Role
Product Designer
Tool
Figma
Adobe X
Duration
20 weeks
When pet owners try to locate their missing pets quickly, they often encounter issues related to expediting the sharing of information through the assistance of neighbors and Pet ID networks. The central challenge lies in accelerating the information dissemination process.
I developed a platform that enables owners of lost pets to share information about their missing animals within their neighborhood, facilitating a faster reunion with their pets. Additionally, this platform allows others to sign up and assist in the search for lost pets.
The core of the challenge was "spreading missing pet information quickly," surrounded by several tasks. For example, it involves spreading pet information to nearby locations, finding volunteers to help, verifying located pets, shopping for identification cards, etc. I wanted to avoid jumping right into ideating concepts based on assumptions. Instead, I tried to understand as much of the finding pet process as possible in this limited time to ensure my idea was practical and valuable to users.
Interview
Missing a pet is an anxiety-inducing experience. There are many uncertainties and limited resources. I conducted two offline interviews from my neighborhood and three online questionnaire-style interviews with strangers. For better generalizability, I tried to have people from different species of pets and different states.
For the script, I let participants elaborate on their methods to find the missing pets and which method they thought was most successful. I can pinpoint the most common USER FLOWS and spot the PAIN POINTS.
The offline interviews were conducted in-person, in which the participant went through details of different tasks surrounding the topic.
Persona Development After Interviews.
There were three frequently mentioned elements:
1) The pets were usually found close to the neighborhood.
2) Social media and friend groups are the ones that help the pet owner to find the pet.
3) Gathering people to lend a hand is highly crucial in finding the pet.
I set my scope toDesktop and Mobilebecause the participants' ages vary. Some older demographics and vet facilities might like to use the desktop version. At the same time, the mobile version allows more mobility for users on the move. I created the following two personas based on my interaction with interviewees.
Competitive Analysis and Market Research
I look at existing solutions to see how they handle the issues. I picked the highest-rated apps and websites offering lost and found solutions for pets. And here are 4 of them.
I also looked up some data from ASPCA, which revealed that if we target neighborhoods more, the chances of finding your pet would be higher.
Proposed Flow
I proposed two user flows, one for reporting missing pets and one for reporting found pets.
During the design brainstorming stage, I combined everything I had collected- personas, pain points, experience, and the flows. I started roughly sketching out concepts.
Low fidelity prototype. I obtained some heuristic feedback from my peers during this stage before starting high-fidelity design.
In Flow 1, we emphasize enhancing pet owners' experience when reporting a lost pet. Recognizing the time-sensitive nature of missing pets, we have strategically positioned the reporting form on the homepage for convenient access. Users can report a lost pet by selecting the "lost pet" option on the homepage. Before submission, users must undergo a swift registration process to input their information into the system.
In Flow 2, our attention is directed towards individuals assisting in reuniting found pets with their owners. Like Flow 1, users can report a found pet by selecting the "found pet" feature on the homepage. Additionally, they can access the reporting form by navigating to the specific pet post and messaging the pet's owners. A brief registration process is required for users to submit the form and input the information into the system.
Recognizing the time-sensitive aspect of locating missing loved ones, I proposed developing a mobile version to facilitate easy access while moving. This enhancement contributes to a more streamlined and efficient task-completion process.
When determining the app's visual aesthetic, I considered the importance of imbuing PawsAlert with inspiration and positivity to resonate with animal enthusiasts. I crafted the mood board below, emphasizing the visuals' warm and collaborative atmosphere. The palette predominantly consists of warm tones, complemented by subtle accent colors.
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PawsAlert is currently in its early developmental stages and is far from completion.
1) Flesh Out The Rest Of Functionalities
The research process highlighted the significance of timing and social feedback in the pet's lost and found experience. While my design addressed these issues, it did not fully explore and expand upon them. Adding depth to the design and testing these concepts would undoubtedly prove beneficial.
2) Design The Onboarding Process
Although I attempted to ensure clear communication in the design, users introduced to PawsAlert may feel overwhelmed by the registration process and information input. Exploring a more straightforward onboarding process would enhance the user experience.
3) Make Map-Search Feature Better
By incorporating a map feature, PawsAlert can encourage helpers to report sightings of nearby lost pets. When integrating this feature into Flow 2, exploring the user flow could significantly improve the map-search functionality.
Through this project, I learned much about the nuance of user interviews in product design.
This project provided valuable insights into the subtleties of conducting user interviews within the product design process. Every pet owner can tell you drastically different experiences. I realized the importance of meticulously planning the research and design phases to have time to delve into the heart of the challenge. The potential for more specific user data remains, prompting my intention to conduct additional interviews and gain a deeper understanding of users' distinct perspectives.
