Traillust
Role
Lead Designer/Owner
Scope
UX/UI
Web Development
Branding
Iconography
Tools
Sketch
Figma
WordPress
Year
2016
About
Traillust is a platform designed for mountain bikers to discover unique, bike-friendly accommodation near popular trails and attractions. The site aims to connect riders with lodging that meets the specific needs of cyclists, helping them plan trips that combine adventure, comfort, and convenience.
Approach
I led Traillust end-to-end as a personal project, covering brand development, UX/UI design, and full website development. My responsibilities included creating a distinctive visual identity, designing the user experience and interface, and implementing the platform on WordPress with custom features to support search, booking, and geolocation functionality.
The Challenge
The project needed to balance a bold, adventurous brand identity with a professional, reliable online experience. Users required the ability to easily search for and book accommodations, while property owners needed a way to manage listings and requests.
This necessitated a highly custom WordPress solution with mapping, geolocation, and integrated booking capabilities. Functionality that pushed it far beyond a standard WordPress template setup.
Approach
I began by developing a bold and energetic brand that resonated with the mountain biking community, incorporating visual cues that reflected adventure, freedom, and connection to nature. The brand was then applied to a fully custom WordPress site designed for both usability and scalability.
The website features a robust search and filtering system, geolocation mapping for trails and accommodations, and a booking platform that allows users to request stays and hosts to manage their listings. The UX/UI design focused on clear, intuitive navigation and visual hierarchy, ensuring the experience remained simple for both riders and property owners despite the complexity of the underlying functionality.
Impact
Although Traillust remained in beta and was never officially released, the project was an invaluable opportunity to experiment with end-to-end product design and development. It allowed me to explore creating a bold, community-focused brand, designing complex UX/UI flows, and implementing custom WordPress functionality including geolocation mapping and booking systems.
The project strengthened my skills in translating a niche concept into a cohesive digital experience, balancing creative expression with practical usability. It also provided a testbed for exploring how user needs, technical constraints, and brand identity can align in a highly custom platform—insights I continue to apply in other professional projects.
