Hachiko
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Client:
Personal Project
Service:
Product Design, UX Research, Visual Design
Sector:
Tech
Date:
July 13, 2024
Problem
Owning a dog requires significant amount of time and attention which might prove difficult for alot of busy professionals and pet owners.
In today's fast-paced world, many people struggle to balance their work commitments with pet care responsibilities. This often results in pets being left alone and potentially unhappy during their owners' absence. The question arises: who will look after these pets when their owners are away?
Solution
A mobile app for dog services, including shopping for pet needs and social media to connect with other pet owners.
A one-stop solution for all your pet needs, which includes taking care of all your pet needs when they’re left alone, their pet needs, connecting with other pet owners to learn more about how to take better care of your furry friends. I broke the features into 3 main categories which are MVP of the app.
Dog Services
Book dog services such as walking, house sitting and more with ease
Browse through verified dog service providers sorted by ratings and preferences. Book a walker, sitter, daycare, or drop-in service with just a few clicks. Track your pet's location in real-time for complete peace of mind.
Pet Shop
Shop for all pet needs in one place
The app offers all essential products for your furry friends. With easy delivery to your location and a wide variety of categories, shopping is convenient for both new and experienced pet owners.
Social Media
Connect with other dog owners and learn more about your furry friend
The app providers a social media platform where you can interact with other pet owners to learn more about each other’s pets. A social media app for pets.
Background
In 2024, my friend was out of town and asked me to take care of her dog for a week. Her name was Phoebe. I loved pets and accepted this responsibility, unaware of the challenges ahead. During that week, I realized that taking care of a pet requires significant time and understanding to keep them happy and healthy. This made me wonder: how do busy professionals manage when their dogs are often left unattended? After studying this problem, I discovered a market gap across different demographics. Determined to find a solution, I developed the mobile app.
I named this app Hachiko based on the Japanese legend of a dog named Hachiko (akita dog), who was remebered for his remarkable loyalty to his owner.
Research
I divided my research into two stages to understand the problem.
Primary Stage
I brainstormed ways to help dog owners, analyzed existing solutions, and compared them as potential competitors for Hachiko.
Secondary Stage
I interviewed dog owners, identified patterns using Affinity Maps, and derived insights from these interviews.
Competitors Analysis
I brainstormed ways to help dog owners, analyzed existing solutions, and compared them as potential competitors for Hachiko.
Pros
-Simple Payment Processing
-Rover fosters a community of pet lovers
Cons
-Less control over scheduling appointments.
Pros
-Variety of services offered
-Real time tracking
Cons
-Limited customization on service provider details.
Must Haves
By analyzing our competitors, we've identified key features that are essential for Hachiko's success. Rather than reinventing the wheel, we can leverage existing solutions to create a superior user experience.
Customizable search : Specific criteria for dog walkers/sitters (e.g., breed experience, special needs).
Live Location Tracking : detailed Live tracking of dog walkers/sitters
Simple Scheduling : Having a simple time scheduling which is easier for dog owners and service providers along with
options to have multiple scheduling.
Payment Processing : Transparent payment processing and no hidden charges for all parties involved.
User Interviews
To understand the problem better I conducted User Interviews with 11 Participants enquiring about their problems as a dog owner, how are these problems being currently solved.
Think Global, Act Local
-Patrick Geddes
We’re looking for a global solution for multiple countries, it is important to interview users who have used existing apps like Rover since it isn’t avaliable in all countries.
How many pets do you have?
is your Pet currently being unattended in a normal day?
Are you home often to be with your pet?
How are your pet supplies currently being taken care of?
If you were to get someone else to take care of your pet, what would your ideal candidate be?
How was your experience been owning a dog?
User Insights
Based of data i derived from user interviews, i made affinity maps to gather insights.
*me writing insights as a final step since i did time consuming work on FigJam
Insight 1
When choosing someone who is taking care of their dog, trust is paramount. (90% Participants agreed that they would need assurance that their pet is in good hands)
Insight 2
Busy dog owners need the flexibility to book dog walkers on the go and also schedule them for later dates.
