pawvoyage
mobile app
Platform: Web, Chrome Extension
Role: UX Designer, and UX Researcher.
Tools: Figma, Notion, Adobe Creative, Google Suite.
Timeline: 12 weeks
Screens Produced: 46+
Process: Research, Ideation, Prototyping, Testing. Repeat.
OVERVIEW
Scope
PawVoyager is the go-to mobile app offering pet owners a treasure trove of reliable, up-to-date resources for seamless pet-friendly travel planning. Enjoy a stress-free experience that's both efficient and enjoyable. Say goodbye to leaving your furry friends behind!
Process
I conducted market research and user interviews to understand the mental wellness needs of job seekers. Using this insight, I developed personas and mapped user journeys to identify critical touch points. With Figma, I crafted wireframes and interactive prototypes, then conducted iterative testing with real users to refine interactions, ensuring a supportive, wellness-focused UX tailored to the job search experience.
Solution
Through 1:1 interviews with five devoted pet owners, I unearthed the pivotal challenges and pivotal factors shaping their quest for pet-friendly travel.
The resounding revelation? A pressing need for a dependable, comprehensive, and regularly updated hub of information—a singular destination to streamline their pet-friendly trip-planning journey..
the problem space
Rising Trend: More Pet Owners are Including Their Furry Friends in Travel Plans
In recent years, the market for traveling with pets has been steadily growing, reflecting the increasing number of pet owners who consider their pets as family members and desire to include them in travel plans.
Pet Ownership Growth
With around 67% of U.S. households owning pets (according to the APPA), this number has been steadily climbing over the years.
Rising Demand
The demand for pet-friendly lodging is booming, pushing hotels, vacation rentals, and other accommodations to step up and cater to pet owners’ needs.
Pet Travel Expending
Pet travel is on the rise! In recent years, pet owners in
the U.S. have spent over $10 billion on travel-related expenses for their furry friends, including pet-friendly
stays, transportation, and more (according to the APPA).
impact on travel plans
A whopping 64% of Millennial pet owners admit they’ve canceled travel plans because they didn’t want to leave their pets behind, highlighting just how much pets influence travel decisions.
EMPATHIZE
Fetching the Facts: pet-owners and their Need for a One-Stop Pet-Friendly Travel Hub
Through 1:1 interviews with five dedicated pet owners to uncover the main challenges and factors driving their search for pet-friendly travel options. The biggest takeaway? There’s a clear need for a reliable, all-in-one resource that keeps pet owners in the loop with up-to-date info, making their trip planning a lot easier.
Quotes from interviewees
"Does the accommodation have enough pet-friendly patios and outdoor spaces? Is a vaccination card required for each pet? What about a flea collar? Do they offer backup pet supplies in case I forget something? These are just a few things I like to consider before deciding where to stay with my pet." Mayriele, 39.
"I spent hours doing research. What’s the pet policy? Are there any weight or breed restrictions? Is there an extra charge for bringing a pet? Also, do they have a designated area where my dog, Arthur, can run and get some exercise?" Anthonio, 55.
"Some of my worries are: what if I forget something for my pet, like a bed or a food bowl? And if my pet gets sick, how can I be sure I’ll find a nearby vet professional to help?" Alice, 37.
"The second time I took my cats on a big trip, I researched companies that allowed three cats on the same flight. As soon as I found one, I checked some customer reviews and booked the tickets. I remember we got tickets for humans, even though there were just two of us, and we paid for an extra ticket for the cats." Maria Thereza, 45.
KEY INSIGHTS
Activities for Pets
Finding pet-friendly activities near
their stay is essential for an stress-free
travel experience for both the owner
and their pet.
Frustration with Fees
Many express frustration over high pet-related fees without receiving any specific amenities or services for their pets in return.
Time-Consuming Research
Pet owners often spend excessive time gathering information from various platforms to plan a trip with their
furry companions.
Desire for Pet-Friendly Options
They wish for accommodations
and restaurants that cater to all
kinds of pets, not just the most
common ones.
Convenient Pet Care
Locating pet care services and supplies near their accommodations is a
priority for ensuring their pet's
safety and comfort.
