Fur Care : Pet Adoption and Rehoming App — UX Case Study
Making your experience more than worthwhile!
Project Overview
More than thousand animals die everyday in Indian streets. Still people are struggling to find their ideal pet. Despite the willingness of
some pet owners to give away their pets or their pet’s offspring, there is a lack of a suitable platform or network to facilitate the process.
Fur Care is a pet adoption and rehoming application that simplify the process through a mobile application.
The Problem
In India, large number of animals suffer and die everyday on the streets, while people struggle to find ideal pet’s to adopt. Pet parents in India are currently facing a difficult time of not being able to lend their pet’s offsprings to a new adopter due to lack of proper platform or network. Some cannot afford pets due to financial constrains, space constrains or permit and it is difficult for the rehome process.
Additionally, the documentation of the pets are also not available accurately for adoption.
Role & Responsibilities
As a part of 3 month UX/UI design from scratch course at Designerrs Academy, I worked on this project. The problem brief was provided by Designerrs and I completed it under the guidance of a mentor.
As the only UX/UI Designer on this project, my responsibilities included everything end-to-end, following all the aspects of design thinking. Right from conducting user research, defining the problems, brainstorming solutions to creating wireframes and finally conducting usability tests, I designed a functional prototype.
Target Audience
The target audience was provided in the problem brief. The primary targeted audience consists of three main groups. These categories are: 15 to 55 year old, users who would like to adopt a pet and users who want to give away their pets, sheltered stray animals and pet’s offsprings.
Design Thinking Process
I followed the User Centered Design (UCD) process to design a solution for this problem. It contains five phases- Empathize, Define,
Ideate, Prototype, Test.
01.Empathize
In designing an optimal solution, it was essential to step into the users’ shoes. By combining secondary and primary research, I gained insights into the genuine needs and pain points experienced by the users.
Secondary Research
Prior to diving into the vast realm of the internet, I felt it necessary to establish clear research goals. This strategic step aimed to provide a focused direction and ensure that the project’s scope remained well-defined and in view.
Goals of secondary research,
Gain insights into various types of pets to incorporate in the listings.
Determine the most favored pet choices among users.
Identify the challenges users encounter during the adoption process.
Analyze user and customer psychology in adoption and its associated workflow.
Compile documentation related to pets.
Assess potential competitors in the field.
Evaluate the communication dynamics between users and pet parents.
With a clear set of objectives in sight, I embarked on my research journey by delving into online articles and scholarly papers. As I navigated through this extensive pool of knowledge, I unearthed a wealth of valuable insights related to pet adoption and rehoming. Returning to the core problem I aimed to address in this project, I meticulously pruned away extraneous “add-on” information, leaving behind a concise compilation of actionable insights to guide my primary research endeavors.
Secondary Research Insights,
Locating nearby pets for adoption poses a considerable challenge, both in person and online. Inadequate access to detailed pet information, including photos, health histories, and behavioral profiles, until the adoption process is approved exacerbates the issue. Additionally, difficulties arise in finding specific pet breeds, compounded by unresponsive or delayed communication. Communication breakdowns between buyers and sellers often impede the adoption process. Generally, individuals with prior pet ownership experience are more inclined to adopt pets compared to those without such experience.
Primary Research
Armed with the insights gathered through secondary research, the next step involved validating these findings through direct interaction with the users. I conducted user interviews to delve deeper into the diverse range of experiences people have encountered in pet adoption and rehoming.
In preparation for the interviews, I initiated the process by developing a tailored questionnaire that directly addressed the problem at hand. Subsequently, I enlisted 6 participants spanning the age range of 20 to 55 for the interview sessions.
Some of the questions that I asked the users are,
What motivated you to adopt or sell that specific pet?
How did you discover the source for buying or selling a pet?
Could you outline the steps you took during the pet adoption or selling process?
What criteria do you consider when acquiring a pet?
Can you share your feelings about your most recent pet purchase or sale?
What was your experience in terms of finding a buyer or seller for your pet?
Are there specific types of pets that you are more inclined towards?
How would you describe your experience with pet documentation?
What was it like caring for and maintaining your pet?
How frequently do you ensure your pet receives vaccinations?
What are your thoughts on the issue of stray animals and their increasing population?
