petpals
Our nonprofit, pop-up mobile services provide basic health checks and grooming for dogs and cats of low income families. Each member of our team strives to provide the best care and experience for your pets!
Design Research, UI/UX
Team: Diana Garza, John Garza, Jenna Singletary
Design Research: All team members
UI/UX: Diana Garza
Contributions
Pawblem
Due to the high cost of veterinary care and grooming services, animals living in low income households may not always receive the necessary health care needed to live a happy and comfortable life. Inadequate care can lead to life threatening health problems and animal abandonment.
Goal
Our goal is to provide low-income families with a stress free pet care experience at no cost. Using our pop-up mobile service, kiosk, and user friendly app, our clients will be able to browse and learn more about the pet services we offer.
Discovery
Average health care & grooming prices
Grooming (varies on size)
Bath: $30-$80
De-Shedding: $20-$40
Ear Cleaning: $5-$10
Basic tooth care: $10
Nail Trim: $10-$20
Health Care
Basic Examination: $45-$55
Vaccines: $20-$40
Microchip: $25-$60
Average cost of common pet illnesses
Why is pet health care necessary?
Maintaining the health of our pets is just as crucial as maintaining our own health. Regular health checkups, including vaccinations, are imperative for preventing pets from being vulnerable to different viruses and diseases that could cause discomfort, chronic pain, or even death.
Why is pet grooming necessary?
Despite the fact that many dogs and cats may not enjoy being groomed, it’s still better to hear them fuss over soap and water than to witness them suffer from the consequences of poor grooming habits in the future. Neglecting grooming care can lead to various issues, including matted coats, the accumulation of fleas and ticks, skin conditions, ear and eye infections, and even difficulties with walking.
Why should pet owners prioritize their pet’s health and wellness?
The primary reason to take care of our pets is to ensure their good health and happiness. However, some pet owners may not realize the significant consequences of inadequate pet care. In Texas, for instance, not vaccinating a pet could result in a Class C misdemeanor. Apart from fines, pets can pass on many viral and bacterial diseases to humans, putting pet owners at risk. Furthermore, any animal that comes into contact with an infected pet can also contract the disease.
Brainstorming
Interview Takeaways
We conducted interviews with the Austin Animal Center and Peek-A-Boo Grooming to gain a deeper insight into the range of pet health care services available and the reasons behind the high demand for basic pet care.
Shelters offer microchipping and emergency pet care
Microchipping helps reduce homeless pets and makes it possible for lost pets to reconnect with their owners
High pet care prices are a common reason for pet surrender
Grooming services charge based on pet size and the duration of the appointment. Extra fees may apply for unpleasant pet behavior and badly matted fur
User Persona and Empathy Map
We developed a user persona and empathy map utilizing research and interviews in order to thoroughly understand our target audience and their requirements.
Intended Target Audience
Based on research, interviews, user personas, and empathy maps, we determined that individuals with lower income and who prioritize their pet’s health and well-being are more inclined to use our services.
How Might We Statements
Upon identifying our target audience and conducting interviews with animal care facilities, we formulated a set of questions aimed at developing solutions for our user's requirements.
So what is the solution?
We aim to assist low-income families in maintaining the well-being and happiness of their pets by offering complimentary pet healthcare and grooming services. To achieve this, we have developed a mobile pop-up service, a kiosk, and an application.
Why a pop-up truck?
By using a pop-up truck, we can conveniently travel to multiple cities and easily accommodate all the necessary equipment. Additionally, a pop-up setup enables us to create an outdoor environment where pets can safely roam around while waiting for their turn.
Why an app?
With an app in place, our clients will have the ability to track all of our visits and upcoming stops effortlessly. Furthermore, it provides a convenient option for clients to schedule an appointment in advance.
Why a kiosk?
A kiosk serves as an excellent temporary station that can be conveniently placed and relocated to almost any location. Moreover, kiosks come in a suitable size for people of various heights and feature a spacious screen that allows for legible text and clear button usage.
User Flows
In order to understand how our users will engage with our kiosk and app, we developed user flows to identify the information required to guide them through our services.
Wireframes
In the early stages of wireframing, our primary objective was to ensure that our brand reflected a friendly personality. We attempted this by incorporating playful phrases and wordings, which is why the initial screens have a different typeface and phrasing compared to the final outcome. As we progressed with wireframing, we realized that transparency with our users was critical. Therefore, we shifted our focus to improving the clarity of our wording for each service while still using simpler words to help users understand.
App Final Outcome
Login and Home
Upon login, users will be greeted with a brief about us statement.
Home page features:
search bar and navigation bar
offered services
schedule appointment
track us
Selecting Services
Addressed HMW:
How Might We assist users in understanding the purpose of each healthcare service, and facilitate customization according to their preferences?
Once the user is on the “select services” page, they can start choosing their desired health and grooming services. To ensure transparency about what their pets will be receiving, a question mark feature was included for users to inquire about any unfamiliar vaccination or microchip. Additionally, users have the option to select only the services they want or need, as some may not require all of them.
Calming Aids
Addressed HMW:
How Might We ensure the safety and comfort of our furry customers and alleviate any concerns and worries of their owners?
Recognizing that dogs and cats can react differently in new or certain environments, we made it a priority to identify strategies for minimizing pet anxiety and reactivity. As a solution, we introduced the option for pet owners to receive natural calming aids for their pets, thereby creating a stress-free environment that promotes the safety of pets, owners, and staff members.
Booking Appointment
The user is presented with a clear display of available dates, times, and cities to facilitate the booking process.
Appointment Order:
User first selects a city
Selects an available date
Picks an available time
Confirmation
Once the user has selected their pet’s services and booked their appointment, a confirmation list of their choices will be displayed. The user has the option to modify their selections if they desire. Upon confirming their choices, the user’s booking process is complete and is taken back to the homepage.
Track Us
Addressed HMW:
How Might We inform users of upcoming dates?
Cities, dates, and addresses are displayed to inform the user of our next stops.
Kiosk Final Outcome
Check in
Users are greeted with a brief about us statement and begin the check-in process.
Selecting Services
Similar to the app interface, users are presented with the services options side by side and still have the option to customize their preferred options.
Calming Aids and Booking
Users are still able to request a calming aid for their pet and will receive confirmation of their selected services. Upon reaching this screen, they will be given the option to print their receipt and can also choose to download the petpals app by scanning the provided QR code.
Project Reflection
My Takeaways
With my interest in animal care, I found this project to be enjoyable and exciting. However, there were some challenges that we faced. Initially, our team struggled to communicate effectively about each screen, which led to inconsistencies and unclear objectives. When redesigning the UI/UX, I made it a priority to identify physical wellness issues that animals face. Through conducting research, I gained insights into the needs of potential users, which helped me to choose an appropriate name and color palette. Additionally, I realized the importance of clear navigation and user testing, which motivated me to simplify the screens and ensure that users could easily understand each feature and can easily identify the next steps to take while using the app. Overall, this project taught me important lessons about effective communication, research, design, and user testing.
Further Development
With more time, I would have liked to incorporate Environmental Graphic Design elements to visually depict the appearance of the pop-up. Regarding the app, my goal is to further develop the tracking feature and provide users with a clear understanding of how location tracking works while they are using it.