Chi Pham
Sunjae Lee
Sandra Qin

2023 - 2024
2024 Muse Silver Winner

In a well-established pet adoption industry, we're setting out to make a difference. PawMate is a gamified app designed to transform the adoption process, making it more enjoyable and effective for users.


User Interface / User Research / User Experience / Animation / Interaction Design

We started out as with desk research to understand the current landscape of the pet adoption industry.

Competitive Audit

Since animal adoption is a well-established industry, we want to explore what was currently successful and what can be improved.

Key takeaways
and Goals

Based on all of the research, we decided to set a few goals to create our solution.

01.User Interview

Following the discovery phase, we conducted interviews with 8 users who had firsthand experience with pet adoption to gain insights into their journey and identify any pain points.

Through user conversations, we've identified the user journey comprising five main stages. Here are the insights and recurring themes we gathered.

We conducted interviews with individuals who adopted animals from shelters to gain valuable insights for building this UX project.

PawMate's illustrations blend creativity and purpose, inspired by gamification and our dedication to crafting a vibrant environment for pets and their future owners. The playful crayon texture and sketchy, fun aesthetic infuse the illustrations with a unique charm, capturing the essence of joy and companionship.

During this phase, we delved into HMW features, exploring various functionalities for the app to enhance the user experience. Our focus was on brainstorming and implementing features that would address specific user needs and contribute to a more comprehensive and engaging PawMate platform. Through this exploration, we sought to identify and integrate innovative solutions that would further enrich the pet adoption journey for our users.

In the mid-fi phase, PawMate underwent rigorous testing and iteration, refining its features and design flows based on user feedback. We strategically tested, excluded, and included various features to optimize the overall user experience. The focus was on creating robust design flows for crucial aspects such as onboarding, the main page, pet search, and pet profiles. Through extensive user testing and multiple rounds of revision, we fine-tuned the interface, ensuring that it strikes the right balance between functionality and user-friendly navigation.

During the hi-fi phase, our focus was on enhancing the visual appeal of PawMate by integrating advanced features. We prioritized micro-interactions, animations, branding design, and a comprehensive design system to ensure a seamless user experience and polished UI.

Pet Search

Search using the top bar or bottom navigation. Various filters and personalized suggestions make finding your pet simple.

Quiz

For extra ways to find your perfect pet, try our interactive quiz for a fun matching experience. You can also learn about pets through our engaging educational quizzes.

Application

Apply to adopt directly through the pet profile. The form is divided into sections with a progress bar with convenient payment options available for the deposit.

Care

Take pet care lessons or book vet appointments. Adopting a PawMate includes a mandatory care course to ensure a smooth post-adoption transition for both you and your new pet.

Color Palette | Icon

To harmonize with the gamification theme, we decided with a particular emphasis on the vibrant shade of green and Yellow. The “protective” green and “vibrant” yellow we chose for the brand's visual identity not only enhances aesthetic appeal but also serves as a meaningful symbol, resonating with the core values and mission of PawMate.

Font | Tagline

In shaping PawMate’s visual identity, our font choices were pivotal in reinforcing the brand's theme and design. We went for Leah Gaviota's playful cursive and Nunito's clean, modern style. Together, they strike a balance that adds charm and readability, enhancing the brand's overall vibe.

Through multiple rounds of user testing, we strive to develop a rational and intuitive interactive design and animations that not only align with the gaming theme but also deliver the most engaging user experience.

Gamification

With the PawMates introduction card design, we can utilize it in various situations, including the compare section, which evokes a 1 vs 1 Fighting Games vibe.

Meanwhile, the subtle card-swiping micro- engagement mimics the experience of a dating app (or game, haha). By swiping the card in different directions, you can either express interest in the PawMates or hide them from future searches.

By establishing a design system before we heading off to the Hi-Fi Prototype, it enables our team of three to collaborate seamlessly and stay on the same page even when working in different times and locations. This approach not only maintains consistency in our work but also speeds up the process. It serves as a helpful guide for the development team, eliminating inconsistencies and simplifying app building.

Hand-off

Having hand-off for technology team, not only fosters clarity within our design team but also enhances overall efficiency in the handoff process, allowing for a smoother and more effective collaboration between design and implementation teams.

Lessons
Learned

Throughout this project, we have acquired a wealth of valuable insights and knowledge about users, and team collaboration.

In crafting our product visions, our goal is to elevate the entire pet adoption experience, cultivate a strong sense of community, and explore opportunities that contribute to the sustainable growth of the pet adoption app.