CityPups is a new startup that wants to help people living in cities find a dog to adopt. Through research and interviews, it discovered that people living in cities struggle to find the right dog to fit their lifestyles. I was tasked with developing a solution via Design Sprint that helps users find the right dog to adopt.
Several themes emerged from user interviews. When searching for the perfect dog to adopt, citydwellers are generally concerned with a dog’s size, energy level, and comfortability with new stimuli. This served as foundation for matching users with dogs that fit their preferences.
“Photos are definitely the first thing I notice or make a connection with. From there, I think about more practical stuff, like how big the dog is, and how much indoor space they need - I have a pretty small apartment so I want to make sure it will be a good home for them"
“I look at the basic info - size, age, etc. Photos and 'bios' are so great to get an idea of the dog's personality. Some things are harder to figure out - like how much attention the dog needs. I would need a dog that could be left home for a while if I'm at work or get home late due to my commute."
"I generally look for older dogs - I usually assume they are more well-trained - but that's not always the case. Really, I want to find a dog that is comfortable walking with me in the city, and won't get freaked out by all the people, pigeons, and things to do!"
“I would never want to adopt a dog that needed more activity or space than I could provide. I try to find breeds that are generally less hyper, but it all really depends on the personality of the dog."
"I like to see lots of photos - or even better, videos! They help create an instant connection, and it's a little easier to see how big they are, get a feel for their energy level, and imagine if my small apartment would be a good home for them."
“I live with two roommates - they're cool with me having a dog, but it's really important to me that I find a dog who is comfortable with new people being around, and coming into our home."
I started the design process by mapping the end-to-end user experience and sketching possible solutions. In particular, I became inspired by matchmaking services -- such as Hinge and Bumble -- and how they used algorithms to match users. Under this same methodology, I would design a platform that would match users with dogs that "fit" their profile.
I leveraged the “Crazy Eight” method to sketch solutions to the most critical screens. Following sketching, low fidelity wireframes were developed containing the necessary UI elements to build a prototype. They were then converted to high fidelity screens.
Upon completing the high fidelity wireframes, I then moved on to prototyping, incorporating feedback from user testing. The final prototype included the necessary screens to successfully direct users to a dog that fit their preferences.
