Pet health management and e-commerce App Design
About POOD
POOD is an app that aims to empower users by providing them with reliable and accurate information about pet care. It offers personalized health management strategies and product recommendations for optimal well-being of their beloved pets.
Team
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UXUI _ My Self
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BX _ Hayoung Jeong
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FrontEnd _ Injoon Hwang, Jiwoo Yoon
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BackEnd _ Youngho Kwon , Hyeongmin Park
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Veterinarian _ Jungmin Kim
My Role
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UX/UI Design
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User Research
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Wireframing
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Prototyping
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User Test
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New Features
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Design System
Tools
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Figma
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Illustrator
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Slack
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Notions
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Jira
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Google Form
Period
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Design : 4 months
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Development : 5 months
Problem Discovery
Novice pet owners often face difficulties in finding information and products related to their pets.
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a surge in the number of people owning pets, resulting in an increased demand for personalized health management methods and products.
However, customers often encounter challenges when it comes to selecting the right products and informations for their pets, as the pet industry lacks reliable and consistent information in this regard.
At present, customers heavily rely on recommendations from friends, local pet stores, and veterinarians to make their purchasing decisions and getting informations. However, there is a growing need for a more comprehensive and trustworthy source of information that can guide pet owners in choosing the most suitable products and knowledge for their furry companions.
Analysing Market & Competitions
We have categorized and identified similar and competing services based on their functionalities.
Through our analysis of similar and competitive services, we identified their strengths and weaknesses. While we drew inspiration from their strengths, we also recognized their weaknesses as opportunities for us to excel and gain a competitive edge in the market.
Despite the availability of these products, why do people continue to encounter challenges in pet care?
Based on our market research on pet-related apps, we found that each app focuses on specialized features, resulting in users not being able to find a single app that meets all their needs.
Furthermore, we conducted survey to directly listen to their concerns and difficulties when seeking information or purchasing products for their pets.
Field Research
Are there any concerns or inconveniences you have experienced while raising a pet?
We conducted a survey specifically targeting young adults in their 20s to 30s who are new pet owners, aiming to gain insights into their experiences and challenges in caring for their pets.
Moreover, the survey served to confirm our assumptions regarding the essential features and functionalities of the product and app that cater to the needs of pet owners, thus providing valuable insights for shaping our business model.
Research Synthesis
We collected data on our user types and needed to streamline our findings and prioritize the main focus areas that aligned with our overall research goals.
Empathy Mapping
To highlight key research findings across all user types and aid in our decision-making, we utilized empathy mapping. This helped us make inferences about our users based on their behavior, prioritize where our focus laid, and determine what the most important takeaways were.
Top Takeaways
While each user type had a variety of needs and pain points, across all user types, it was clear to us that the most important takeaways were:
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Users want to gather reliable information tailored to their specific pets.
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Users are seeking recommendations for pet products that align with their pets' health conditions.
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Users want to conveniently address minor medical concerns or inquiries without physically visiting a veterinary clinic.
Persona
We created personas based on the data obtained from user research in order to better understand and visualize our target audience.
Who are we designing for?
We identified the main characteristics and needs of our audience that we wanted to reflect in our app design.
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Budget Friendly
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Convenient and Consistent Usability
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Reliability and Comfort
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Simple, Intuitive, and Accurate Navigation
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Custom Service
Key Features
Based on our understanding of the target audience's key characteristics and needs, we have derived five main features for our app.
Information Architecture
We considered the structure that effectively showcases the previously identified solutions and created an Information Architecture accordingly.
Low-fidelity Concepts
We utilized Figma to create low-fidelity concepts, incorporating the key features derived from user research. We explored ideas and discussed the project's direction and style based on these concepts.
Frist Improvement
To optimize the user experience, we conducted a comprehensive survey to gather feedback from real users following the initial app release. Through rigorous analysis of the feedback data, we were able to identify specific areas for improvement across each key feature of the app.
Improvement of Pet Concern Selection Screen
In POOD, users can now select their pet's specific concerns to receive personalized health management and product recommendations.
However, we encountered some issues, such as oversized icons for the concerns, which made it difficult to have a clear overview on a single screen.
Additionally, distinguishing the priority of selected pet concerns was challenging.
To address these issues, we have reduced the size of the concern icons and simplified the description text.
We have also placed the priority indicators at the top for easy visibility and quick understanding.
Enhancement of Personalized Product
Recommendation Detail Page
We have made significant improvements to the detailed page of personalized product recommendations, which provide various analysis results related to the concerns selected by pet owners.
However, there were some issues with the analysis feature, as the excessive space occupied by multiple elements made it difficult for users to reach the information at the bottom.
Additionally, there was a lack of explanation regarding the personalized analysis results.
To address these concerns, we have downsized the elements, added descriptions for the analysis results, and reorganized their placement.
These enhancements ensure that users can easily access all relevant information and have a comprehensive understanding of the personalized analysis results for the recommended products.
