UX DESIGN
UX DESIGN
Orbit
Orbit
Orbit
What if booking a trip to Mars felt as easy as booking a flight to Barcelona?
What if booking a trip to Mars felt as easy as booking a flight to Barcelona?
The starting point
The starting point
A speculative UX project. The setting is sci-fi, the design thinking is not. I wanted to see how far familiar travel patterns could stretch before they stopped making sense.
A speculative UX project. The setting is sci-fi, the design thinking is not. I wanted to see how far familiar travel patterns could stretch before they stopped making sense.
A speculative UX project. The setting is sci-fi, the design thinking is not. I wanted to see how far familiar travel patterns could stretch before they stopped making sense.
The problem
The problem
When a destination is genuinely unknown, a planet you can't picture at human scale, standard booking flows stop working. The gap between "I'm curious" and "I'm deciding" becomes impossible to cross. The real challenge was cognitive.
When a destination is genuinely unknown, a planet you can't picture at human scale, standard booking flows stop working. The gap between "I'm curious" and "I'm deciding" becomes impossible to cross. The real challenge was cognitive.
When a destination is genuinely unknown, a planet you can't picture at human scale, standard booking flows stop working. The gap between "I'm curious" and "I'm deciding" becomes impossible to cross. The real challenge was cognitive.
Three kinds of users
Three kinds of users
The same flow had to work for three very different mindsets.
The Explorer
They're browsing. They need to feel the possibility of a place before they're asked to evaluate it.
The Evaluator
They're comparing. They need the right information in the right order, price, duration, departure options.
The Committer
They have decided. They just need it to go smoothly.
The same flow had to work for three very different mindsets.
The Explorer
They're browsing. They need to feel the possibility of a place before they're asked to evaluate it.
The Evaluator
They're comparing. They need the right information in the right order, price, duration, departure options.
The Committer
They have decided. They just need it to go smoothly.
The same flow had to work for three very different mindsets.
The Explorer
They're browsing. They need to feel the possibility of a place before they're asked to evaluate it.
The Evaluator
They're comparing. They need the right information in the right order, price, duration, departure options.
The Committer
They have decided. They just need it to go smoothly.
How I got there
How I got there
I borrowed the flow people already know: explore, compare, book, confirm. That way the interface could spend its energy on the unfamiliar parts instead of re-teaching the familiar ones. Then I stress-tested every step.
I borrowed the flow people already know: explore, compare, book, confirm. That way the interface could spend its energy on the unfamiliar parts instead of re-teaching the familiar ones. Then I stress-tested every step.
I borrowed the flow people already know: explore, compare, book, confirm. That way the interface could spend its energy on the unfamiliar parts instead of re-teaching the familiar ones. Then I stress-tested every step.
The decisions that shaped it
The decisions that shaped it
Some destinations are unselectable on purpose. Earth and Jupiter are visible but unbookable. When users can see what they can't do, what they can do feels more real.
Some destinations are unselectable on purpose. Earth and Jupiter are visible but unbookable. When users can see what they can't do, what they can do feels more real.
Some destinations are unselectable on purpose. Earth and Jupiter are visible but unbookable. When users can see what they can't do, what they can do feels more real.
Spaceships work like ticket classes. Different vessels, different prices, different conditions. Same logic you'd already use to pick a seat on a flight.
Spaceships work like ticket classes. Different vessels, different prices, different conditions. Same logic you'd already use to pick a seat on a flight.
Spaceships work like ticket classes. Different vessels, different prices, different conditions. Same logic you'd already use to pick a seat on a flight.
Information appears gradually. Journey times measured in months, no possibility of a quick return: these facts are real but they don't all need to land at once. Each screen carries only what's needed for the next decision.
Information appears gradually. Journey times measured in months, no possibility of a quick return: these facts are real but they don't all need to land at once. Each screen carries only what's needed for the next decision.
Information appears gradually. Journey times measured in months, no possibility of a quick return: these facts are real but they don't all need to land at once. Each screen carries only what's needed for the next decision.
What stuck with me
What stuck with me
Familiar patterns can carry users pretty far into strange territory, as long as the rules are clear, the information is paced and the interface earns trust before it asks for commitment.
When the context is fictional, every decision has to justify itself. That's a useful thing to stress-test.
Familiar patterns can carry users pretty far into strange territory, as long as the rules are clear, the information is paced and the interface earns trust before it asks for commitment.
When the context is fictional, every decision has to justify itself. That's a useful thing to stress-test.
Familiar patterns can carry users pretty far into strange territory, as long as the rules are clear, the information is paced and the interface earns trust before it asks for commitment.
When the context is fictional, every decision has to justify itself. That's a useful thing to stress-test.
Let's connect!
Let's connect!
Let's connect!
carabottoalice@gmail.com
carabottoalice@gmail.com
carabottoalice@gmail.com
Curious by nature, designer by choice
Curious by nature, designer by choice
© 2026 Alice Carabotto. All rights reserved.
© 2026 Alice Carabotto. All rights reserved.
© 2026 Alice Carabotto. All rights reserved.
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