PawPals
PawPals
PawPals
Mobile app aiming to build genuine friendships within pet community.
Mobile app aiming to build genuine friendships within pet community.
Mobile app aiming to build genuine friendships within pet community.
PawPal is a mobile platform that connects pet owners with animal lovers who don't have pets. It fosters meaningful connections by enabling safe, in-person meetups for pet sitting and playdates.
PawPal is a mobile platform that connects pet owners with animal lovers who don't have pets. It fosters meaningful connections by enabling safe, in-person meetups for pet sitting and playdates.
PawPal is a mobile platform that connects pet owners with animal lovers who don't have pets. It fosters meaningful connections by enabling safe, in-person meetups for pet sitting and playdates.
Duration
Duration
Duration
3 months
3 months
3 months
Role
Role
Role
Sole Designer (Personal Project)
Sole Designer (Personal Project)
Sole Designer (Personal Project)
Skills
Skills
Product design, User Research, Wireframing, Design System, Prototyping
Product design, User Research, Wireframing, Design System, Prototyping
Product design, User Research, Wireframing, Design System, Prototyping
Backstory
Backstory
Backstory
I love animals, but I don’t have pets yet — so I designed an app to connect pet owners and pet-less animal lovers like me.
I love animals, but I don’t have pets yet — so I designed an app to connect pet owners and pet-less animal lovers like me.
I love animals, but I don’t have pets yet — so I designed an app to connect pet owners and pet-less animal lovers like me.
Problem
Problem
Problem
Pet enthusiasts and owners lack ways to connect beyond monetary transactions.
Pet enthusiasts and owners lack ways to connect beyond monetary transactions.
Pet enthusiasts and owners lack ways to connect beyond monetary transactions.
Most platforms focus on paid services like pet-sitting and walking. But what about people who simply love animals and want companionship—no strings attached?
Many crave pet time without full-time responsibility, while owners seek help from genuine animal lovers, not just paid sitters. Yet, existing platforms prioritize services over relationships, leaving no space for trust-based connections.
Most platforms focus on paid services like pet-sitting and walking. But what about people who simply love animals and want companionship—no strings attached?
Many crave pet time without full-time responsibility, while owners seek help from genuine animal lovers, not just paid sitters. Yet, existing platforms prioritize services over relationships, leaving no space for trust-based connections.
Most platforms focus on paid services like pet-sitting and walking. But what about people who simply love animals and want companionship—no strings attached?
Many crave pet time without full-time responsibility, while owners seek help from genuine animal lovers, not just paid sitters. Yet, existing platforms prioritize services over relationships, leaving no space for trust-based connections.
Solution
Solution
Solution
Understand & Identify
01
Understand & Identify
01
Understand & Identify
01
Initial User Interviews
Initial User Interviews
Initial User Interviews
I conducted 8 semi-structured interviews with members of both our user groups to gain insight into the type of connection they’re looking to build on a pet platform.
I conducted 8 semi-structured interviews with members of both our user groups to gain insight into the type of connection they’re looking to build on a pet platform.
I conducted 8 semi-structured interviews with members of both our user groups to gain insight into the type of connection they’re looking to build on a pet platform.
Research Insights
Research Insights
Research Insights
Open to long-lasting personal connections
Open to long-lasting personal connections
Open to long-lasting personal connections
Both pet owners and pet lovers showed interests in building longer lasting personal connections within the pet community beyond pure one-off transactional interactions.
Both pet owners and pet lovers showed interests in building longer lasting personal connections within the pet community beyond pure one-off transactional interactions.
Both pet owners and pet lovers showed interests in building longer lasting personal connections within the pet community beyond pure one-off transactional interactions.
Trust/safety concerns are primary deterrent
Trust/safety concerns are primary deterrent
Trust/safety concerns are primary deterrent
Both user groups are primarily concerned about trustworthiness of the other party and safety when meeting up with unfamiliar pets and/or people.
Both user groups are primarily concerned about trustworthiness of the other party and safety when meeting up with unfamiliar pets and/or people.
Both user groups are primarily concerned about trustworthiness of the other party and safety when meeting up with unfamiliar pets and/or people.
Market Research
Market Research
Market Research
The competition has NO NON-TRANSACTIONAL, FRIENDSHIP-BUILDING aspect.
The competition has NO NON-TRANSACTIONAL, FRIENDSHIP-BUILDING aspect.
The competition has NO NON-TRANSACTIONAL, FRIENDSHIP-BUILDING aspect.
While keeping the above insights in mind, I analyzed the 4 most popular apps in the pet sitting space. I found that none of them targets genuine friendship building in the pet community. This then became my opportunity for the solution.
While keeping the above insights in mind, I analyzed the 4 most popular apps in the pet sitting space. I found that none of them targets genuine friendship building in the pet community. This then became my opportunity for the solution.
While keeping the above insights in mind, I analyzed the 4 most popular apps in the pet sitting space. I found that none of them targets genuine friendship building in the pet community. This then became my opportunity for the solution.
How might we...
How might we...
How might we...
Develop a mobile app to facilitate genuine friendship building between pet owners and pet loving non-owners, ensuring trust and safety for everyone?
