Baylee June Mooney

Connecting travellers and local communities for fairer tourism

This project explored how design could support tourists in practising sustainability – socially, environmentally and economically – while visiting the South Pacific Islands. Vaka is a sustainable travel platform comprising a mobile app and prepaid travel card, enacted through a cohesive and vibrant design system. Together, these tools connect tourists and local communities through a transparent system that aims to keep spending local and make impact visible.

Informed by human-centred design and Self-Determination theory, this project sought to promote genuine, long-term motivation for sustainable behaviour. This was expressed through features such as sustainability-based receipts and impact tracking – enabling travellers to see the results of their contributions and feel connected to the communities they support, moving beyond surface-level incentives.

By reframing tourism from passive consumerism to active responsibility, Vaka proposes a tangible, transparent way for travellers to participate in fairer tourism economies and support thriving tropical destinations for generations to come.