Some statements from the users and insights,
“It was tedious considering that every time we found a suitable match, by the time the owner/ rescuer would reply, they’d have already given it off to someone else.”
“It was very difficult to find the exact verity of pet needed.”
Participants were primarily motivated by their love for pets and a desire to spend leisure time with them. Many faced challenges in locating nearby sources and often relied on friend referrals. The adoption process involved multiple steps and diverse priorities, such as health or specific qualities. Overall, participants shared positive pet experiences, favoring dogs, cats, rabbits, lovebirds, and similar pets. However, they often lacked detailed health information about prospective pets. Pet maintenance varied in difficulty, and most adhered to veterinary vaccination recommendations. Participants attributed the increase in street animals to people initially acquiring pets but subsequently abandoning them due to waning interest.
02.Define
Having completed the initial phase of empathizing with the users, my next step, informed by research insights, is to precisely identify the problems that require solutions for the users.
Affinity Mapping
Following the interviews, I organized the user statements into groups that naturally related to each other. The data was categorized into seven sections, which encompassed user feelings, verbal expressions, actions, thoughts, pain points, goals, and general demographics. This approach facilitated the identification of common pain points among users and prioritizing them for further analysis.
Insights obtained,
Participants primarily owned pets such as dogs, cats, birds, squirrels, turtles, and rabbits.
Their main motivation was the love for these animals and the enjoyment of spending free time with them.
Social media served as their primary platform for acquiring pets, with a particular preference for dogs and cats.
They encountered various pain points, including difficulties in finding pets and the absence of accurate health documentation.
They also encountered challenges when scheduling appointments with pet centers and when trying to locate potential buyers.
User Persona
03.Ideate
In order to Ideate potential solutions, my initial focus was on pinpointing the specific obstacles users encounter in their journey. In this phase, I meticulously mapped the existing user experience and began devising application flows designed to bridge the gaps in the current user journey.
User Experience Map
Although I had already identified the key goals and pain points, it was essential to map the user journey meticulously to pinpoint precisely where these pain points occurred and work towards their elimination, ultimately creating a seamless user experience.
From the initial planning stage to the completion of the pet adoption process, I charted the common physical journey that my primary persona would undertake, drawing insights from the feedback provided by real users.
I pinpointed the specific areas where the user experience was disrupted, and users encountered difficulties.
Identified places for improvement are,
Adoption process — During the pet adoption process, finding pets in close proximity and obtaining detailed information about them often proves to be a daunting task. This challenge stems from various factors, including limited visibility of available pets, the absence of centralized information sources, and incomplete or insufficient pet profiles.
Scheduling a meeting — Setting up meetings with pet centers and pet parents presented its own set of difficulties. Pet centers and pet parents often have busy schedules, which can make it challenging to find a mutually convenient time for a meeting. There may be a lack of efficient communication channels for arranging these meetings.
Rehoming the pet — Rehoming a pet often presents challenges, primarily stemming from the scarcity of available adopters nearby and the overall difficulty in finding a suitable adopter.
User Flows
Using the insights gained from the user journey mapped out in the experience map, I developed user flows for the app. These user flows were designed to address the gaps in the pet adoption process, aiming to simplify the adoption journey and make it more user-friendly compared to the traditional, real-life experience.
Adoption process — In the pet adoption process, locating a nearby pet and accessing comprehensive information about it can often be a challenge. To address this, the app’s design mirrors the real-life process but simplifies it for users. Users will have the convenience of choosing their ideal pets from a wide variety, accompanied by access to all necessary information within each pet’s profile. This streamlines the entire adoption process, offering a one-stop platform for users to complete the process seamlessly.
Scheduling a meeting — After selecting a pet, users will have the option to arrange meetings with caregivers or pet owners to learn more about the pet. Users can conveniently schedule meetings with nearby pets at a location of their preference. Additionally, they have the flexibility to modify meeting locations or even reschedule the meetings if they find it more suitable. This flexibility ensures a user-centric and adaptable experience in the adoption process.
Rehoming the pet — Users also have the option to rehome their pets, particularly when they are relocating or for other reasons. The app offers a user-friendly feature that allows users to list their pets by uploading comprehensive details and documentation. This process makes it significantly easier for users to find new homes for their pets nearby, simplifying what can often be a complex and emotional real-world experience.
