Puppal - Connecting Dog Owners with Dog Walkers

Work Project

Pet

B2C

Mobile App

Puppal - Connecting Dog Owners with Dog Walkers

Work Project

Pet

B2C

Mobile App

Puppal-
A Mobile App for Dog Walkers

Work Project

Pet

B2C

Mobile App

Petpal is a mobile app designed to connect busy dog owners with suitable dog walkers in Taiwan. The app addresses the challenge of finding trustworthy individuals to walk dogs, especially for owners with long working hours.

MY ROLE

UI/UX designer : User Research, User Interview, Hi-fi Mockups, Prototyping

DURATION

Oct 2023 - Nov 2023

OVERVIEW

Objectives

• Solve the problem of dog owners needing help to walk their dogs.Provide a seamless platform to • match dog owners with dog walkers who meet their specific needs.

Problem Space

Dog owners often struggle to find reliable dog walkers due to their busy lifestyles and a lack of trusted options.

Goal:

Create a platform that connects dog owners with trusted dog walkers anytime, anywhere, based on lifestyle, preferences, and proximity.

Goal:

Create a platform that connects dog owners with trusted dog walkers anytime, anywhere, based on lifestyle, preferences, and proximity.

Goal:

Create a platform that connects dog owners with trusted dog walkers anytime, anywhere, based on lifestyle, preferences, and proximity.

Solution

Petpal offers dog owners:

  1. Trustworthy dog walkers.

  1. Trustworthy dog walkers.

  1. Trustworthy dog walkers.

  1. Customizable scheduling and matching based on dog owners' needs.

  1. Customizable scheduling and matching based on dog owners' needs.

  1. Customizable scheduling and matching based on dog owners' needs.

  1. Clear communication with real-time updates during walks.

  1. Clear communication with real-time updates during walks.

  1. Clear communication with real-time updates during walks.

Key Features:

• Search for dog walkers by location, availability, and user reviews.

• Real-time updates on walks, including distance traveled, times, and bathroom breaks.

• User-friendly interface to quickly create a dog profile for personalized matching.

• Verification system for both walkers and owners for safety and transparency.

Challenges

Trust and Safety

Dog owners were really concerned about trusting strangers with their pets. We tackled this by adding a solid verification system for both walkers and owners, making sure everyone felt secure.

Trust and Safety

Dog owners were really concerned about trusting strangers with their pets. We tackled this by adding a solid verification system for both walkers and owners, making sure everyone felt secure.

Trust and Safety

Dog owners were really concerned about trusting strangers with their pets. We tackled this by adding a solid verification system for both walkers and owners, making sure everyone felt secure.

Balancing Simplicity and Features

The app needed to be easy to use but still offer enough control for seasoned users. I focused on keeping the onboarding simple, with extra options available if people wanted more customization.

Balancing Simplicity and Features

The app needed to be easy to use but still offer enough control for seasoned users. I focused on keeping the onboarding simple, with extra options available if people wanted more customization.

Balancing Simplicity and Features

The app needed to be easy to use but still offer enough control for seasoned users. I focused on keeping the onboarding simple, with extra options available if people wanted more customization.

Feedback with Limited Resources

I didn’t have a huge testing group, but I worked with what I had. I prioritized critical feedback and made sure the core functions—like user verification and communication—worked seamlessly.

Feedback with Limited Resources

I didn’t have a huge testing group, but I worked with what I had. I prioritized critical feedback and made sure the core functions—like user verification and communication—worked seamlessly.

Feedback with Limited Resources

I didn’t have a huge testing group, but I worked with what I had. I prioritized critical feedback and made sure the core functions—like user verification and communication—worked seamlessly.

Process & Research

Research Goals

• Learn as much as possible about our potential users.

• Understand current solutions in Taiwan and the competitors.

• What type of digital solution is desired, and makes the most sense?

• Determine if and how we can leverage new technology and innovation

Dog owners were really concerned about trusting strangers with their pets.

Competitor Analysis

Compared features with local competitors, such as PetBecker and Fluv, to improve user verification and scheduling processes.

Insights from Research

Top priorities

Safety, trust, and clear communication between owners and walkers.

Top priorities

Safety, trust, and clear communication between owners and walkers.

Top priorities

Safety, trust, and clear communication between owners and walkers.

Demographics

Urban/suburban dog owners with demanding jobs.

Demographics

Urban/suburban dog owners with demanding jobs.

Demographics

Urban/suburban dog owners with demanding jobs.

Behavioral Goals

Provide peace of mind and efficient time management for dog owners.

Behavioral Goals

Provide peace of mind and efficient time management for dog owners.

Behavioral Goals

Provide peace of mind and efficient time management for dog owners.

Taget Users

Our ideal users are middle-to-upper-class, urban and suburban dog owners with busy lifestyles, who need convenient, trustworthy dog-walking services. They value:

Behaviors

Research-driven and emotionally invested.

Preferences:

Research-driven and emotionally invested.

Behaviors

Research-driven and emotionally invested.

Needs

Trust, transparency, safety, and flexibility.

Needs

Trust, transparency, safety, and flexibility.

Needs

Trust, transparency, safety, and flexibility.

Goals

Peace of mind and efficient time management.

Goals

Peace of mind and efficient time management.

Goals

Peace of mind and efficient time management.

Asked targeted questions to guide our design

We prioritize these questions to baseon the impact and effort:

• HMW help dog owners easily weigh their options when choosing a walker?

• HMW ensure seamless understanding between dog owners and walkers regarding specific pet needs and schedules?

• HMW allow dog owners to feel in control over where their dogs are taken?

• HMW build a trusting relationship between the dog walker and the owner from the outset?

• HMW make the platform intuitive, ensuring dog owners feel confident navigating essential features?

4 Requirements:

  1. Safety is the top priority

  1. Experience matters

  1. Clear communication

  1. Authenticity and Transparency

Design

From our HMW exploration, we identified the following key features to enhance the user experience.

And ensured that the design addressed the most critical user needs, such as easy navigation, clear communication, and building trust between walkers and owners.

  1. Profile Setup

Users create detailed dog profiles with age, breed, and specific needs.

  1. Matching System

Match dog owners with walkers based on personalized criteria such as walking schedules and dog personality traits.

  1. Tracking System

Real-time updates on dog walks, including GPS tracking and bathroom break logs.

  1. Push Notifications

Alerts for important updates, such as walker arrival, walk status, and messages.

Takeaways

This project taught me how essential it is to empathize with users and keep designs focused. Simple solutions often solve the biggest problems, and collaboration with engineers and stakeholders is key to success.

Thanks for dropping by!

Thanks for dropping by!

Get in touch!

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