CASE STUDY:
Responsive Redesign of Rick Steves’ Europe Website
Role:
Product Designer and Information Architect
Problem:
The Rick Steves’ Europe website was difficult to navigate across devices, limiting content discoverability and frustrating users—especially travelers seeking information on-the-go.
Action:
Led UX strategy for a full responsive redesign, conducting user interviews, surveys, and card sorts to shape a simplified, traveler-centric information architecture. Delivered wireframes, IA diagrams, and responsive layouts optimized for mobile. Validated the new structure through tree-testing and usability studies.
Result:
Led UX strategy for a full responsive redesign, conducting user interviews, surveys, and card sorts to shape a simplified, traveler-centric information architecture. Delivered wireframes, IA diagrams, and responsive layouts optimized for mobile. Validated the new structure through tree-testing and usability studies.
Summary
As Senior UX Architect and Strategist, I led the responsive redesign of the Rick Steves’ Europe website—a major travel resource serving millions of users planning European trips. The goal was to improve content discoverability, mobile usability, and task completion across devices, particularly for itinerary planning and video content access. Using a research-driven approach, I conducted user interviews, surveys, and card sorts to uncover structural and usability issues. I then guided the team through information architecture redesign, responsive interface design, and multi-platform usability testing to ensure a consistent and intuitive experience for all travelers.
-
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
-
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
-
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
-
Item description
-
Item description
Impact
The redesigned Rick Steves’ Europe website launched with a fully responsive, research-backed architecture that significantly improved content discoverability and mobile usability. The new design reduced navigation friction, boosted engagement with streaming content, and empowered users to plan trips more efficiently from any device. By aligning the digital experience with the needs of real travelers, the platform now serves as a flexible, accessible tool for users navigating Europe and the web alike.