Summary: TLDR
Dog owners care deeply about their pets, but sometimes lack confidence in providing the optimal care. The 3DogE’s app aims to provide dedicated pet owners with a streamlined tool that allows them to manage their dog’s holistic health and feel confident in truly helping their dog thrive. Through personalized & bit sized learning resources, a poop detective analysis tool, and the option to connect to a caring community, dog owners have a trusted tool to support them throughout their dog parent journey.
Client: 3DogEs
Role: UX Designer
Methods: Directed Storytelling, Kano Analysis, Usability Testing
Tools: Figma, Figjam, Zoom, Google Suite
Deliverables: User Journey Map, Kano Analysis, Competitive Audit, Clickable Prototype
“I feel confident that I can keep him alive, but less sure about helping him thrive.”
Dog owners care deeply about their furry friends and view them as members of the family. They work hard to meet their pet’s needs, but sometimes lack confidence in providing the best possible care. This is especially true for new dog owners or during times when their pet is sick.
While many pet apps and resources exist, many dog owners resort to google when searching for information or health advice, which often leads to overwhelming information or unnecessary worry. This often delays dog owners in acting on this advice, or even prevents them from acting entirely. Dog owners lack a streamlined tool that allows them to confidently manage their dog’s healthcare in a holistic manner.
A better understanding of dog parents’ needs
During our initial interview with the client, I asked questions to gain a deeper understanding of her mission for the 3DogE’s app. She was passionate about helping each dog live a healthy, well rounded life, and wants her app to empower dog owners with the resources they need to truly meet their dog’s needs and continue taking action to help them thrive. Features that were important to the client included a poop detective and an information hub.
Personalized, bit sized information
Provide users with the ability to learn more about their dog’s needs in a way that is personalized, engaging and easy to digest.
Poop Detective Analysis Tool
Users take and submit a photo of their dogs poop. Within minutes, AI analyzes the stool and receive feedback regarding potential concerns and suggestions.
Discovering & iterating solutions
With a clear understanding of our client’s goals for the 3DogE’s app, we were eager to hear from the dog owners themselves and begin brainstorming solutions. Our chosen research methods were selected to help us learn more about the current experience of dog owners and further uncover their needs. We aimed to validate the need for the key features proposed by the client and also take a wide approach during this early phase to discover other opportunities that exist.
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Goal: To gain a better understanding of dog owners’ needs and their current pain points within the experience.
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Goal: To learn more about what exists within the pet health market, what is working well, and what we might be able to improve.
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Goal: To gain insight on the desirability of potential features in order to make the biggest impact while staying within our scope.
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Goal: To evaluate our design decisions and ensure the redesigned app is intuitive as users navigate throughout.
Early sketches & low fidelity wireframes
A dog community pivot
Our research uncovered the need and desirability of a feature we had not initially planned to include.. a community where users can connect with other dog owners. Participants mentioned being a part of facebook dog groups where they connected with other dog owners, could ask questions or get advice, and get support from a virtual community. When we tested this feature with participants during usability testing, users liked the feature and thought it would keep them coming back to the app more frequently.
A streamlined & personalized solution
Guided puppy profile Setup
3DogE’s uses information about the dog to provide personalized resources and insights. This requires users to enter a variety of information about their pet.
One input at a time to reduce overwhelm
Progress bar to motivate and inform progress
Ability to skip questions
Information Hub
Learning that is personalized, bite sized, engaging is accessible to users within the information hub. Users view information that is specific to their dog when applicable, and have options for watching videos or reading information that is highly visual and scannable.
Poop Detective AI Analysis
Users take pictures of their dog’s stool and submit them for analysis and personalized feedback.
Easy to access camera with just one click
Short form, scannable feedback
Suggests actions without causing alarm
Option to chat with a real vet
Next Steps
Push Notifications
We would like to prototype and test push notifications, which would remind users to walk their dogs, give medications, and other important reminders.
Dog Virus- Heat Map
We would like to further explore this feature that rated highly on our Kano Analysis, but we didn’t have time to include within this project scope.
Chat with AI
We still see an opportunity for 3DogEs to utilize an AI chatbot, however more testing needs to be done to determine the best way to gain users trust in this feature.