Cast Cab

Guided by my research question- How might we improve how models and photographers are booked in real-time to increase supply to startups needing marketing content? Our first step was understanding the existing talent booking landscape through contextual inquiry field research at creative industry events and competitive analysis of platforms like Ubooker, Swipecast, Model Mayhem, and Modl App. The research strategy includes fieldwork and engagement with photographers and models. I traveled to photoshoots and creative events to observe industry dynamics firsthand. I complemented this with an extensive review analysis of competing platforms. While apps like Model Mayhem dominated the market, none had successfully addressed the dual needs of efficiency and professional standards. Competitive research: I also analyzed app review comments in the app store, focusing on comments like “I would have given it five stars if it did…” we identified concrete improvement opportunities that would differentiate Cast Cab from existing solutions.

My research identified three critical opportunity areas. First, existing verification processes were either too restrictive (limiting scalability) or loose (compromising safety). Second, while providing valuable services, traditional agency models created unnecessary barriers through high commissions and limited direct communication. Third, despite the prevalence of social media portfolios, booking platforms require redundant profile creation. User surveys revealed significant digital behavior patterns, with 95% of potential users actively using Instagram and 34% preferring it for authentication. The existing booking ecosystem was particularly challenging for three user types: part-time professionals struggling with availability management, specialized creators needing targeted talent searches, and emerging artists lacking agency representation. We organized these research findings into actionable design priorities through affinity mapping sessions. These insights presented design intervention opportunities in developing a platform that maintained professional standards while removing unnecessary friction from the booking process. We established three essential requirements: real-time booking capability, streamlined verification that balances safety with accessibility, and seamless integration with existing social media portfolios. Our design intervention focused on independent creatives and small businesses as our primary target users, based on research showing existing solutions most underserved them. With 95% of users active on Instagram and 35% maintaining monetized accounts, we identified an opportunity to leverage existing digital behaviors rather than creating entirely new ones.

Our prototyping process progressed from low-fidelity wireframes focusing on core booking flows to high-fidelity mockups incorporating visual design elements. Each iteration was validated through user testing, particularly concerning the verification process and onboarding experience. A pivotal moment came during expert evaluation using Nielsen’s Heuristics, where feedback from industry professionals challenged our initial positioning against traditional agencies and emphasized the role agencies played in the career development of models and photographers. Initially, the team and I had viewed traditional agencies as obstacles, but additional insights revealed their valuable role in talent development and career guidance. This led to the incorporation of educational resources and career development tools that complemented rather than replaced agency services. Implementation followed a phased approach, beginning with Instagram authentication integration and followed by the booking system, verification process, and payment infrastructure. Technical challenges included developing a verification system and creating a reliable availability management system.