Enhanced Cart and Checkout Page for
Clear Payment Information
To minimize confusion due to different delivery times between our shipping partners and in-house delivery products, we have implemented visual divisions to clearly separate these areas.
Additionally, we have made it easier for users to understand their product discounts by displaying the percentage of the discount received.
We have also optimized the layout by reducing unnecessary space-consuming elements.
These improvements provide a streamlined and user-friendly experience, ensuring that users can easily navigate the cart and checkout process while having clear visibility of the payment information.
Second Improvement
Designing new features
While users have been using the product purchasing feature extensively, they expressed a desire for more diverse and personalized pet health management functionalities. To address this, we collaborated with veterinarians to design features for comparing pet food options and managing pet body conditions.
Furthermore, we understand the importance of bridging the communication gap and ensuring that users, regardless of their background or level of expertise, can comprehend the information related to veterinary practices.
Screen Flow Planning
Establishing a Design System
After reaching a consensus on the visual aesthetics, we proceeded to establish a design system to ensure consistency across all screens and streamline the development process.
By creating a set of predefined styles, components, and guidelines, we were able to maintain a cohesive and harmonious visual language throughout the application. This approach not only facilitated efficient development but also contributed to a seamless and delightful user experience.
Final Product
Onboarding
After completing the registration process, we prompt users to provide quick and convenient information about their pets (such as basic information, body type, and concerns) before they enter the home screen.
Based on this information, we offer a comprehensive range of services, including personalized product recommendations and health management tailored to their pets' needs.
Home
Based on the user's input of their pet's information, they can access AI-recommended products that are tailored to their specific needs.
These products are ranked based on their suitability for the user's pet, and they can easily browse through various categories such as newly released items, promotions, and more.
Additionally, we have introduced a Photo Awards event to enhance user engagement and provide a fun element where they can interact with other pet owners in an enjoyable way.
Search & Category
With an intuitive and user-friendly design, our filtering feature allows users to search for products quickly and easily based on their specific requirements.
The convenient switch function enables users to effortlessly switch between different pet categories, all within a single interface.
Fit Analysis
On the product detail page, we analyze various aspects based on the information previously provided by the user.
This includes assessing the suitability of the product, recommended feeding quantity, palatability, allergies, basic information, concerns, and nutritional content.
We present all these results to provide comprehensive insights for the user.
Health Management
By entering recent weight and body condition, users can receive tailored management tips, recommended diets, feeding methods, and exercise routines that align with their pet's health status.
Additionally, we provide a wealth of information on daily care, sleep, vaccination, bathing, and other aspects relevant to their pet's life stages.
However, if users still find it challenging or have any uncertainties, they can always chat with a veterinarian to get their questions resolved.
Feed Comparison
We provide assistance in selecting the most suitable pet feed, taking into consideration appropriate nutrients and portions.
By comparing various pet feed options and products, we help pet owners make informed decisions based on factors such as nutritional content, monthly budget, palatability, and allergies.
Furthermore, we provide explanations on the criteria that led to these recommendations.
Convenient Checkout
For frequently purchased items, we have designed a seamless flow that allows users to add those products to their item lists.
The app also provides features such as coupon and points redemption, multiple payment options, and clear price indications to ensure a smooth and hassle-free checkout process.
Learnings
Working on a cross-functional team
This project was my first experience working with a team of designers, developers, and marketer. While I had previously worked individually, collaborating with a diverse team allowed me to understand the importance of communication and coordination. I learned that even small changes or updates needed to be communicated to everyone. And, as tasks were distributed among team members, each individual had different priorities and perspectives. This allowed me to learn how to effectively reconcile and align opinions by clearly defining the project's objectives and providing logical explanations to support my viewpoints.
Through this collaborative effort, we successfully achieved app downloads exceeding 5,000, which was a significant milestone for the project.
Document as much of the work process as possible
Documenting as much of the work process as possible was a valuable lesson I learned. During the planning, design, and development phases, it is common for team members to be involved in various tasks simultaneously. However, there were instances where important details or planning decisions were overlooked or forgotten. I also realized that creating planning documents that are only visible to myself has limited value.
To address this, I made improvements by including detailed descriptions beneath each app screen designed in Figma. For broader topics such as app policies, I utilized shared Notion pages to document and communicate important information.
Through these practices, I ensured that important details were captured, shared, and easily accessible to all team members, contributing to better collaboration and project outcomes.
Consider as many use cases as possible
I learned the importance of considering as many scenarios as possible when planning during the development of the comparison of pet food and body management features. The user testing process was crucial in this learning experience. Through the planning phase, conducting user surveys, and testing with both users and team members, I received valuable feedback. Different users brought their unique perspectives and experiences, which allowed us to identify issues such as unnatural flow in the user interface or disruptions in the flow under certain circumstances. This experience taught me the significance of considering a wide range of scenarios when planning and designing features. In the future, given the opportunity, I would like to conduct face-to-face user testing to receive more direct feedback from users.