User Flow 1 - find a new best friend

Problem: Users were frustrated with having to click through multiple pages to find a pet to foster, leading to a slow and cumbersome process.

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Solution: Designed a seamless user flow with a simplified interface, reducing the number of pages and incorporating easy-to-click buttons and swipe action for quicker access.‍

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Results: Enhanced user experience by reducing navigation time, making the process faster and more intuitive for users to find pets to foster.

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User Flow 2 - set some boundaries

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Problem: Users were frustrated by being matched with pets that didn’t align with their lifestyle or preferences.

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Solution: Added customizable preferences to allow users to filter and match with pets that best suited their needs.

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Results: Improved match accuracy, leading to higher user satisfaction and faster pet-finding experiences.

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User Flow 3 -helping is always an option

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Problem: Users were unsure of how to help if they couldn’t foster a pet, limiting their ability to contribute.

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Solution: Added an easy option to sponsor pets, allowing users to support the fostering cause, even if they couldn’t directly foster a pet.

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Results: Increased user engagement and participation, providing more ways for users to contribute to the cause.

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Overcrowding in animal shelters and rescues is a critical issue, often resulting in the euthanasia of healthy, adoptable pets due to limited space and resources. Although many people are willing to foster, the lack of accessible platforms connecting potential foster families with shelters in need just exacerbates this issue, leaving countless animals without homes. The vision is to create an intuitive app that bridges this gap, making the process of fostering more efficient and accessible. By being able to match both foster families with pets based on the both parties needs, helps the overall goal. This mobile app provides essential care guidelines and information for informed decisions, ultimately helping reduce shelter overcrowding and offering more pets a chance at a safe, temporary home.

Fostering animals is crucial because of the high number of stray animals and the overpopulation of shelters. In the U.S., millions of cats and dogs find their way to shelters, and a significant portion is euthanized due to a lack of foster environments. Encouraging fostering can help these animals thrive in loving homes rather than spending time in cold shelter shelters and losing their personality.

Among the numerous adoption apps available, there is a lack of options for fostering animals. This mobile app aims to address this gap by connecting shelter animals with foster families in a way that benefits both parties and prevents returned pets.

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#1 Fido

Pros: Quick & easy / Free / 5.0 Stars

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Cons: Generic Name / Difficult to find / Ads throughout site / Limited Filters

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#2 Pet Finder

Pros: Colorful & engaging / Search capabilities / Various options/info

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Cons: / Adoption only / Overwhelming options / No match with animals

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STRENGTHS

Convenience for Users

Personalized Matching

Real-Time Updates

Increased in Need Animal Visibility

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OPPORTUNITIES

Convenience for Users

Personalized Matching

Real-Time Updates

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WEAKNESSES

Maintenance and Updates

Limited Awareness

Maintenance and Updates

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THREATS

Competition from Similar Apps

Shelter & Rescue Participation

Proper Foster Home Vetting

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COLOR PALETTE

This color palette features striking oranges and blues, contrasted with softer, delicate hues, thus creating a visually stunning composition.

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TYPEFACES

The font family Montserrat, is known for its clean, professional, and highly legible appearance.

The Playwrite US Modern font family is a clean, beautiful cursive typeface that embodies a fresh and contemporary aesthetic. It captures attention and makes a lasting impression.

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“I don’t want to click through a complicated user interface to find a foster pet.”

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55 yrs old

Buffalo, NY

Accountant (WFH)

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Lifestyle:

Lives with family in a spacious home with a fenced in yard.

Reading, gardening, walking, fostering, and volunteering at local animal shelters.

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‍Technology Usage:

Moderate Technology: Familiar with technology for both personal and work-related tasks, prefers intuitive UI.

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Goals:

Help Animals: Motivated by a strong desire to help animals in need, particularly understanding the harsh realities of animal euthanasia in shelters.  

Values the emotional connection with her foster pets but also needs a smooth process to make the right matches.

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‍Frustrations:

Complicated Technology: Finds it frustrating when apps and platforms are overly complicated and difficult to navigate, which can discourage her from participating in animal rescue activities.

“I want to make a difference in an animal’s life, but I need a mobile app to fit my busy schedule and lifestyle.”

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25 yrs old

Boulder, CO

Marketing Manager (WFH)

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Lifestyle:

Enjoys socializing with friends and family.

Prioritizes exercising and staying fit, often participating in outdoor activities like hiking and biking.

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Technology Usage:

Tech-Savvy: Comfortable using apps and social media, but prefers user-friendly interfaces that simplify the process of fostering or volunteering.

Uses the pet fostering app multiple times a week to browse potential pets and review their profiles.

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Goals:

Care for Pets: She aims to foster pets that suit her daily routine, ensuring a happy experience for both parties.

Passionate about helping animals find loving homes, and her fostering pets is one of her favorite ways to make a difference.

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Frustrations:

FOMO with friends and family.

Has faced frustration in the past when matched with pets that didn’t align with her lifestyle.

“I know I can help without fostering a pet; I just want to find a way that’s organized and straightforward.”

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38 yrs old

Eagle Rock, CA

Independent Consultant

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Lifestyle:

Enjoys getting tattoos and hanging with friends.

Values independence and flexibility in both his personal and professional life.

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Technology Usage:

Comfortable with Technology: Familiar with using apps and online platforms but prefers streamlined and well

organized interfaces that allow for easy navigation.

Community-Oriented: Actively engages with many online communities related to animal welfare and advocacy.

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‍Goals:

Make a Difference: Wants to contribute to animal welfare but is unable to commit to foster any pets due to current lifestyle and work commitments.

Support Animal Welfare: Interested in volunteering and finding opportunities to assist through sponsoring a pet or through fundraising.

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Frustrations:

Disorganization: Finds unorganized systems frustrating, especially when it comes to volunteering opportunities or with shelter operations. He values efficiency and clarity.

Timeliness: Dislikes when people arrive too early for scheduled events, preferring to stick to agreed timelines.

Emphasis on Iteration: Iteration is crucial in refining the design and ensuring it meets user needs effectively. Constantly revising based on feedback leads to more improved functional and user-friendly outcomes.

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Experimentation is Essential: Exploring various approaches and solutions sparks creativity and helps pinpoint effective design strategies.

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Critical Thinking: UX design requires analyzing problems from various angles, considering both perspectives of user needs and business goals.

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Prototyping and Testing: Rapid prototyping and frequent testing allow for quick validation and adjustments, helping to identify issues early on and reduce costly changes later on.

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Design Consistency: Consistency in elements and interactions creates a cohesive experience.  

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The Value of Simplicity: Simplicity and clarity in design improves usability, making it easier for users to navigate and achieve their goals.