Purrfect
Role: UX / UI Design, Product Design, Branding, Research
Duration: 10 weeks, 2022
Tool: Figma, Photoshop, Illustrator
Type: iOs Mobile App
A health care app that helps cat parents record, document and connect with their vets.
#PetCare #PetWellness #FurBabies #Journaling #Communication #Veterinary User Interviews
Solution?
Research
Task Flow Diagram
UI Design
sketches
A health care app that helps cat parents record, document and connect with their vets. Write note, upload photo, video and sound recording to keep track of your fur baby’s wellbeing. Chat and send message with your vet any time. Save yourself a trip to the vet for non-emergency checkup.
“Cat owners often find vet visits stressful for various reasons.”
Problem Space
Secondary research indicates that 61% of Canadians own a pet, with a majority being cat owners. Moreover, 7 out of 10 pet parents prioritize their pets' health over their own, reflecting a deep emotional bond with their furry companions. Later through user interviews and surveys, I identified key pain points experienced by cat owners during vet visits.
After conducting user interviews, I sorted the insights and findings into various themes. It dawned on me that the theme of communication with vets could be a game-changer, ripe for improvement through a mobile app.
Following the user interviews, I organized the insights and findings into distinct themes.
Then I decided to center my project around enhancing communication with veterinarians. I am confident that leveraging a mobile app can lead to significant improvements in this area.
And thus, the "how might we" statement was born!
Cat owners often experience stress before, during, and after vet visits due to various factors. As a cat owner myself, I deeply empathize with this challenge and am motivated to leverage my design skills to support fellow cat owners in Vancouver.
How might we… better prepare cat owners for their vet visit in order to make their visit a positive experience?
To visualize our targeted audience – meet our persona Tiffany. The newbie cat mom with a heart of gold and two furballs to her name. She's navigating the world of cat care with wide eyes and a whole lot of love – but also a fair share of stress.
A user journey map was constructed to visualize Tiffany's pain points and frustrations, while a task flow diagram delineated the steps involved in addressing her needs through the app's functionality.
Tiffany’s goal today is to post a new journal entry recording her sick baby, Jerry’s symptoms.
The user interface design process commenced with ideation and sketching sessions, guided by user-centric principles and informed by prevalent design trends. These initial sketches were refined into a mid-fidelity prototype, serving as a tangible representation of the app's envisioned functionality.
User Journey Map
Mid Fidelity Prototype
High Fidelity Prototype
Brand Identity
Typefaces and Colours
Wordmark
Drawing upon research findings, persona insights, and brand values, I developed a minimalist yet engaging visual identity for Purrfect. A thoroughly crafted moodboard and logo were crafted to reflect the brand's playful yet professional ethos.
Building upon my initial concept, I experimented with typography in various styles. Additionally, I handwrote some elements myself, as I couldn't find a font that fully met my satisfaction.
The final wordmark shows a playful, whimsical, and cheerful essence, perfectly reflecting the brand's qualities. Every iteration was sketched in Photoshop before being transformed into vector files using Illustrator. I opted for the circled version due to its excellent legibility, thick strokes, and simple shape.
Marketing
and
Multi-platform Development
To maximize reach and accessibility, I created a responsive marketing website for Purrfect, optimized for both desktop and mobile platforms.
Furthermore, a multi-platform version of the app was tailored to meet the diverse needs of users, including an iPad-compatible interface.
What comes next for Purrfect?
Moving forward, I aim to collaborate with local cat owners and veterinarians in Vancouver to conduct comprehensive testing of the app. Additionally, I plan to engage with developers to bring Purrfect to fruition, delivering a solution that truly addresses the needs of cat owners and their beloved pets.
By leveraging technology to alleviate the stress associated with veterinary visits, Purrfect strives to foster a harmonious relationship between cat owners and their furry companions, promoting optimal well-being for all stakeholders.
When you picture your user base, who is excluded?
Purrfect's target audience comprises young adults with basic tech skills. They rely on technology and, for non-emergency situations, prefer messaging their vet over calling or visiting in person.
If they used your product, what would their experience be like?
Initially, I assumed that pet owners lacking tech savvy wouldn't use this product. However, with assistance from their younger family members or friends, they can still learn to navigate Purrfect. Incorporating accessibility features like text enlargement and light/dark mode options would also enhance usability for the elderly.
Next Steps
Future Thinking
Prototype and User Testing
Through a user-centric approach, I designed a prototype that mirrors Tiffany's journey as a returning user. From recording Jerry's symptoms to facilitating seamless communication with her vet, the app empowers Tiffany to manage her pet's health confidently.
I started my initial user testing on the prototype, asking 5 users to follow the task flow mentioned earlier. I ranked the insights and feedbacks based on the Design Prioritization Matrix.
Taking inspiration from the moodboard, I curated a colour palette aligned with the app's core values. The selected typefaces, Ubuntu and Lora, were chosen for their modern aesthetic and seamless compatibility.