Need for Tailored Reviews
Pet owners want to find and filter reviews specific to pet-friendliness, ideally with searchable tags that
match their needs.
competitive analisys
How do competitors tackle this challenge?
persona
Sara, a globetrotter & Super Cat MOm
During the 2020 pandemic, many people added pets to their households, and with the ability to work remotely, enabling longer trips, pet owners began seeking pet-friendly accommodations.
Meet Sara. She juggles work and treasures family time on weekends. Traveling excites her, but planning feels like a chore, especially when finding pet-friendly places. She dreams of stress-free globe-trotting with her furry companion, knowing he's safe and welcome everywhere.
User
Insight
“Sara, a passionate pet owner who loves traveling with her cat, Chico, wants to plan the perfect vacation. She’s looking for safety tips, pet-friendly places to stay, and fun activities that both she and Chico can enjoy to make their trip stress-free and memorable.”
problem statement
“Sara, a devoted pet owner, is trying to plan a pet-friendly trip with her cat, Chico. However, her busy work schedule and the overwhelming amount of unreliable information online make the process challenging and stressful.”
-
Convenient comparison and booking for pet-friendly vacation rentals.
Accessible pet-friendly activities.
Verified pet-specific reviews from fellow travelers.
Simplified discovery of nearby pet supplies and care facilities.
-
Scattered information complicates planning.
Many accommodations don't welcome cats.
Locating vet care and pet essentials in new cities is daunting.
Excessive fees for pets and cleaning make travel plans more difficult.
How Might we
streamline and provide current, trustworthy information on pet-friendly travel, empowering pet
owners to efficiently plan vacations
IDEATE
Wireframes & FLOW
Here’s a glimpse into the app’s foundational structure, showcasing wireframes and user flow. Starting with the splash and
onboarding screens, the flow progresses through the homepage and essential features like booking, account management, payments, and notifications. Each screen is thoughtfully designed to ensure a seamless and intuitive user experience,
addressing core user needs at every step.
Testing
Testing findings
The usability testing with eight target users yielded valuable insights that drove key design iterations to enhance the user experience even further.
85% of participants rated the app a 4 or 5 out of 5 for overall usability, citing the booking process as intuitive. Here are additional key findings:
Insight: 92% of participants completed the task of booking a pet-friendly stay and finding a nearby activity.
Action: Minor adjustments should be made to the filter and sorting options to further simplify the experience.
Insight: While 88% of users found the navigation bar intuitive, 12% experienced difficulty due to the absence of icons that could guide them effectively.
Action: Updated icons to more universally recognized symbols and added labels.
Insight: 18% of participants struggled to locate the
"Add Pet" section while completing their profile.
Action: Redesigned the onboarding flow to introduce the "Add Pet" feature upfront, reducing confusion.
UI ENHANCEMENTS
design system
Final Screens
My bookings Screens
Acts as the app’s first impression, establishing brand identity and setting the tone for the user experience. It also provides a smooth transition while the app loads.
The Onboarding Screens
Home and feature Screens
Serves as the central hub for navigation, offering users an overview of available features and tailored recommendations to start their journey.
Account Screens
The Bookings screen serves as a centralized hub where users can view, manage, and track their current, upcoming, and past reservations.
Review & Pet care Screens
Provides authentic feedback from other users to help pet owners make informed decisions about stays, activities, or services based on their pet-specific needs. Pet Care offers resources such as nearby vets, pet supply stores, and emergency contacts, ensuring pet safety and convenience during travels.
extra Screens
Allows users to manage personal information, preferences, pet profiles, and past or upcoming bookings, creating a personalized and organized experience.
lessons learned
Future Improvements
Enhance Feature Discoverability:
Increase visibility of less-used features, like “Nearby Pet Supplies,” through homepage highlights or contextual prompts.
Introduce onboarding tooltips or a guided tour to familiarize new users with the app’s capabilities.
Integrate Real-Time Features
Implement live updates for pet-friendly activities, including hours of operation, weather conditions, and availability.
Add emergency vet locator services with real-time navigation and reviews.
Optimize Filters and Sorting
Add dynamic filters based on user location and travel preferences to streamline the search process.
Introduce tags and user-generated content for pet-specific reviews.
Thanks for reading through! ✨
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