Insight 3
Dog owners are open to ways to get dog supplies delivered to them saving their time.
Insight 4
First-time dog owners found the process slightly challenging because there are many things to consider before getting a pet.
User Persona
About
Stephanie is a 24-year-old dog owner in Los Angeles, US. She values animal welfare, responsibility, and convenience. Stephanie enjoys spending time with her dog Coco, but due to her job, she is unavailable to Coco for almost half of the day. Currently living alone, Stephanie has to leave Coco at home because she cannot afford to take Coco to her workplace. Her pain points include finding time to walk her dog, feeling guilty about leaving her dog alone and finding reliable pet care services.
Needs
A way to keep her dog entertained and exercised while she is at work
A reliable and affordable dog walker or sitter
Goals
To ensure that her dog is happy and healthy
To reduce her stress and guilt about leaving her dog alone
To find more time for herself and her hobbies
Challenges
Finding time to walk her dog
Feeling guilty about leaving her dog alone
Finding reliable and affordable pet care services
Who will provide the service?
Since we’re working on connecting individuals with service providers we would need a solid payment system through which people can earn for the service that provide such as dog walking, house sitting, etc. There we would need to divide the app into 2 parts one would consist of people who need the service vs people who provide the service. I named that app business app to keep the 2 portions seperate. The internal workings are well thought of but are beyond the scope of this case study since our entire focus is on the user.
Design
Low Fi
I quickly came up with Low Fidelity designs on the main service flow which included selecting a service, choosing among which sitter to pick, picking date and time, confirming the booking.
Brand Identity
I wanted the brand to balance friendliness with professionalism, which is why I chose inviting colors like orange. The logo features a friendly puppy that strongly resonates with the brand's identity.
Interative Design
Design is a interative process and i like to do it in steps and over and over until i achieve something i’m satisfied with. I moved low-fi to high-fi and made adjustments on high-fi which seemed appropriate.
I organized the Service Provider profile into distinct sections—Overview, Reviews, Photos, and Availability—for easier navigation instead of displaying everything on one long page. These organizational changes, along with subtle design tweaks, enhanced the app's overall user experience.
Reflecting on design choices
Once i was done with reiterations of design, i reflected on why i took certain decisions based on my research and findings.
Service Flow
Booking a dog service should be simple and straightforward process, I insured it is so. Selecting the type of service and getting providers details is a simple process. After that you insure booking on date and location, for the dates i made sure to add option to add multiple appointments. Lastly i wanted to have transparency while your pet is being walked so i added live tracking features and chat so you have every update.
Ordering Pet Supplies
Order pet supplies is the one most people would be familiar with, i took inspirations from already established e-commerce giants.
Connecting with other pet owners
Connect with other pet owners, follow their profiles, engage in private chats, share activities, and exchange knowledge about pet care and training
Reflections
This was one of my first independent projects, requiring me to build something entirely from scratch. I undertook this personal challenge to test my skills and knowledge acquired over time. This experience provided invaluable insights into the startup mindset, including the process of translating an idea into a tangible reality and the critical importance of thorough pre-planning in project execution
Challenges & Learnings
Lack of Industry Knowledge: As a newcomer to the pet industry, I faced a steep learning curve in acquiring the necessary domain expertise.
Market Trend Awareness: Exploring current design trends in the market significantly broadened my understanding of visual aesthetics and application design principles.
User Feedback Value: Incorporating user feedback after design sessions proved invaluable in identifying my shortcomings and driving continuous improvement in my product design skills.
Scope Refinement: Initial misjudgment of the app's scope led to a deeper dive into research and a subsequent expansion of the project's scope. This experience underscored the importance of meticulous scoping in future endeavors.
Business Acumen: Delving into business goals and monetization strategies was highly insightful. As the sole stakeholder in this product, I gained valuable empathy for the challenges faced by startup owners.
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