Web that helps city dwellers in finding the perfect dog to adopt
OVERVIEW
CityPups is a startup facilitating dog adoption for city dwellers, connection them with local shelters and organization dogs for adoption. It aims to enhance adoption rates, ensure owner satisfaction, and find suitable forever home for dogs.
THE PROBLEM
Urban residents face challenges in finding the right dog for adoption, considering factors like living spaces, schedules, and the city environment. Their difficulties stem from inadequate information available on dog adoption websites, particularly concerning the dog's personality and behavior
THE SOLUTION
Reflecting on my personal experience, I struggled to find a suitable dog through local websites but successfully adopted one through social media platforms like Instagram. Regular updates from the rescuer and foster helped me understand the dog's personality, making the adoption process more successful. Understanding a dog's behavior and personality is crucial in the adoption process, akin to a matching game. CityPups aims to provide comprehensive dog information, aiding city dwellers in quick and informed decisions
CLINET
CityPups
PROJECT TYPE
Conceptual
ROLE
UI/UX Designer
TEAM
Me
TIIMELINE
5-Day Design Sprint
5DAY DESIGN SPRINT
I used the 5-Day Google Ventures Design Sprint for this project to get quick design decisions and each day followed:
Day 1: Map
Affinity map
Key flow map
Day 2: Sketch
Sketches
Quick idea sketches
The crazy 8s
Day 3: Decide
Three-panel sketches
One-panel sketch
Day 4: Prototype
Hi-Fi prototype
Day 3: Test
Findings
Day 1- Understanding the Problem
Through user research and affinity mapping, I discerned the challenges users face while seeking a dog for adoption. Key considerations for users included a dog's behavior in urban settings, its compatibility with their lifestyle, and interactions with people and animals.
"Tell us about what you consider when looking for a dog to adopt."
Affinity map from user research
User pain points included:​
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​Urban Living Constraints
Small spaces, busy neighborhoods, limited outdoor areas, and demanding lifestyles
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Lack of Visual Information
Insufficient photos and videos to gauge a dog's size, energy, and personality
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Hard to Know the Personality of a Dog
Insufficient photographic and limited descriptive information
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Ambiguity in Provided Information
Decreased confidence in adopting due to unclear details
Search and Results
The user journey mapping highlighted the need to focus on enhancing the 'Search' and 'Search Results' features, offering photo-centric info pages for dog
Questions to Solve During the Design Process
I started with two questions about what I would achieve from this sprint.
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How can users confidently find their ideal dog quickly?
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How can dog personalities and information be presented clearly and easily?
Day 2 - Sketch Solutions
Inspiration from the similar and different industries
Examining various industries, including real estate websites like Zillow and Realtor, provided inspiration. Their effective presentation of product information through images and well-organized content served as a guide for CityPups' design direction
: my favorite
Lightening demos to get ideas from the inspiration
Quick idea sketches from the inspiration
Drawing from inspiring products, I developed sketches focusing on delivering clear dog information to instill user confidence in adoption decisions
Solution ideas from the inspiration
Crazy 8s for the best ideas
Narrowing down ideas, I sketched eight concepts in eight minutes. My top three favorites centered on the search results and detail information pages
Crazy 8s sketches
Day 3 - Decide and Create a Storyboard
Three-panel sketches for the three main screens
Three-panel sketches for main screens showcased a user-friendly search interface. Visuals and details on the search result page aimed to quickly establish a connection between users and dogs
Main screens solution sketches
One-panel sketch
A detailed dog search result page was designed with videos/photos on the left and textual information on the right, categorized for easy readability
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Categorized information sections to Structured sections aimed to present information intuitively, including videos/photos for better understanding of a dog's size and behavior
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​The photos and video section on the left can help users understand a dog's size, behaviors, and every level and more information
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​Easy to make an appointment to meet the dog and ask a question directly through the button can reduce user efforts
Dog search detail page
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​Added the height, length, and weight of the dog -most websites described dog size as small, medium, and large those were ambiguous
Day 4 - Creating Prototype
Focused on filtering dog searches by location and additional preferences. Essential details, such as dog size and behavior, were highlighted, aiding city dwellers in their choices.​
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In general, people start to search for dogs in their area or nearby therefore setting location with distance is the first filter and then they can choose more options if they need. After filtering, a search list comes up where users can see photos, videos, and essential info adopters must consider
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​Making an appointment with agencies or breeders is not easy but our users can make an appointment easily with four clicks on one page
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​City people care a lot about dog size and behaviors because of their small, busy, and crowded environments. The size shows a weight, length, and height that can help them picture the dog fit in their city home. The dog information section was divided into several categories with icons that users can read easily
Day 5 - Test
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All the participants didn't use filters but only considered dog gender, breed, and age to search for dogs. A simple filter process but detailed information after searching makes people easy to use the web and they feel it requires less work for finding dogs
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Providing lots of photos and videos is the most helpful information to know about the dog. They explain the size, energy level, personality, and behaviors rather than words
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Size 'Medium'? not sure, '26 lbs' is more clear
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Users want to see more medical information before deciding
CONCLUSION & LEARNING
What Did I Learn from This Project?​
This sprint affirmed the significance of early feedback in design improvement. Personal dog adoption experience enhanced user understanding, emphasizing the importance of clear, abundant information.
Future Directions
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Plan for a 2nd usability test involving dog rescuers and foster moms for deeper insights
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Optimize filter options, streamline visual elements, and enhance medical info on the app
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Envisioning future features like new dog notifications, 'Ask a Question' button, and social media links for more content
Try Prototype
