Time Line
April - May 2023 (12 Weeks)
Research
Pets Crave Novelty Too
“Studies suggest that interaction with other animals and humans can benefit pets. Dog walking, in particular, is shown to increase social connections for both dogs and their guardians.”
--- Gee and Mueller - 2019 - A Systematic Review of Research on Pet Ownership and Animal Interactions among Older Adults.pdf)
Competitive Analysis
Limited Support for Pet Owners Beyond Basic Social Features
While there are several pet-focused platforms currently available, such as Pawmates, Meet My Doggo, and Paranu, PAWS sets itself apart by offering hyper-local information and community-driven resources specifically tailored to pet families in the immediate area.
Meet My Doggo focuses on connecting pet owners with dog walkers and sitters, which is a valuable service. However, PAWS expands beyond pet care services by helping pet owners discover nearby amenities and providing opportunities for pets to meet and socialize with other pets in their community, enhancing their overall well-being.
Paranu, often described as a dating app for pet owners, connects people based on their pets. PAWS shifts the focus to the pets themselves, helping pet owners discover resources like nearby groomers, veterinarians, and other pet-related services, while also facilitating interactions among pets and their owners.
Pawmates primarily serves as a pet social media platform but lacks the in-depth, localized content that PAWS provides. With PAWS, users can find detailed information on nearby dog parks, pet-friendly walking routes, and local pet events, fostering a sense of community and making daily pet care more convenient.
User Interview
Information Channels --- Real-time pet information
Interaction Opportunities --- Enabling pet parents to gather and exchange experience
Conclusion + Lessons Learned
Solo Project for Coursera UX Certificate
Problem
My Role
People find it hard to find New Ways to Keep their Pets Happy
As a pet parent, I sometimes worry that my pet may be bored at home, spending most of the day just eating and sleeping. This got me thinking – What can we do to help our pets live better lives?
Solution
Enriching Their Daily Lives is the Key
What is the biggest challenge you face in ensuring your pet's well-being and happiness?
5 pets owner with pets like dogs, cats and turtles etc, were interviewed. The questions were more in-depth, including their deep-level experience in dog walking, pets social needs, and their desire functions or tools that they really want.
“Winter is coming! My pet will stay at home for a longer time, and I don’t know what fun activities I can take him to nearby.”
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Hachi (Dog Owner): The owner wants a balanced social environment for Hachi, a medium-large Shiba Inu. Hachi doesn't enjoy overly crowded or empty dog parks, but regular, comfortable socialization and exercise are crucial due to their limited space at home. They also seek nearby hiking or dog-friendly spots for outdoor activities.
Casper (Cat Owner): Casper’s owner is concerned about boredom and wants opportunities for nearby socialization with other cats. Since traveling far isn't practical, they hope to connect with local cat owners for playdates or interactions.
Lulu & Nomi (Cat & Hamster Owner): The owner wants to enrich Lulu’s life through socialization and outdoor experiences, while also seeking ideas for activities for Nomi, their hamster. They are particularly interested in community recommendations for pet supplies and accessories.
Their responses have shown a keen interest in having a platform that allows them to discover nearby dogs, as this can greatly assist them in deciding when to go out. Currently, their dog walks or visits to the dog park are purely based on luck. Moreover, when it comes to weekends, they are also very eager to participate in gatherings for dogs or cats, but there is no channel available for obtaining information about these events.
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How do you currently find pet-friendly spaces and activities for your pet?
Can you describe a time when you felt your pet was particularly bored or lonely?
How do you think social interaction benefits your pet?
What would motivate you to participate in pet-related events or meetups?
What features would you find most useful in an app designed to connect you and your pet with your local community?
How often do you take your pet out for walks or to meet other pets?
What information do you find most valuable when choosing a place to take your pet?
Would you be interested in joining pet-related events in your area? Why or why not?
What types of pet-friendly facilities or spaces would you like to see more of in your neighborhood?
The Main Insight
My interviewees Need to Create More Opportunities for Pets to Socialize and Explore
These challenges highlight the need for a dedicated platform that offers richer, more personalized information and greater opportunities for socialization and interaction among pets and their owners. Since pets don’t have the same ability as humans to independently go out, find fun activities, or make new friends, it’s up to their owners to help them access more local information.
Social Environment
Most pet owners rely solely on neighborhood walks or visits to dog parks as the primary means of socialization for their pets.
Small pets like cats, rabbits, and others lack dedicated spaces or activities tailored for their social needs.
Information Channels
People typically use Google Maps to find nearby pet-friendly locations, but the information provided is often limited.
Even if a pet owner wants their dog to play with a specific dog they previously met (like a white-furred one), there's no way to guarantee another encounter—it’s purely by chance.
There's no specialized platform like Yelp for pet owners to share information and experiences.
Interaction Opportunities
Dog owners usually rely on dog parks for random interactions with other pets.
Other types of pets have fewer opportunities for socialization, often limited to friends or acquaintances.
Occasional pet exhibitions tend to be large-scale, official events primarily catering to cats and dogs, leaving smaller pets without similar opportunities.
Persona
Design
Possible solution
Social Environment --- Online Dating App Platform
Version 1
Version 1
Version 2
Information
Allowing users to find real-time pet-related information more conveniently. This includes nearby pet-friendly stores, shared walking routes, and the live locations of nearby pets and their owners. In Version 2, you transformed the information display into a card-based format, making it easier to browse and access essential details in a familiar, organized layout. This update improves the efficiency of socialization by offering clear, actionable insights directly from a familiar map interface.
Version 2
Version 1
Final Design
Social page
From a basic information interface to a more engaging swipe-style design, similar to dating apps. This allows pet owners to quickly browse and connect with nearby pets, making socialization more efficient. By offering real-time pet information, the platform reduces the randomness of encounters and helps pet owners schedule meetups and share advice more easily.
Version 2
Events
The final page is the Events interface, designed to allow users to join and host small pet gatherings, making meetups easier and more enjoyable. Pet owners can organize or discover local events, simplifying the process of socializing their pets. Additionally, the platform can provide official themed events and activities to encourage participation, creating a more engaging and fun experience for both pets and their owners.
UI banding design
Hand Off
Log in and Sign up process
Main Function pages
Try it out !
At the beginning of this project, I often found myself going in circles with my thoughts, struggling to align the content around the true insights. I frequently got caught up in unnecessary details, which led to wasted time in revisions. Instead of focusing on the bigger picture, I spent too much time refining small elements before having a clear structure for the overall experience.
In future projects, I hope to think more deeply about exploring different ways to express my ideas. By considering a variety of approaches and formats, I aim to find the most effective way to communicate insights and solutions. This will not only enhance the clarity of my storytelling but also allow me to present concepts in a more creative and engaging manner.
Thank you for reading this far
