City Pups
CityPups is a new startup and it aims to help people living in cities find and adopt the perfect dog and companion for their city lifestyle.
My Role
Running a Design Sprint.
Project Overview
Through research and interviews by CityPups. They have discovered that people living in the city struggle to find a dog to adopt due to their unique needs.
Problem
Upon listening to CityPups' user interview featuring Jennifer, it became evident that she encountered four significant issues while using the website.
The nearest location for her to meet a dog was a daunting twenty-five miles away, posing a considerable challenge, especially for urban dwellers like her in Manhattan who lack convenient transportation options. The rigid twenty-five-mile radius for locations proved to be a major drawback.
Jennifer highlighted the lack of comprehensive information about the dogs available for adoption. Specific details such as the dog's age, size, temperament with other animals, energy level, and compatibility with children and cats were notably absent from the profiles. This dearth of essential information left potential adopters in the dark about their prospective furry companions.
She emphasized the importance of having videos for all dogs on the website. Videos not only provide a clear insight into the dog's energy level but also serve as a genuine representation, dispelling any suspicions of fraudulent activities. Viewing a brief video clip enables users to grasp the dog's personality and authenticity.
Lastly, Jennifer expressed concern about the steep adoption fee of $750, deeming it a significant red flag.
The Challenge
Creating a better user experience, for a user who is looking to adopt a dog that will be a great fit for them, and some of their city-specific needs.
The Solution
Addressing these concerns comprehensively is vital for enhancing the user experience and ensuring a successful adoption process. The solution to Jennifer’s concerns would be to:
Develop a CityPups website featuring dogs within a convenient twenty-five-mile radius of Jennifer or any other user residing in Manhattan City. This ensures that users won't need to undertake a lengthy drive or consider renting a car.
To have more in depth information about each dog. For example, their health, their exact age, if they like other dogs and cats, how many times they need to walk in a day, their energy level, and if they like children. Can the dog stay at home all day without the owner or does the dog always have to have someone nearby?
To have videos of the dogs as proof that the dog does exist and the user can have an idea of the dogs temperament.
To have the adoption fee be a lot less than the steep amount of $750.00
Ideation: I did some brainstorming, and came up with the idea to add additional details on the CityPups website that I felt potential adopters might find valuable. This includes information on the dogs' health status, weight, age, personality, compatibility with other dogs and cats, affinity towards children, breed specifics, and their level of activity.
During a pivotal stage in the design process, I engaged in a comprehensive Google Ventures five-day design sprint. This structured approach spans five days and aims to address crucial business queries through a combination of design, prototyping, and user testing. Additionally, I delved into an analysis of CityPups' competitors, examining entities such as the Humane Society of Tampa Bay, Petfinder, and Maxx and Me Pet Rescue. The outcomes of the design sprint are detailed below.
Design Process
Day One
Map
Day Two
Sketch
*Map
I mapped a new user flow for City Pups, in order to visualize the path the user will take to adopt a dog.
Final Solution Sketch
In crafting this storyboard below, my aim was to address Jennifer's primary concern: which is acquiring comprehensive information about a dog before she decides to adopt. I designed this solution with meticulous care, ensuring that it equips Jennifer with the knowledge she needs to make a thoroughly informed decision. This storyboard effectively resolves her dilemma, offering a clear and detailed overview that empowers her in the adoption process.
*Prototype
Competitive Analysis
Project Details
Five day (Google Ventures) design sprint.
Figma
Time Frame
Five days
Test
Feedback from Usability Test
“It would be better if each dog had a dog identification number, in order to easily fill out the application form. Also you should have a “have a question about a dog button” so users can send in their questions”
Day Three
Decide
City Pups
Who Are Our Users
City dwellers looking for a dog to adopt.
*Sketch
I sketched the only the most critical screens for City Pups website because of the time constraints and because it is a design sprint. The most critical screen I chose for CityPups is the “About Page” (dog's detailed Information). I made this choice based on valuable feedback from Jennifer, listening to what she said during the usability testing session. Understanding her concerns, I realized that potential adopters needed comprehensive insights into the dog they were considering bringing into their home.
