
Substack
From Missed Connections to Waitlists: How We Built a Travel Hub for Caitlyn Lubas
Business: Personal brand specializing in organizing group travel trips
Type of Project: Personal website development
Tools Used: Figma (for ideation), Carrd (for development), Substack (for newsletter integration)
Live Website: youarewherecaitlyngoes.com
Overview
Caitlyn Lubas is a seasoned traveler who has explored over 90 countries across all seven continents. She organizes group trips to help others experience the world and foster personal growth. Previously, Caitlyn managed trip inquiries through Instagram DMs and emails, leading to missed opportunities and incomplete bookings.
To streamline her operations and enhance her online presence, I developed a hybrid link-in-bio style website and landing page. This platform combines her bio, showcases past trips, and highlights upcoming travel opportunities, all in one accessible location. By utilizing Carrd, we maintained cost-effectiveness and ensured Caitlyn could easily manage the site herself.
The Goal
Create a centralized, user-friendly website that:
• Showcases Caitlyn’s travel experiences and expertise.
• Highlights past trips with engaging visuals and testimonials.
• Promotes upcoming trips with clear calls-to-action for signups.
• Provides an easy-to-navigate platform for potential travelers.
• Allows Caitlyn to manage and update content independently.
Challenges
1. Cost Constraints: Caitlyn desired a professional website without incurring high development and maintenance costs.
2. Visual Identity Development: With no existing brand guidelines, creating a cohesive visual identity that resonated with her audience was essential.
3. User-Friendly Management: Ensuring Caitlyn could update trip information and content without technical assistance was crucial for ongoing site relevance.
The Process
1. Ideation and Design
Using Figma, I conceptualized a clean, engaging design that reflected Caitlyn’s adventurous spirit and professionalism. Drawing inspiration from her book design and social media presence, I crafted a visual identity that resonated with her target audience.
2. Development with Carrd
To keep costs low and ensure ease of use, I developed the website on Carrd. This platform allowed for a responsive, visually appealing site without the need for complex coding.
3. Content Integration
I organized sections to feature Caitlyn’s bio, past trip galleries, upcoming trip details, and testimonials. Clear calls-to-action were placed strategically to encourage signups and inquiries.
Trip catalog
4. Empowering Client Autonomy
To ensure Caitlyn could manage the site independently, I created comprehensive video tutorials and guides. These resources covered updating trip information, adding new content, and making minor design tweaks.
The Solution
The final website is a vibrant, user-friendly platform that effectively communicates Caitlyn’s offerings. Key features include:
• Engaging Visuals: High-quality images and a cohesive color scheme that reflect the excitement of group travel.
• Clear Navigation: Intuitive layout guiding users through Caitlyn’s bio, past trips, and upcoming opportunities.
• Easy Updates: A structure that allows Caitlyn to effortlessly update content, ensuring the site remains current.
• Cost-Effective Maintenance: Utilizing Carrd kept development and hosting expenses minimal.
The Result
Since launching the website, Caitlyn has experienced a significant increase in trip bookings and now maintains waitlists for future adventures. The centralized platform has streamlined her operations, reduced missed inquiries, and enhanced her professional image.
Client Feedback:
Brook helped me create a website that serves as a portfolio of all the past group trips I've hosted, as well as a portol where future travelers can sign up for upcoming trips with me. The aesthetic is clean, design flow is intuitive, and he really was able to bring my vision and brand to life with this website! It's been something I've watned to create for a while but I kept putting it off — very very satisfied with the work Brook did and am so happy with the final product!
— Caitlyn Lubas, Author of You Are Where You Go, Group trip organizer, and content creator
Reflection
This project underscores the impact of a well-designed, user-friendly website on business operations. By aligning design with functionality and empowering the client through education, we created a sustainable solution that continues to drive success.
Visit the Site
