PetList

PetList is the ultimate app for discovering and adopting pets, with expert guidance and community support to help you become the best pet parent.

Project Overview.

TYPE: Personal project
ROLE: UX & UI Designer
TEAM SIZE: 1
DURATION: 3 months

The PetList project focuses on researching the responsibilities of pet ownership and exploring how an app can support pet owners in becoming more informed and responsible. It also aims to create a community-driven platform where users can find services, seek advice, and help pets get adopted, while allowing shelters to connect with potential adopters and seek assistance—all in one convenient place.

The Problem.

Countless animals are waiting for their forever homes, yet shelters remain overcrowded and struggle to facilitate adoptions. Even when adoptions succeed, the responsibility of being a pet owner is significant, requiring knowledge and commitment. Prospective pet owners often encounter conflicting information about pet care and face challenges in finding trustworthy advice from experts. Meanwhile, many animal lovers want to offer their support, but there is no platform that locally connects those seeking help with those willing to provide it. This gap leaves both pets and potential adopters at a disadvantage, hindering the adoption process and the overall well-being of pets in need.

The Solution.

PetList addresses these challenges by fostering a vibrant, trustworthy community where shelters and users can showcase animals in need of forever homes, seek donations, and recruit volunteers for urgent situations. The app allows pet owners to connect effortlessly with fellow pet parents, enabling them to discuss concerns, share advice, and access valuable services that enhance the lives of their furry companions. Featuring expert-written articles for ongoing education and real-time notifications for lost pets, PetList empowers both shelters and pet owners, transforming the way we support and care for animals in our communities.

Research.

The research phase encompassed both competitive analysis and user interviews to gain a comprehensive understanding of the pet adoption landscape and user needs. Through competitive analysis, I examined leading pet adoption apps to identify their strengths and weaknesses, focusing on aspects such as user interface, ease of navigation, and key functionalities. This analysis helped define the core features that would differentiate PetList from its competitors.

To complement this, I conducted user interviews with potential users, including pet adopters and shelter staff, to gather valuable insights into their pain points and preferences. This qualitative research informed the development of user personas, ensuring the app would meet the specific needs of its audience. Key findings from the research highlighted several critical needs:

  • A simple, intuitive interface that accommodates users of all tech proficiency levels.

  • The necessity of detailed pet profiles to assist users in making informed adoption decisions.

  • A strong desire for community features that enable users to share experiences and support one another.

Personas.

Based on user interviews, I developed three personas that would benefit from using PetList.

    • Adam: A young professional in a relationship, Adam is looking to adopt a pet with his partner but is unsure which animal would be the best fit for their lifestyle.

    • Lea: An experienced animal lover and dedicated volunteer, Lea is passionate about helping as many animals as possible. However, she struggles to effectively share her mission and knowledge with others.

    • Anya: A student eager to learn more about pet care, Anya wants to start volunteering to be around animals. However, she faces challenges in finding trustworthy information and is uncertain about where to begin her journey to help pets.

Feature Prioritisation.

Using the MoSCoW method, a prioritization technique that categorizes features into four distinct groups—Must have, Should have, Could have, and Won't have—I brainstormed and organized potential features for the PetList app. This approach allowed me to systematically evaluate and prioritize features based on insights gathered from the competitive analysis and user interviews, ensuring that the most critical functionalities are addressed first.

Find out more:

    • Comprehensive Pet Listings: Detailed profiles of adoptable pets from shelters and foster homes, covering cats, dogs, and other animals. Information includes key filters like age, breed, size, gender, and personality traits for a tailored adoption experience.

    • User Accounts & Personalization: A personal account system where users can manage their adoption inquiries, saved pets, and preferences.

    • Contact Info/Button: Easy contact between users and shelters to foster community engagement, promote the exchange of services and advice, and support adoptions.

    • Advanced Filtering: Allows users to refine their results based on multiple criteria: animal type, location, breed, age, size, gender, and shelter certifications. This ensures users can quickly find pets that match their specific adoption preferences without unnecessary steps, enhancing the user experience.

    • Bookmark/Save Pet Profiles: A "save" or "bookmark" feature that enables users to keep track of their favorite pet profiles, allowing them to return to these listings at any time.

    • Post Pets for Adoption: This user-generated content feature allows shelters, rescues, or even individuals to easily post pets for adoption. Providing a user-friendly interface for content creation will expand the number of adoptable pets on the platform, adding value for both the user and shelters. It should also include options for users to edit or update pet profiles.

    • Community Engagement Section: An "Ask for Help" feature where users and shelters can seek donations, offer foster services, or request volunteer help. This promotes a sense of community and creates more opportunities to help the animals in need.

