Transforming user research into an engaging narrative
A collaborative client project that involved designing and printing a book to be distributed internally within the largest industrial manufacturing company in Europe.
Project Overview
Problem
Pet parents struggle to feel connected to their pets while they are away and feel they want more general and health updates.
Process
Market research and user interviews uncovered challenges in managing pet health. Insights and user journey maps guided the design from low-fidelity wireframes to mid-fidelity Figma prototypes. The MVP was refined through iterative testing, with high-fidelity prototypes showcasing the app’s functionality.
Solution
A social mobile app for pet parents to share updates on their pet's health and well-being through posts, messaging and health tracking.
Context
Pet ownership is on the rise, reflecting on how important pets have become.
This deep connection highlights the significant potential for pet care solutions
of U.S. households own a pet in 2024.
worry about their pets when they’re away.
(APPA, 2022-2024)
Research & User Interviews
User interviews were a key part of building my insights. Throughout the design process, in total 7 individuals were interviewed, consisting of cat and dog owners. After synthesizing the information gathered from initial interviews and desk research, 4 meta insights were uncovered.
Meta Insights Uncovered
01
Pet owners are looking for ways to track their pets health.
02
Pet owners seek advice and support outside of vet visits.
03
Pet owners often share the responsibility of their pets health with someone else.
04
Pet owners want to manage their pets health documents efficiently.
Divergent Solutions
Four divergent low-fidelity solutions were explored and tested based on the META insights: Daily Tracking, AI Scanning, Pet Family Connect, Pet Wallet.
Low-fidelity Prototypes
Concept 1:
Daily Health Tracking
Encourage daily health tracking and collect data over a time, to monitor patterns and health concerns.
Concept 2:
AI Health Scanning
Scan your pets skin, body or eyes and use AI to determine the issue and share concerns directly with a vet.
Concept 3:
Pet Family Connect
Connect owners and carers together to share updates and medical concerns on a single platform.
Concept 4:
Pet Wallet
Keep all pet documents in the same digital place which can be easily accessed and shared when needed.
Design Development
After testing with users, two of the solutions were favored during the interviews. Daily Tracking and Pet family connect were chosen to take into mid-fidelity prototyping.
Moving forward based on Key Findings
Daily Tracking
Tracking regularly is effective way to stay on top of pets health.
Streaks are a good motivation to use app more regularly.
Sharing data with vet is very helpful.
Pet Family Connect
The social approach is very personal and “cute”.
Allows effective co-ownership communication.
People want regular updates on their pet while they are away.
Mid-fidelity Prototyping & Testing
Prototype Direction A: A data-driven health tracking system with daily inputs across various health categories, providing insights into well-being trends over time which can be downloaded or shared.
Prototype Direction B: A social health tracking system where pet parents from the same household/circle can post health updates, share photos, and communicate through a shared feed.
Narrowing the Scope
Messaging apps are commonly used to communicate amonst pet parents to keep to co-ordinate their pets life. Sometimes this can be regular updates or health related.
Pain Points
Updates are in between unrelated conversations making it harder to follow/come back to.
Audio message replies aren't concise for the receiver.
Opportunities
Regular photos help people feel connected when they are away.
Pet health requirements in one place easier to find and keep organized.
Concentrated 'How Might We…?' Statement.
UI Development
Paying attention the details of the user interface and checking in with users what felt the most intuitive to use directed the development.
High-fidelity Prototype Iterations
Solution
Herd is a collaborative social space for pet parenting. Stay up-to-date and organized with real-time updates on your pet's health and well-being.
Final Design
A Closer Look
Toggle on and off your away status & quickly see who's available to care for your pet.
Your pets 'herd' includes multiple pet caregivers (like family members, partners, pet-sitters) working together to track and manage your pets life.
In-App messaging creates a space just for pet chat.
Stay focused with communication solely on pet-related topics in the herd live messenger.
Nudge the herd for updates on your pet.
Nudge fellow herd members for updates on your pets to keep in the loop of their day while you are away.
What could be next for this project?
Develop design flows to accommodate multi-pet accounts.
Enhance health tracking by providing users with data insights over time.
Filtering and search functionalities for archived post data and history.
Ability to send updates outside the app (for temporary herd members, e.g pet-sitters).
Features and resources to provide support for pet end-of-life care.
