CONTEXT
Duration
8 Weeks
Roles
Researcher, UX Designer, and UI Designer
Tools:
Figma
FigJAm
Google Forms
How can redesigning the Nepal Tourism Board website make tourism information more accessible and engaging?
Tourism plays a vital role in Nepal’s economy, but the current Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) website struggles with outdated design, poor navigation, and scattered information. The challenge was to rethink the website with a user-centered approach to better serve international travelers, local visitors, and stakeholders.
What is NTB Redesign?
The NTB redesign is a modern, user-friendly web experience aimed at inspiring and informing travelers while simplifying access to resources. The goal was to prioritize storytelling, psychological engagement, and intuitive navigation so visitors can quickly find what they need, whether it’s trip inspiration or travel information.
SOLUTION
Clear, intuitive navigation. Inspiring visual storytelling. Seamless access to resources.
The redesigned NTB website emphasizes simplicity and emotional engagement. It showcases Nepal’s destinations with compelling imagery, helps travelers plan with structured resources, and builds trust through transparency and accessibility.
FEATURES
Homepage Storytelling Flow
The homepage was restructured to follow a psychological journey: attract attention with hero visuals, build interest through stories.
Smart Information Architecture
Navigation was reorganized around traveler goals (e.g., “Places to visit,” “Things to do,” “Plan Your Trip ”) instead of organizational silos.
User-Centered Content
Key sections were rewritten for clarity, avoiding jargon, and focusing on user needs like maps, and practical tips.
RESEARCH
Target Users
International travelers exploring Nepal for the first time
Local tourists planning domestic trips
Travel agencies and stakeholders looking for resources
Initial Goals
My research showed that travelers were frustrated by information overload and outdated design. To gather deeper insights, I conducted surveys and interviews to understand pain points in planning a trip to Nepal through the current NTB website.
User Survey
The survey with 12+ travelers revealed:
58% thought that information is scattered throughout internet.
33.3% couldn’t find reliable blog or local voices.
16.7% struggled to find practical travel info (visas, permit).
Journey Mapping
I mapped the journey of an international traveler planning a trip, to uncover gaps in storytelling and usability.
DEFINE
Pain Points
Outdated layout and difficult navigation.
Lack of engaging visuals and storytelling.
Scattered travel essentials (visa, safety, transport).
No clear guidance for planning itineraries.
How might we?
How might we redesign NTB’s homepage to inspire trust and curiosity?
How might we simplify access to essential travel information?
How might we balance emotional storytelling with practical usability?
IDEATION
User Flows
Redesigned user flows to help travelers quickly navigate from “inspiration” to “planning” without friction.
Sketch Wireframes
Created low-fidelity wireframes to explore navigation and layout improvements.
Mid-Fidelity Prototype
The mid-fi prototype allowed testing of homepage prioritization, navigation clarity, and storytelling balance before moving to high fidelity designs.
FEATURES
Homepage Redesign
A hero section with breathtaking visuals of Nepal, followed by structured sections: “Top Experiences,” “Explore by Season,” “Explore by Region,” and “Top Experiences.”
Trip Planning Hub
A centralized section for travel essentials (visas, maps, safety tips, transportation) designed to save time and reduce confusion.
Destination Pages
Rich, visual storytelling for each region of Nepal with itineraries, cultural highlights, and activities.
BRANDING
View Fullsize
The redesign focuses on a balance between modern simplicity and cultural identity.
To achieve this, I introduced subtle cultural motifs:
Dhaka Topi-inspired footer texture adds authenticity and a handcrafted feel.
Nepal Flag’s sun icon is reinterpreted as a decorative accent in titles and bullet points.
These details create a sense of national pride while maintaining a clean, user-friendly layout.
Typography
Lora & Poppins
These two typefaces were chosen to balance tradition and modernity. Lora’s warm, organic forms evoke Nepal’s cultural heritage and authenticity, while Poppins brings clarity and a clean, contemporary look. Together, they create a visual harmony that connects the past with the present, appealing to both local and global audiences.
Compared to Playfair Display, Lora has sturdier letterforms that make it more versatile and readable. Although it offers fewer style variants, it works well for titles and pairs seamlessly with Poppins for supporting text.
Color Palatte
The color palette combines modern neutrality with symbolic tones drawn from Nepal’s identity:
Blue (#184B9E): Inspired by the deep blue in Nepal’s national flag, representing trust, harmony, and stability.
Green (#E3F1DC): Reflects Nepal’s rich natural landscapes and environmental beauty.
Dark Neutrals (#1E2C43, #26282D): Provide depth and contrast for better readability.
Gray (#969696) and White (#FFFFFF): Maintain balance and ensure a clean, modern layout.
These colors work together to evoke calmness and credibility while celebrating Nepal’s heritage and nature.
Mobile
CONCLUSION
Looking Ahead
The redesign has been extended to mobile, creating a seamless experience across devices. The responsive layout ensures travelers can access essential information anytime, anywhere — whether they’re planning at home or exploring Nepal on the go.
Future improvements could include:
Integrating live updates for weather, safety alerts, and festivals.
Adding localized recommendations from nearby destinations.
Building a content management system for NTB staff to easily update content.
Takeaways
Working on the NTB redesign deepened my understanding of how storytelling and usability come together in a tourism platform. Creating both desktop and mobile versions helped me focus on clarity, hierarchy, and emotional engagement at every screen size.
Blending cultural design accents like the Dhaka topi pattern and the Nepal flag sun motif with modern UI elements made the site feel authentically Nepali yet globally accessible.
By focusing on travelers’ needs and emotional connection, the redesigned NTB website transforms from a static information portal into an inspiring digital gateway to Nepal.