    • Tips, Blogs, and Resources: An educational blog that includes tips for potential adopters, articles about pet care, success stories, and advice on how to navigate the adoption process. This additional content improves user engagement and positions the app as a trusted resource for pet adoption.

    • Lost & Found Pets Section: A section where users can post lost or found pets, serving as a local database to help reunite families with their lost animals. This feature could be community-driven, providing additional value to users even after they adopt a pet or if they already have one.

    • Premium Subscription Features: Introducing a paid subscription model where users get access to enhanced functionalities such as priority pet listings and exclusive resources. This feature would not only enhance user experience but also generate revenue to sustain PetList's long-term growth.

    • Map Integration: An interactive map that shows nearby shelters, foster homes, and veterinary clinics. This makes it easier for users to locate where animals are housed or find important pet services in their vicinity.

    • User-Generated Reviews: A system where adopters can leave reviews or testimonials for shelters, fostering trust and transparency. This could help users make informed decisions about shelters and encourage higher adoption rates.

    • Analytics Dashboard for Shelters: An analytics feature for shelters to see which pets are getting more views or interactions could help them manage their adoption efforts better.

    • FAQs Section: A frequently asked questions section can assist users in quickly finding answers to common inquiries about adoption, the app itself, or pet care in general.

    • Community Events Calendar: A calendar of local pet-related events, such as adoption fairs or community fundraisers, could engage users further and foster community interaction.

    • In-App Advertisements: To maintain a clean and trustworthy user experience, the app will exclude intrusive in-app advertisements. Ads can disrupt user engagement and make the platform feel less credible, especially for a mission-driven initiative like pet adoption.

    • Pet Breed Gallery: While some competitor apps have this feature and some users may want a breed-specific gallery, this feature will not be prioritized, as the app focuses on the individual needs and personalities of adoptable pets rather than promoting breed preferences. This aligns with a more ethical approach to adoption, encouraging users to choose pets based on compatibility rather than breed.

User Flow & Information Architecture.

I created user flows and information architecture for the app to ensure intuitive navigation and enhance user experience. This involved organizing information through clear categorization and hierarchy, allowing users to efficiently navigate the app and access relevant content to achieve their goals.

Branding & Design System.

The PetList app aims to foster an interactive community for pet lovers and owners by cleverly merging the words “Pet” and “List.” This app showcases a diverse array of adoptable pets and offers a wealth of information on pet ownership. The logo creatively reflects this concept, featuring a folded square post-it note that forms the face of a generic pet, representing the app's inclusivity for various animal types.

The app’s friendly and playful aesthetic is enhanced by a pastel colour palette, featuring loving pinks, warm yellows, and cosy browns. Complementing this design is a modern, rounded Ubuntu typeface that reinforces the app's inviting character.

Final UI Design.

Each screen of the PetList app was thoughtfully designed to provide a seamless and enjoyable user experience. Below, you can explore the key interface elements that make PetList an intuitive and engaging platform for pet adoption and pet ownership.

Sign up & start exploring.

Browse the vibrant home feed featuring lost pets, animals waiting the longest for adoption, and highlighted posts seeking help or fostering engaging discussions. There's something for every animal lover!

Adopt a Pet.

Easily browse a variety of animals in need of forever homes from shelters and fellow users, and adopt the perfect companion for you! Discover their personalities, view pictures, and contact their current owners directly.

Join the community of pet parents.

Join the community to seek and share advice with fellow pet parents and experts. Discover or offer services for your furry friend, and empower your pet to thrive with the support of our community!

Help out.

Volunteer, donate, and support shelters and animals in need through a dedicated feature that allows shelters to share emergency posts, request donations, and recruit volunteers. If a pet goes missing, everyone in your local community will be notified, and the alert will be prominently displayed on the home page for maximum visibility!

User Testing & Feedback.

After creating a prototype, I conducted user testing with potential users to gather feedback and identify areas for improvement. Participants appreciated the intuitive design and comprehensive pet profiles, which made navigation seamless. The community section was particularly well-received, with users praising its helpful articles and engaging forums. This feedback has been invaluable, confirming that PetList successfully meets the needs of pet lovers and ensuring a strong foundation for fostering an interactive community.

Conclusion.

The PetList app effectively bridges the gap between potential pet owners, shelters and animals in need of homes. By prioritizing user-centered design and comprehensive functionality, I created a platform that simplifies the pet adoption process and fosters a vibrant community of pet lovers.

As a passionate pet owner, this project held special significance for me. My biggest takeaway has been recognizing the diverse needs and perspectives of different users when creating a product. Balancing these varied requirements can be both challenging and rewarding, ultimately leading to a more inclusive and impactful solution.