Develop a mobile app to facilitate genuine friendship building between pet owners and pet loving non-owners, ensuring trust and safety for everyone?
Develop a mobile app to facilitate genuine friendship building between pet owners and pet loving non-owners, ensuring trust and safety for everyone?
Product Opportunity
02
Product Opportunity
02
Product Opportunity
02
User Journey
User Journey
User Journey
Pet Owners
Pet Owners
Pet Owners
Pet owners want trusted companionship for their pets—whether for playdates, occasional care, or shared experiences. Existing platforms focus on paid services, making it hard to form genuine, trust-based connections with pet lovers.
Pet owners want trusted companionship for their pets—whether for playdates, occasional care, or shared experiences. Existing platforms focus on paid services, making it hard to form genuine, trust-based connections with pet lovers.
Pet owners want trusted companionship for their pets—whether for playdates, occasional care, or shared experiences. Existing platforms focus on paid services, making it hard to form genuine, trust-based connections with pet lovers.
Pet Lovers
Pet Lovers
Pet Lovers
Pet lovers who can’t own pets due to lifestyle or financial constraints crave meaningful interactions with animals.However, most platforms treat pet time as a paid service, leaving no space for organic, long-term relationships.
Pet lovers who can’t own pets due to lifestyle or financial constraints crave meaningful interactions with animals.However, most platforms treat pet time as a paid service, leaving no space for organic, long-term relationships.
Pet lovers who can’t own pets due to lifestyle or financial constraints crave meaningful interactions with animals.However, most platforms treat pet time as a paid service, leaving no space for organic, long-term relationships.
PawPals can help provide the platform to connect pet owners and pet-less animal lovers:
PawPals can help provide the platform to connect pet owners and pet-less animal lovers:
PawPals can help provide the platform to connect pet owners and pet-less animal lovers:
Trust, companionship, and community-building through pro-bono pet-sitting and playdate arrangements — allowing pet lovers and owners to form lasting bonds beyond financial exchanges.
Trust, companionship, and community-building through pro-bono pet-sitting and playdate arrangements — allowing pet lovers and owners to form lasting bonds beyond financial exchanges.
Trust, companionship, and community-building through pro-bono pet-sitting and playdate arrangements — allowing pet lovers and owners to form lasting bonds beyond financial exchanges.
Design Explorations
03
Design Explorations
03
Design Explorations
03
Low-Fidelity for Key Screens
Low-Fidelity for Key Screens
Low-Fidelity for Key Screens
However, PawPals still lack clear motivators for users to build more personal, less transactional connections.
However, PawPals still lack clear motivators for users to build more personal, less transactional connections.
However, PawPals still lack clear motivators for users to build more personal, less transactional connections.
How to encourage trustworthy & genuine friendships?
How to encourage trustworthy & genuine friendships?
How to encourage trustworthy & genuine friendships?
I did some research online about how to foster genuine connection between people. According to research done by Renmin University of China, Beijing:
I did some research online about how to foster genuine connection between people. According to research done by Renmin University of China, Beijing:
I did some research online about how to foster genuine connection between people. According to research done by Renmin University of China, Beijing:
Qualitative content, such as personal facts and testimonials, fosters trust in online interactions.
Qualitative content, such as personal facts and testimonials, fosters trust in online interactions.
Qualitative content, such as personal facts and testimonials, fosters trust in online interactions.
How to increase user retention and decrease drop-off rates?
How to increase user retention and decrease drop-off rates?
How to increase user retention and decrease drop-off rates?
I did some research online about how to foster genuine connection between people, and have decided that I need to:
I did some research online about how to foster genuine connection between people, and have decided that I need to:
I did some research online about how to foster genuine connection between people, and have decided that I need to:
Minimize user efforts
Minimize user efforts
Minimize user efforts
Final Design Showcase
05
Final Design Showcase
05
Final Design Showcase
05
Design Concept
Design Concept
Design Concept
Final Product
Final Product
Final Product
Onboarding & Browsing
Onboarding & Browsing
Onboarding & Browsing
Activity Feed & Profiles
Activity Feed & Profiles
Activity Feed & Profiles
Chats
Chats
Chats
Reflection
06
Reflection
06
Reflection
06
Balancing visuals with practicality & feasibility
Balancing visuals with practicality & feasibility
Balancing visuals with practicality & feasibility
This case study explores a concept-driven approach to fostering genuine relationships in the pet community. However, future iterations should focus more on feasibility, scalability, and real-world implementation. Ensuring that these features are not only engaging but also technically viable will be key to turning this vision into a fully functional product.
This case study explores a concept-driven approach to fostering genuine relationships in the pet community. However, future iterations should focus more on feasibility, scalability, and real-world implementation. Ensuring that these features are not only engaging but also technically viable will be key to turning this vision into a fully functional product.
This case study explores a concept-driven approach to fostering genuine relationships in the pet community. However, future iterations should focus more on feasibility, scalability, and real-world implementation. Ensuring that these features are not only engaging but also technically viable will be key to turning this vision into a fully functional product.
See More of My Work
See More of My Work
See More of My Work
