My Framer Site

Unlike traditional booking platforms that prioritize listings, Basbous introduces a host-first model where local hosts curate collections of properties and experiences based on their expertise, region, and lifestyle.

I led the design of the customer-facing mobile experience from concept to developer handoff, translating an early business vision into a complete product covering discovery, search, booking, checkout, and interaction design.

Challenge

The stakeholder envisioned a property booking platform where users explore Lebanon through locals rather than browsing an endless catalogue of accommodations. The challenge was translating this vision into an intuitive product experience that encouraged exploration without sacrificing the efficiency users expect from a modern booking platform. This required establishing a new discovery model, defining the information architecture from scratch, and designing seamless booking flows that balanced playful interactions with usability.

Design Decisions

Translated the business vision into a host-first product model

Rather than treating hosts as secondary profile pages, I positioned them as the primary entry point into the platform. Every host curates a collection of properties and local experiences, allowing travelers to discover Lebanon through trusted recommendations instead of browsing individual listings.

This approach reinforces the platform's unique value proposition while creating a more personal alternative to traditional booking platforms.

Designed an exploration-first discovery experience

Instead of taking users directly into a conventional booking flow, I designed discovery around exploration. The homepage introduces local hosts through an interactive Lebanon map and a persistent Find Your Vibe panel featuring curated content. A short onboarding flow captures users' interests to personalize these recommendations. Users can then refine their search by location, governorate, or curated vibes, supported by a consistent taxonomy that connects hosts, properties, and experiences.

Reduced cognitive load with a progressive checkout flow

Booking accommodations requires users to review reservation details, provide guest information, and complete payment.
Rather than presenting these tasks within a single screen, I divided checkout into three focused steps:

Booking Summary
Guest Information
Payment Method

Breaking the process into smaller tasks reduces cognitive load, keeps progress visible, and allows users to focus on one decision at a time.

Used interaction design to reinforce exploration

Interaction design became an essential part of the product experience rather than simply adding visual polish. I designed detailed interactive prototypes to define map transitions, host interactions, bottom sheets, search behaviors, loading states, and navigation patterns, ensuring a smooth user experience and clear developer handoff.

Built a playful visual language without compromising usability

I combined vibrant colors, expressive illustrations, and consistent UI patterns to create a memorable brand experience while maintaining clarity, accessibility, and ease of use.

Reflection

Designing Basbous reinforced that successful product design begins with defining the product model, not just the interface. Transforming an early business concept into a complete booking experience required translating an abstract vision into intuitive user journeys, information architecture, and interaction patterns that supported the entire experience, from discovery through checkout.

As a zero-to-one product, this project strengthened my ability to balance business goals, user needs, and technical considerations while delivering a developer-ready product.

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2026