Following the development of task flows, I constructed user flows that encompassed a comprehensive range of potential scenarios that users might encounter while interacting with the app.
Sitemaps
By examining the established user flows, I discerned the principal entry point screens within the app. These key screens served as a foundation, allowing me to construct a sitemap for the application. The sitemap, guided by the user flows, provided an invaluable overview of the application’s structure and flow.
04. Design
During the fourth phase of the design thinking process, I commenced the creation of low-fidelity wireframes. Through numerous iterations and refinements, I arrived at a final version, which I subsequently transformed into high-fidelity wireframes. Additionally, I developed prototypes to facilitate user testing during the upcoming testing phase.
Low fidelity wireframes
The process involved the development of multiple iterations before arriving at the final wireframes. The initial wireframes did not align with the project requirements, prompting me to rework the screen layout based on the user flows.
High fidelity wireframes
Upon completion of the low-fidelity wireframes, I enriched the existing wireframes by incorporating content information and enhancing the components. This step refined the wireframes, making them more detailed and comprehensive.
Style Guide — Color & Typography
In order to craft a color palette that would elicit positive emotions among users during their interaction with the app, I constructed a mood board featuring images of pets and related elements. The colors extracted from this mood board primarily consisted of shades of orange and yellow. Notably, the final color palette underwent a thorough contrast check, achieving a very high ratio, ensuring both visual appeal and accessibility for users.
In addition these colors were selected for their warm, bright, and comforting qualities. They align with the hues often seen in pets. Orange conveys feelings of cheerfulness, excitement, warmth, fun, and confidence.
In designing the app, readability for the target audience is paramount. Roboto is a suitable font choice due to its readability and various style options. It’s described as “modern, yet approachable” and “emotional,” which can help evoke the right emotions for the app, especially in the context of pets.
Final UI
05.Test
The next step involved testing the live prototype with potential users to gauge their responses. Subsequent decisions about whether design alterations were necessary or not would be informed by the insights gathered during testing.
Moderated Usability Testing
Following the development of the final screens, I carried out a moderated usability test with five participants matching the target audience. The aim was to assess how users perceive the app’s key features such as,
Adopt a pet
Rehome a pet
Make appointments with pet center
With these objectives in mind, I devised several tasks and formulated a questionnaire to guide the testing session. A selection of the tasks and scenarios presented to the participants are,
Explore pets
View the details husky(dog)
Adopt the husky
Add the husky to the rehome list
Check the details of pet you listed
View details of pet center named puppy love
make an appointment with pet center (puppy love)
View the list of favorite pets
Scenario #1
You reside with your parents, and due to your job, you’re away from home throughout the day. To alleviate the loneliness your parents might feel, you’ve made the decision to adopt a pet for them. In your exploration of available pets, you’ve curated a list of favorites, and after careful consideration, you’ve settled on adopting a husky.
Scenario #2
Five years have passed, and you’re now facing a job transfer that necessitates relocating to a different city. In this situation, you find yourself unable to take your beloved pet dog with you. Consequently, you’ve made the decision to place your pet dog on the rehome list for adoption. While you search for a suitable adopter, you’ve opted to temporarily house your pet at a pet center to facilitate the shifting process. As part of this arrangement, you are now looking to book an appointment at the pet center.
The user testing phase of the application was successfully concluded, and it yielded positive results. Users were able to seamlessly navigate the app, complete the pet adoption process, and successfully list pets for rehoming. This outcome indicates that the application’s design and functionality effectively support both adopting pets and finding new homes for them. The user testing phase confirmed that the app is user-friendly and serves its intended purpose.
Final Prototype
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Learnings & Takeaway
During this project, I discovered the essential value of empathizing with users and gaining a clear understanding of their needs before crafting solutions.
Recognizing that the primary challenges for most people revolved around finding pets, adopters, and scheduling appointments with pet centers, the remaining issues were comparatively minor and more easily addressed.
During the ideation phase, additional features and ideas emerged, creating a challenge in maintaining focus on prioritizing the primary set of features for initial design.
This project presented an engaging challenge, requiring me to navigate time constraints and prioritize essential features.