This project was part of Dribbble's Product Design Course challenge.

Project goals

As pet owners, we understand that it can be difficult to find reliable help for taking care of our pets, especially for dog owners. The goal of this project was to create a platform that connects dog owners with trustworthy dog walkers, while also raising trust among users and meeting the business goals. We kept the needs and goals of both users and the business in mind throughout the project.

Problem

It is not difficult to find someone who claims they can walk and take care of your dog, but the real challenge is finding someone you can TRUST. Many people who need caregiving services for their dogs have had negative experiences with strangers handling their beloved furry friends, as they consider their dogs to be an integral part of their family and expect them to be treated as such. Therefore, it is important for dog owners to find a dog walker who is trustworthy, accountable, reliable, professionally trained, and has been verified by the app. This helps ensure that their dog is in good hands and is treated with the care and respect they deserve.

Role

As part of Dribbble's Product Design Course, I followed the product design process from start to finish. This included conducting market research, analyzing competitors, conducting user research through interviews and empathy mapping, ideating and sketching, creating wireframes, refining the design through visual design and prototyping, and testing the prototype.

The process involved iterating and ideating throughout and concluded with documentation and hand-off. These steps are essential in creating a successful product that meets the needs of users and meets business goals.

User research

For the user research stage of the project, I conducted four interviews, one in person and three via video call. Of the participants, 75% rely on friends or family members to care for their dogs when they are unable to do so themselves, while 25% use a professional dog walking service. All of the participants would be willing to care for a friend or relative's dog, but only 25% would return the favor for their own dog walker.

Trust, availability, and a love for dogs (or being a dog owner themselves) were identified as the most important qualities to look for in a dog walker.

Pain points

Market research

Persona

Paul is a 39 yo photographer who needs a trustworthy walker to walk and play with his Spiridon when he is out of town on business.

User flow

The focus of this flow is on onboarding new users to the service.

We begin by collecting details about the dog to show that the app values the pet. Next, we gather information about the service they are seeking to book. Finally, we invite the user to create an account and book a service after viewing the available walkers. This allows the user to see the value of the service and makes them more likely to create an account.

By carefully designing the onboarding process, we aim to make it easy and seamless for new users to get started with our service.

Wireframing

Version 1

Welcome to our app! During onboarding, you'll learn how our app helps you find and book trusted dog walkers in your area. First, you'll create a basic profile for your dog, including information such as their breed, size, energy level, and any special needs or preferences they have. Next, you'll tell us about the type of service you're looking for - whether it's a one-time walk or ongoing daily walks, and what your preferred location and schedule are. With this information, we'll show you a list of available walkers who match your needs, and you can start exploring their profiles to learn more about their experience, availability, and ratings from other users.

You can use our filtering and sorting tools to find the perfect fit, and add your favorite walkers to a special list for easy reference. When you're ready to book a walk, you can start a conversation with the walker through our messaging feature to ask any questions and confirm details, or you can book directly through the app. We hope this process helps you find the perfect dog walker and quickly shows you the value of our product.

Version 2

During the onboarding process, we minimized the data collected about the dog and provided the option for users to add additional information to the dog's profile at their own pace. We simplified the process of requesting specific services by decluttering the interface and adding a date and time picker to make the location more visible.

To increase trust, we added a "verified" badge for the walkers and a match score to the existing trust signals (rating, number of reviews, and top walker status). We also reorganized the walker's profile page to make it easier to read and highlight the trust signals. On the messaging page, we now allow users to attach media files for easier communication.

Visual design

I’ve used two typefaces (Inter and Montserrat) specially designed for digital screens with a focus on high legibility and high level of readability even in small sizes, making it easy for users to navigate the app and read the text. Due to their wide range of weights and styles, they are flexible and able to create hierarchy and emphasis. Inter has a professional and sophisticated vibe, which can be beneficial for conveying a sense of trustworthiness and reliability in a UI design. Montserrat has a friendly and approachable, friendly vibe.

Purple as a primary color in the woofgang app creates a sense of trust and professionalism due to its associations with luxury, sophistication, and reliability. The color purple is often associated with high-quality products and services, and using it as the primary color in the woofgang app can help to convey a sense of trustworthiness and reliability to users. Additionally, the use of purple differentiates woofgang from competitors and establishes its own unique brand identity, further contributing to a sense of trust and professionalism.

Testing

This feedback was valuable in identifying areas for improvement and ensuring that the app is user-friendly for all users.

Test 1

During the testing phase, subject A (a 35-year-old woman) had no difficulty finding and understanding the buttons on the app. The only issue she raised was that she had difficulty finding the "message the walker" button. In response to this feedback, I added an outline to make the button more prominent. Subject A was overall very comfortable using the app and booking a walker, and found the additional info (such as tags and labels) very useful. She also appreciated the filters and found the information to be presented in a clear and expected manner.

Test 2

During the testing phase, subject B (a 38-year-old man) did not notice the "choose breed" button. In response to this feedback, I added an outline, increased the font size, and made the button more visually distinct to make it more noticeable. Other than this issue, subject B did not seem to have any difficulties while testing the flow. He enjoyed the animations and found the messages to be friendly and welcoming, which helped to build trust and comfort.

Final design

After prototyping and testing, I’ve determined that additional iterations on the visual design were necessary.

As a result, I’ve made several updates including adding a logo, revising the splash screen, and modifying some UI components. In addition, I added Home, Favorites, Notifications, Messages, Account, and Dog profile pages to provide a more comprehensive experience for users. These changes were made to improve the app’s overall flow and functionality.

Prototype

Personal outcomes

Overall, the design process for this dog walking app was a rewarding and enlightening experience. By conducting user interviews and creating personas, I was able to gain a deeper understanding of the needs and motivations of our target users. The final UI design reflects the feedback and insights I gathered along the way, resulting in a product that is intuitive and efficient for our users.

One of the key takeaways from this project was the importance of user-centered design. By consistently considering the needs and goals of our users throughout the process, I was able to create a product that meets their expectations and addresses their pain points. This was especially important for a service-based app like a dog walking app, where trust and reliability are crucial for building long-term relationships with customers.

Another valuable lesson I learned was the value of testing and iteration. By soliciting feedback and making adjustments, I was able to fine-tune the design and improve the overall user experience.

In conclusion, the design process was a comprehensive approach to creating a mobile app that is both functional and enjoyable for our users.

Next steps

From the beginning, my objective was to create a minimum lovable product for Dribbble's Dog Walking App challenge. To enhance the app's functionality, the next steps in its evolution could include the following:

• creating a flow for walkers,

• adding an in-app cancellation option for both owners and walkers,

• providing an "on-call" service for pet owners in case of emergency,

• offering a "meet and greet" option to allow owners, dogs, and walkers to meet and see if they are compatible,

• customer service,

• implementing a "money back guaranteed" policy for poor service or improper cancellations by walkers,

• adding a match score to pair highly compatible walkers and dogs,

• incorporating GPS tracking,

• allowing walkers to leave star ratings and reviews for the dog.

These features would help to make the app more comprehensive and useful for all users.