WALKR: Modern Dog Walking App

Project Overview

I set out to create a solution to connect busy dog owners with trustworthy dog walkers in their area. WALKR understands that sometimes life gets in the way. This service was designed for scheduling repetitive services with your favorite walkers and booking last minute appointments when you need it most.

Role

  • Lead UX/UI Designer

Market Research

To determine if there were any unique market gaps, as well as any potential barriers to growth, I conducted a competitive analysis. I focused on the the top two competitors in the marketplace Rover and Wag.

User Research

After I completed the competitor analysis, I conducted a series of user interviews and developed two user persona’s. I learned that transparency and trust were the most important factors across potential dog walkers and dog owners.

User Flow

A user flow was created for this project to help guide the design process and ensure that the user experience is intuitive and efficient. By defining the steps a user will take to complete a specific goal, I can better understand the user's needs. I also outlined a flow that would take potential users to a screen with more information if they are hesitant to sign up.

Ideation and wireframing

During the ideation process I generated multiple ideas and explored early stage concepts. I chose my top ideas and created simple, low-fidelity wireframes to plan and organize the structure and content of my designs. Throughout this process the structure of my designs became simpler, utilizing illustrations and quick task buttons.

Visual Design

After I finalized the low fidelity wireframes, I moved into visual design exploration. I focused on creating a user-friendly and intuitive interface that allowed users to easily find and book dog walking services in their area. The key features include maps, search functionality, and profiles to help users find the information they need and make informed decisions about which dog walking services to use. The overall goal of the visual design was to make the process of finding and booking dog walking services as easy and enjoyable as possible for the user.

Next Steps

1. Gather user feedback and iterate on the design to ensure that it remains relevant and useful to users over time.

2. Set specific times to analyze usage data to understand how users are interacting with the app and identify any areas where the user experience may be lacking. If available, I would love to track metrics such as app usage, user retention, and conversion rates.

Project Takeaways

I had a great time completing this project and learned a lot along the way! A clear and cohesive design vision was critical to have at the start of this project. By defining the user flows, creating user personas, and spending time on low-fi designs, I was able to focus on creating a final product that was effective and enjoyable. Thanks to @jesseshowalter for being a great teacher and everyone in the Dribbble product design course that helped this project come together!

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