Role: UX Researcher, UX Design, UI Design

1. Research and Emphatize

Before I begin designing the product, we make it our priority to truly understand our users and their needs. I wanted to gain deeper insights into the pain points of pet owners, so I set out to conduct user interviews with a diverse group of participants. Through video calls and face-to-face meetings, I was able to learn more about their experiences and the challenges they faced when it came to taking care of their beloved pets.

I listened carefully to their stories and took note of their unique perspectives, gaining valuable insights into what mattered most to them. Some were busy professionals who struggled to find time to walk their dogs, while others had concerns about the safety and well-being of their pets when they were away from home. By understanding their pain points, I was able to identify opportunities for our product to make a real difference in their lives.

Based of the interview, the following persona was created

Market Research

I look for an existing similar product for dog walking app. Through careful observation, I was able to identify the strengths and weaknesses of these applications and gain a better understanding of what features are essential for a successful dog walking app.

One of the key insights I gained from this research is that many of the existing dog walker platforms are primarily focused on meeting the needs of dog owners, who are the primary users of these applications. By understanding the limitations of existing dog walking apps, I was able to identify areas where we could improve upon their design and functionality.

Pros:

• Easy booking

• Detailed information of the pets

• Badge for verified walkers

Cons:

• No visible sign up

• No reviews

• Price is not shown

2. Define Requirements

After my research, I did a persona and emphaty map to guide us in our product. 
We also did market research to know what’s the best and what to avoid with our product. Below are the list of requirements and goal we need:

3. Ideate

Before we go to exciting part which is the visual, I created user flow. I wanted to have a quick and simple experience that would allow them to accomplish their objectives with ease, minimize errors, and remain on course.

From low-fidelity prototype

To visualize my initial design, I create a low-fidelity prototype that helps me

map out my layout and anticipate the look and feel of my app.

Here, I can already foresee what will my app look like.

4. Prototype

Before creating my high-fidelity prototype, I must identify and define first my visual designs.

Creating a system for speed, scalability and consistency

To high-fidelity prototype

Now, we’re at the high-fidelity wherein everything comes to life.

5. Test

I asked two user to test the app.

Task: Sign Up > Create a Dog walker profile > Book a dog walker

Findings

• They both finished the task smoothly.

• They just have a few comments regarding the design and suggested some features that could be add on the app.

1. Adjust the walker photo to a smaller scale.

2. Make the button a bit larger to standout.

3. Adjust the spacing between each reviews, so it won’t look crowded.

4. Make the map into full screen for a clearer map and wide coverage of search.

Takeaways

My key takeaways after completing this project is that always keep the design simple and focus on creating a great user experience.

Doing research was extremely helpful in understanding the product from a different perspective. You will discover that the users have different needs but there will always be one common denominator that they’re looking for. This one common denominator turned as part of my design and business goal.

What I would like to add / change:

• I would conduct a few more interviews to gain more information about the user and dog walker side.

• Add more services on the app like hotel service, transportation service and multiple dogs per walker.

• Add realtime map for tracking your pet.

Overall, as a no experience in product design, I am pleased with my Fetch dog walking app. I was able to deeply understand and do all the process.

I’m excited to start my journey in helping create better products.

Thanks for reading!

Feel free to reach out in the comments to share your thoughts & questions!

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