Case study—Travous

Travous: Designing a brand identity for collective travel experiences

The art of group travel planning has long been a complex puzzle. It is fraught with logistical challenges that can transform an exciting adventure into a logistical nightmare. Travous is an innovative mobile application designed to revolutionise how groups approach travel planning, turning potential stress into collective excitement.

Our journey with Travous began in a deep discovery phase, when we sat down with its founder to understand the profound problem the app sought to solve. Group travel planning is a multifaceted challenge that goes far beyond simple scheduling. It involves orchestrating multiple calendars, aligning diverse schedules, managing intricate itineraries, negotiating activity preferences, tracking shared expenses, and maintaining crystal-clear communication among travellers.

Inspiration moodboard for our branding of Travous, illustrating seven images of beach, sunsets, shaka hand signals.

During our conceptual exploration, we discovered a symbol that would become the philosophical and visual heart of the Travous brand: the shaka hand sign. Far more than a simple gesture, the shaka originates from Hawaiian culture and carries a rich tapestry of meaning. It represents friendship, community, mutual respect, and a laid-back approach to shared experiences. This symbol became our beacon, illuminating the core values of the Travous brand.

The shaka allowed us to articulate a brand personality that was simultaneously playful and profound. It embodied an approach to travel that was collaborative and inclusive, adventurous yet easygoing, and fundamentally focused on human connection.

Master logo lockup for Travous, showing our shaka hand signal and warm, rounded font.
Logo development of the shaka hand signal, showing the progression of logo design.

We paired the logomark with the expressive and individual Recoleta Alt type family, and specifically the Medium and Regular weights.

Recoleta Alt type specimen in Medium and Regular weights.
Master logo lockup for Travous, on gradient blue-purple background.
Travous logo as an app icon example.
Travous logo app icon shown on iPhone screen mockup.
Email example for Travous, showing our logo design, tagline conten, hand with a thumbs up, and button.
Colour palette showing five blue-purple colours next to the image of a sunset.
Four brand icons on gradient blue-purple background.
Billboard mockup for Travous, showing our branding including master logo lockup, tagline, key visual and website.
Tote bag design for Travous, including the tagline and master logo lockup.
T-shirt design for Travous, showing the master logo lockup on a white background.
Lady walking on sand with a shaka hand signal with a sand board.
Train card advertisement illustrating our branding for Travous, including the master logo lockup, tagline, key visual and website.
Bucket hat mockup showing our logomark design for Travous brand identity.
Person sitting on stairs wearing a white shirt with purple graphics, a brown cap, and sneakers.
Woman with her hands in the air, showing the shaka hand signal on both as she walks away from the camera in the early evening with a bridge in the background and a gradient skyline.
Branded poster designs for Travous, on mockups within the London Underground.
Poster design mockup for Travous, with a thumbs up hand signal, master logo lockup and website.
Two surfers at sunrise, walking across the image one ahead facing the camera with their left hand up showing the shaka sign.
Four purple brand icons for Travous, on a folded piece of white paper resting on the top of a car.
Train advert for Travous showing three brand icons, tagline, copy, master logo lockup and website on a gradient blue-purple background.

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