Aeris
From Screen to Scene • Story-Driven TravelOnline
Stop Googling. Start exploring. Aeris transforms movies into real-world adventures—letting travelers live the stories they love.
This project is still being developed.
Case study in progress...
The Problem Space
Where cinematic magic sparked wonder, logistics brought frustration.
Movies spark wanderlust in seconds. But trying to find filming locations? That magic often fades into Google rabbit holes, broken maps, and endless tabs. Dreams collapse under logistics before journeys even begin.
Fragmented InformationFilm sites are buried across random blogs, forums, and outdated pages—hard to find, harder to trust.
Clumsy NavigationStitching online info into a real-world adventure involves painful planning, detours, and dead ends.
Broken MagicThat wide-eyed excitement dims when the journey feels harder than the destination was worth.
Film inspires wanderlust. Aeris was built to protect that spark—and turn dreams into effortless discovery.
Market Research & Opportunity
The perfect storm: travel revival + cinematic wanderlust = Aeris's opportunity.
Post-COVID Travel ReboundInternational tourist arrivals are only down 37% compared to 2019 (UNWTO).
Film Tourism GrowthFilm-driven tourism remains largely untapped, with major profit potential (Future Market Insights).
Streamed Entertainment Inspires Travel40% of travelers are inspired by movies/TV shows—more than social media’s 31% (Expedia).
Traveler Behavior68% of U.S. travelers considered visiting a destination after seeing it in a show (Expedia).
User Research
We validated the opportunity through user surveys and behavioral studies:
Key Findings- 100%: Film and location information is crucial
- 65%: Want flexibility and customization
- 65%: Will try film-related activities
- 33%: Value spontaneous discovery
- 33%: Appreciate easy navigation
- 65%: Want flexibility and customization
- 65%: Will try film-related activities
- 33%: Value spontaneous discovery
- 33%: Appreciate easy navigation
User Archetypes- Serendipitous Explorer: Stumbles onto magic.
- Casual Participant: Willing explorer.
- Enthusiast: Seeks out locations intentionally.
- Casual Participant: Willing explorer.
- Enthusiast: Seeks out locations intentionally.
Users weren’t asking for better databases. They were chasing emotional discovery.
How Might We
- How might we offer a more spontaneous process for “Film Tourist”?
- How might we reduce cognitive load on travelers?
- How might we Create and enhance an immersive traveling experience?
Building Aeris
From the beginning, we asked ourselves: What if planning a film-inspired trip could feel as magical as watching the movie itself?
Concepting the Brand
- Aeris: Derived from Latin, symbolizing travel and soaring adventures.
- Visual Identity: Playful purple hues sparking curiosity, rounded logo echoing a location pin and the journey’s end.
- Tone: Bold, bubbly, and welcoming—inviting users to explore new worlds.
Widget IntegrationSeamlessly prompts users during their favorite shows: “Explore filming locations near you.” One click, and the journey begins.
Standalone AppA dedicated hub offering AR-guided navigation, deep location stories, and movie scene recreation tools—all in one place.
Aeris wasn’t just another travel app. It was a portal into the worlds people already loved—and a new way to live their favorite stories.
The Testing Phase: Learning by Doing
Listening to the pulse of excitement.
We didn’t build Aeris in a vacuum. We unleashed it early—and often—into the wild. Every sketch, every prototype, every stumble gave us fresh clues about how users wanted to move through cinematic worlds.
Prototyping & Testing Highlights
- Started scrappy: paper wireframes and rough flows to test curiosity triggers.
- Mapped a full "day in the life" of a film explorer—from couch to crosswalk.
- Prioritized emotional moments: the first "wow," the first real-world discovery, the first recreated scene.
A Day in the Life of an Aeris Explorer
- Launches Aeris from a streaming widget during a favorite movie.
- Spontaneously plans a filming-location day trip within minutes.
- Uses AR navigation to walk straight onto a real-world set.
- Recreates an iconic scene—and captures a little magic of their own.
What We Learned:
- Dark mode deepened immersion—light mode felt too "app" not "adventure."
- Navigation needed fewer taps; magic needed fewer obstacles.
- Discovery moments had an emotional weight—we had to honor that spark.
The Challenges
Every great story has its plot twists. Aeris was no different. Some hurdles pushed us to think smarter, adapt faster, and stay true to the magic we were building.
Time CrunchWith only 10 weeks, we had to ruthlessly prioritize. Building a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) meant focusing on essentials—without losing sight of the wonder we wanted users to feel.
The Dark Mode LessonOur first prototypes launched in light mode. But early feedback made it clear: cinematic experiences thrive in dark environments. By pivoting to dark mode, we instantly aligned Aeris with the visual language of film—and user expectations.
Challenges weren’t roadblocks. They were signposts—guiding Aeris toward something richer, more cinematic, and more connected to the emotional journey we set out to create.
The Final Experience
After countless iterations, pivots, and lessons, Aeris took flight: a cinematic portal crafted for explorers, dreamers, and storytellers alike.
Typography & ColorsPlayful yet polished. A palette of rich purples, dark gradients, and vibrant accents to evoke curiosity, magic, and movement—just like the films that inspired us.
Brand PersonalityBold, adventurous, and welcoming. Aeris feels like a cinematic sidekick—always nudging users toward the next unforgettable scene.
AR-Guided ToursNavigate filming locations with augmented reality—turning real streets into movie sets.
Scene Recreation FiltersSnap your own version of iconic movie scenes using integrated AR filters that overlay cinematic magic onto real life.
Smart Trip PlanningBuild personalized film-inspired journeys with curated itineraries, real-world maps, and proximity-based discovery.
Aeris isn’t just an app. It’s an invitation: to step beyond the screen and write yourself into the story.
The Takeaways
Aeris taught us that building something magical doesn’t start with grand gestures—it starts with relentless focus on real human moments. Moments of wonder. Moments of frustration. Moments of discovery.
Focus MattersWith only 10 weeks, every idea had to fight for survival. Prioritizing user needs—over ambition—was the key to building something meaningful.
Design Is IterativeThe best ideas weren’t always the first ones. They came from listening, testing, failing, and trying again—always staying anchored to the user journey.
The Future of Aeris
- Expand partnerships with streaming platforms to surface Aeris directly while users watch.
- Grow the location database globally, embracing new genres and hidden gems.
- Incorporate emerging technologies to deepen the sense of immersion—think VR previews or AI-curated scene matches.
At Aeris, we believe the world is your set. Where will your favorite movie take you next?
References
Curious to learn more about film tourism and travel trends? Here's where our insights came from:
- UNWTO (United Nations World Tourism Organization) — International Tourism Recovery Report (2022).
- Future Market Insights — Global Film Tourism Sector Analysis.
- Expedia Group — 2024 Traveler Trends and Behaviors Report.
- Aeris User Research — Internal surveys and behavioral studies (n=30 participants).
- Aeris Usability Testing — Early prototype studies (n=15 participants).
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