Personal project · Mobile app
Happy Gossets
Happy Gossets
Happy Gossets is a mobile app in development that aims to simplify pet care for owners. The app offers services such as dog walking, training, feeding, health, grooming, and boarding, connecting owners with trusted pet sitters.
Problem statement
Long working hours, travelling long distances, inflexible schedules or a disability can make it difficult to meet pets’ needs during the day. These owners may have no one to delegate their dogs’ care or walks to.
The goal
This application addresses the problem by helping owners find someone they trust to look after their dog.
Understanding the user
Research summary
I conducted interviews and created empathy maps to understand the people I was designing for and their needs. A primary group identified through research was working adults with little time to care for their pets.
This group confirmed our initial assumptions about potential users, but research also revealed that time was not the only limiting factor. Other obligations, interests and challenges prevented people from meeting their pets’ needs or delegating their care. We also discovered a group we had not initially considered: people with disabilities that make comprehensive pet care difficult.
Pain points identified through research
- Time. Working adults are too busy to devote time to every aspect of pet care.
- Accessibility. Pet-care booking platforms are not equipped with assistive technologies.
- UI. Services often have too much text, making them hard to read and book.
This group confirmed our initial assumptions, but research showed that time was not the only barrier. Other obligations, interests and challenges prevented owners from caring for their pets or delegating that care. We also discovered users with disabilities who had not been considered initially.
Personas
Problem statement
Busy working people need easy access to pet-care options because they do not have time to provide all the care themselves.
User personas:
User persona
User journey map
The user journey revealed how useful access to a dedicated application such as Happy Gossets would be.
User journey map
Time to start designing
Paper wireframes
Taking time to iterate each screen on paper ensured that the elements carried into digital wireframes were appropriate for addressing users’ pain points. For the services screen, I prioritised an organic, quick and easy service-selection process to save users time.
Paper wireframes
Digital wireframes
As I continued the initial design phase, I based screen designs on user feedback and research findings. Easy navigation was a key need, alongside making the app work with assistive technologies.
Digital wireframes
Low-fidelity prototype
Using the complete set of digital wireframes, I created a low-fidelity prototype. The main flow connected opening the app with booking a service, making it suitable for a usability study.
Usability study findings
I conducted two rounds. Findings from the first study guided the transition from wireframes to mockups. The second used a high-fidelity prototype to reveal which aspects needed refinement.
First-round findings
- Users want to book a service quickly.
- Users want more information and reviews about sitters.
- Users want a way to contact sitters.
Second-round findings
- I need to add the user’s location at the beginning.
- I need to add complete service flows.
Refining the design
Mockups
The early designs allowed some customisation, but I added more options after usability testing. I also revised the design so that users could see all available services on their first visit.
Digital wireframes
The second usability study revealed frustration with missing screens for completing bookings. Users also asked to provide their location earlier. I needed to simplify this process and include it in onboarding. Service cards also needed more images, sitter reviews and useful information such as proximity.
Digital wireframes
Digital wireframes
Digital wireframes
High-fidelity prototype
The final prototype improved user flows, simplifying bookings and payments. It also fulfilled requests for personalised messages with images to sitters, establishing a direct relationship with them.
Key mockups
Accessibility
- Adding image alternative text for screen readers improved access for users with visual disabilities.
- Adding icons to identify services made navigation easier.
- Adding a detailed photo gallery for sitters helped all users trust them.
Results of messaging between sitters and owners
Impact
It makes users feel that the application really meets their needs.
A user quote:
“The app made booking a sitter super easy and fun! I’ll definitely use it to arrange care for our pet when we go on holiday.”
What I learned
While designing the app, I learned that the first ideas are only the beginning. Usability studies and feedback from peers influenced every iteration.
Next steps
- Conduct another round of usability testing to validate that users’ pain points have been effectively addressed.
- Resume user research to identify new needs.