I developed this prototype as a tailored response to the challenges Jennifer encountered while attempting to adopt a dog through CityPups. Attentive to her concerns, I crafted this solution to address and resolve the specific issues she raised.
Hi-Fidelity
Day Five
Test
I conducted interviews and tested the prototype with five participants. Two were remote interviews and three were in-person.
My goals for testing the prototype is to find out from the user:
How easy it is for the user to go through the prototype.
Their feedback and criticism about the prototype.
If they were able to get to the final stage of adopting a dog that is perfect for them, and fits their city lifestyle.
What they think about the user flow.
The time it takes the user to complete tasks on the prototype, if it’s too long a process or a quick process.
“The site is easy to use. I would add a zoom call feature . Other than having to drive to the shelter. I would like the option to do a zoom call and see the dog.”
“I like how I can see a video of the dog I am interested in. ”
“This website would make it much easier for me to adopt a dog.”
Findings
— I did notice some familiar patterns with participants. They all felt the process of adopting a dog was straightforward and easy. They also liked that each dog had a video of themselves in their profile, and they would all use the website to adopt a dog.
— I learned that a video is good to have on the website, but I could also add a zoom call to the website as a backup to seeing the dog before driving to the dog adoption agency.
— In order for a potential client to want to adopt a dog on our website, transparency is a must. It builds trust with the potential client when they see how much the adoption fee is upfront. They see the video of the dog so they know it’s a real dog and not a scam website. I learned clients want to know everything there is to know about the dog, no information is irrelevant.
Reflections
Looking back I prioritized the user experience by making sure the website was intuitive and user friendly in order for users to be able to navigate easily, find a dog, and then adopt a dog. I made sure the pictures of the dogs were clear, bright, and high quality images. There were videos for each dog as well to give the user everything they needed to make a well informed decision, along with their detailed information and profile. Every dog had an adoption form on their page which made it easy and accessible for the user. Also detailed information about the dog, like their temperment, their age, if they liked other dogs or not and if they liked kids.
“You should add a check box for if the dog sheds or not.”
Day Protot
Decide
Day Four
Prototype
I opted for the Humane Society primarily due to the comprehensive information available on their website regarding dogs available for adoption:
They provide specific details such as the dog's weight, but they also offered a transparent adoption fee ranging from $50 to $250.
They have indepth information about each dog's personality traits.
The website categorized dogs based on factors like gender, attributes, age group, breed, and size.
The adoption process involves visiting the Humane Society with the dog's kennel number for a meet and greet session, ensuring a personalized and thoughtful approach to adoption.
I chose PetFinder due to its user-friendly interface:
They provide precise distance information between potential pets and the users specific location.
Most dogs listed were conveniently located within a mile from user/me.
The website offers a reasonable adoption fee of $250.
The left side of the screen has a panel, equipped with all the necessary information to assist in finding the perfect canine companion.
I selected Maxx and Me because it provided detailed insights into their dogs' personalities:
To adopt a dog, you simply choose the one you're interested in and then either call the agency to schedule an appointment or fill out an application form.
The negative is their adoption fees were on the higher side, reaching up to $500.00,
Their adoption process is straightforward and not complicated.
*Decide
Research and Discovery: I gathered qualitative research to help CityPups come up with a possible solution in helping people that live in the city adopt the perfect dog for them. I did this by listening to one of the interviews CityPups had with a user( Jennifer) during a usability test.
Upon investigation, it became evident that the primary issue revolved around the lack of comprehensive information available for individuals making substantial decisions, such as adopting a dog. The user Jennifer, expressed a desire for sufficient details to instill confidence in their decision-making process. In addition to this, notable concerns included exorbitant adoption fees, reaching as high as $750. Furthermore, the geographical challenge posed by adoption centers located at a minimum distance of twenty-five miles from the user's residence was particularly problematic, especially in urban settings where such distances can be considered impractical.