FurEver

A seamless way to find your newest family member. Designed to let users specify exactly what they’re looking for in a pet, the platform prioritizes user-friendliness by removing unnecessary clutter, ensuring a straightforward and efficient search experience.

Role
UX Designer leading the design of the FurEver app, from initial concept to final delivery.

Responsibilities
Conducting interviews, paper and digital wireframing, low and high-fidelity prototyping, conducting usability studies, accounting for accessibility, and iterating on designs.

Project Duration
September 2022- October 2022

The Product

This pet adoption website is designed for users aged 18-68, focusing on providing an efficient and seamless experience for navigating the pet adoption process.

The Problem

Pet lovers need a streamlined and hassle-free way to navigate the pet adoption process.

The Solution

Create a website that allows users to be able to navigate without breaking the users flow objective. Allow them to be able to save favorite pets as well as filter out all pets that do not meet their requirements if needed.

Understanding the User

Button Sizing

Older users find button and font sizing to be difficult to use

User Research: Summary

I conducted user interviews and developed empathy maps to gain a deeper understanding of the users and their needs. Based on these insights, I created user personas, including a primary user group of retirees with ample free time.

While this group validated initial assumptions about pet adoption websites, the research also uncovered additional challenges affecting the user experience. Key issues included overcrowded homepages, small and difficult-to-click buttons, and the absence of a favorites feature.

Filtering

Many website lack a filtering option to allow for a more narrowed search

User Research: Pain Point

Redirection

Users struggle with a constant redirection every time they try to view a pets profile page.

Navigation

A cluttered navigation menu makes it difficult for users to locate the information they need.

Meet the Personas

Grace is a retired school teacher who needs a simple way to find an animal that is up for adoption because she struggles navigating through website with too much traffic.

Dimos is an animal lover and busy father who needs an efficient way to find a pet that meets his family's needs, ensuring his kids adore the pet and his family feels secure.

User Journey Map

Grace’s journey revealed that incorporating favoriting and filtering options, along with a clean, intuitive UI, would significantly improve the experience for all users.

Starting the Design

Paper Wireframes

Drafting multiple iterations of each app screen on paper ensured that the elements translated to digital wireframes effectively addressed user pain points. I also designed each screen with simplicity and scalability in mind, enabling seamless adaptation to different screen sizes for a responsive web design.

Easy to find information with a non cluttered home page

Option to search animal type by location

Low-Fidelity Wireframes

Throughout the initial design phase, I focused on incorporating feedback and insights from user research, prioritizing elements like a clutter-free, easy-to-navigate layout to meet key user needs.

I also addressed user frustration with being redirected to a new page when a user wants to see more information about a pet, as well as adding filtering option to ensure the user can find what they want in the simplest way possible.

Low-Fidelity Prototype

This low fidelity prototype connected the primary user flow of finding and selecting a pet for adoption so the prototype could be used in a usability study with users.

Filtering Option

A preview of each pet with a quick description with the option to read a full description if interested.

Usability Study Findings

I conducted two rounds of usability studies that helped guide the designs from wireframes to mockups. The second study used a high-fidelity prototype and revealed what aspects of the mockup needed refining.

Round 1 Findings

Users a want a homepage that is not cluttered with unnecessary information.

Users want a filtering option to allow them to find a pet with their qualifications.

Users don't want to be taken to a new page everytime they want to read a little more about a pet.

Round 2 Findings

Users want to be able to see all the pets they inquired about in one place to help keep track of them.

Refining the Design

Mockups

Early designs had no hero image and a search bar that was followed by an image carousel . After the usability studies, I simplified the home screen by adding a hero image and putting the search bar first for an easier navigation.

Before usability study

During the second usability study, users expressed frustration with repeatedly filling out the application form. To address this, I redesigned the page to allow users to send a notice of interest with their information, prompting the shelter to reach out if the pet is still available for adoption. Additionally, I added an information section for each shelter, as users wanted to learn more about the organizations they were supporting.

Before usability study

After usability study