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.
Solution
Petpal offers dog owners:
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
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
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:
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:
Safety is the top priority
Experience matters
Clear communication
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.
Profile Setup
Users create detailed dog profiles with age, breed, and specific needs.
Matching System
Match dog owners with walkers based on personalized criteria such as walking schedules and dog personality traits.
Tracking System
Real-time updates on dog walks, including GPS tracking and bathroom break logs.
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.
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