As part of the Dribbble Product Design course, we undertook the investigation and creation of a dog walking app that provided dog owners with a one-stop shop of certified local dog walkers.

The Problem

Dog owners often face concerns about the cost, scheduling, and reliability of dog walkers. They struggle to find professionals they can trust and depend on to take care of their beloved pets.

The Solution

To address these challenges, we designed an app called DogGo. It offers an easy-to-use booking system and comprehensive walker profiles, providing dog owners with the information they need to make informed decisions. The app simplifies the process of finding, booking, and managing dog walkers, instilling confidence and peace of mind for dog owners.

Competitor Analysis

We conducted a thorough review of competitors in the dog walking app market. By analysing their features, pricing models, user experience, and customer reviews we were able to identify opportunities to differentiate DogGo and create a unique value proposition.

User Research Phase and Building Personas

To understand the needs and pain points of dog owners, we conducted interviews with a diverse range of dog owners. We explored their experiences with finding and hiring dog walkers, their concerns about cost and reliability, and their preferences for scheduling and communication.

Based on the insights gained from user interviews, we aggregated the information to create personas representing typical users/owners. These personas helped us empathise with our target audience and make user-centric design decisions throughout the process.

User Flows

We developed user flows to outline the proposed journey of users from onboarding to booking a dog walker. We focused on creating a seamless and intuitive experience, ensuring that users could easily navigate the app and complete their desired actions.

Wireframing

Using low-fidelity wireframe sketches, we explored various UI concepts and layouts. These wireframes allowed us to visualize the app's structure and interactions while quickly iterating and refining our ideas based on feedback.

Moodboarding

To define the visual brand and direction for DogGo, we compiled a mood board with visual stimuli. This included images, colour palettes, and typography that evoked a sense of trust, reliability, and pet-friendly atmosphere. The mood board served as a foundation for the app's visual design and subsequent brand conception.

Branding

The name and logo were designed to be both friendly and approachable, while the colour palette revolves around outdoor, earthy, 'fun' colours, which are anchored by a rustic blue (evoking 'trust').

Hi-Fidelity Wireframing and Component Library Building

With the low-fidelity wireframes as a guide, we created hi-fidelity wireframes that showcased the detailed visual design of DogGo. We established a component library to ensure consistency across the app and facilitate future iterations and scalability.

Prototyping an MVP

Using the hi-fidelity wireframes and the component library, we developed a clickable prototype that demonstrated the core features and interactions of DogGo. The prototype allowed us to gather feedback, validate the design, and refine any areas of improvement before moving into the development phase.

By following this comprehensive design process, we successfully created DogGo, an intuitive and reliable dog walking app that simplifies the process of finding and booking trusted dog walkers by providing a seamless and enjoyable experience.