As a part of Google's UX Design Professional Certificate program on Coursera, I was challenged to create a responsive website and app platform for a theoretical pet adoption organization. This project was intended to refine my skills throughout the UX design process as well as gaining experience with the Adobe Xd software. My designs were created to suit a small adoption organization called Barry's that rescues and facilitates adoptions for dogs and cats.
Role:
Sole Contributer
Duration:
March 2023 - May 2023
Link:
Final Mockup
Tools:
Adobe Xd, Google Material Design, Coursera
There is a lack of accessible and user-friendly online platform for pet adoption that streamlines the adoption process and helps users make informed, personalized choices.
This website will feature a clear and easy-to-navigate interface that provides all necessary information about the adoption process and available pets. To help users make informed decisions, the website will offer a personalized pet matching system that takes into account user preferences and pet backgrounds. Additionally, the website will offer tools for users to save and track their favorite pets, schedule visits, and apply for adoption.
Research and interview potential users to define user needs and expectations
Brainstorm and workshop design layouts with wireframes and prototypes
Conduct usability research, identify and implement actionable insights to improve designs
To launch this project, I conducted interviews to elucidate what potential users would expect or desire from an adoption site. I was also aiming to discover many problems users have experienced or currently experience when adopting pets. From this research, I created the following user personas, user journey maps and I defined key user pain points to focus the designs around.
To launch this project, I conducted interviews to elucidate what potential users would expect or desire from an inventory management app. I was also aiming to discover many problems users have experienced or currently experience when managing restaurant inventories. From this research, I created the following user personas, user journey maps and I defined key user pain points to focus the designs around.
"Transparency and ease in the adoption process are important to me, and I want to provide a loving home to a dog in need."
About
Sarah is a 28 year old software engineer who recently moved to San Francisco for a job opportunity. She enjoys spending time outdoors and going on hikes, as well as volunteering at the local animal shelter in her free time. She is also tech-savvy and comfortable using online platforms to research and browse pet adoption options. Sarah lives alone in a small apartment and is seeking a dog that suits that environment.
Goals
Find a dog that fits her living situation and personality, feel good about supporting a local animal shelter or rescue organization, and provide a loving home for the dog.
Frustrations
Lack of communication about the status of her application or the pet's availability, the pet's health or temperament aren’t disclosed, and feeling overwhelmed or unsure about the required documentation and fees.
Confusing Process
Pet Adoption is often overwhelming and confusing for first timers. Users often struggle to know what steps to take to start the process.
High Research Demand
It can be difficult to gather all relevant information about the many cat and dog breeds available. It's also hard to estimate the realistic care needs of a given pet.
Decision Paralysis
With such a vast number of factors involved in pet selection, users may have a hard time narrowing down their options.
This remote, unmoderated usability study aims to determine if the site meets user expectations and if the existing user flows are logical, ensuring that users don’t miss necessary steps or get confused.
Since call-to-action buttons did not support the intended user flows, they need better placement and functions. Thusly, buttons were added to each step of the adoption process on the adoption page so the user can jump straight to a given action. Old buttons from the top of the page were removed.
The homepage used to feature a "browse pets" button, which directed users to skip parts of the intended user flows. The homepage now features a button directing the user to read the adoption process before embarking on it themselves. The progress tracker is also relocated to the top of the profile page to again remind users of which steps to follow.
Users felt that pages felt overly full or there was too much to focus on at once. Therefore, page layouts were adjusted to become more consistent. The adoption day appointment was combined into visit appointments. Pet Match graphs were moved from pet profiles to the user profile. Finally, the adoption process page layout was refined.
Since call-to-action buttons did not support the intended user flows, they need better placement and functions. Thusly, buttons were added to each step of the adoption process on the adoption page so the user can jump straight to a given action. Old buttons from the top of the page were removed.
The homepage used to feature a "browse pets" button, which directed users to skip parts of the intended user flows. The homepage now features a button directing the user to read the adoption process before embarking on it themselves. The progress tracker is also relocated to the top of the profile page to again remind users of which steps to follow.
Users felt that pages felt overly full or there was too much to focus on at once. Therefore, page layouts were adjusted to become more consistent. The adoption day appointment was combined into visit appointments. Pet Match graphs were moved from pet profiles to the user profile. Finally, the adoption process page layout was refined.
This remote, unmoderated usability study aims to assess the site's visual design, determine the efficacy of previous iterations, and elucidate potential future improvements. Participants fit the criteria used previously: individuals who have adopted a pet either online or in person or individuals who work in a relevant field and are familiar with the pet adoption process.
Research expressed that user input demand is excessive. In response, any user input form after the initial "create account" form no longer requires information stored in the user's profile, like phone number or email. In addition, when possible, button options were removed from on-screen overlay messages and corresponding navigation was automated.
It was observed in the study that users were dissatisfied with the tone expressed by the stylistic choices in the site. Users described the tone of the website as neutral and cold, but users also reported that the tone of this website should be more personal and playful. The style is now enhanced with more bright colors and jovial patterns.
Since previous iterations to resolve navigational issues were unsuccessful, more global changes were necessary. The "About Barry's" content was removed from the homepage which now features the adoption process. There is also a drop-down component under the topbar which allows users to preview their progress on any page.
Research expressed that user input demand is excessive. In response, any user input form after the initial "create account" form no longer requires information stored in the user's profile, like phone number or email. In addition, when possible, button options were removed from on-screen overlay messages and corresponding navigation was automated.
It was observed in the study that users were dissatisfied with the tone expressed by the stylistic choices in the site. Users described the tone of the website as neutral and cold, but users also reported that the tone of this website should be more personal and playful. The style is now enhanced with more bright colors and jovial patterns.
Since previous iterations to resolve navigational issues were unsuccessful, more global changes were necessary. The "About Barry's" content was removed from the homepage which now features the adoption process. There is also a drop-down component under the topbar which allows users to preview their progress on any page.
