TAKEAWAYS 🎯
TAKEAWAYS 🎯
Time Management
Beware Assumptions
Research Saved Us
Time Management
Beware Assumptions
Research Saved Us
RETROSPECTIVE
Wishful thinking 💭
Flushing things Out
Working on Mobile Version
Witnessing the Win
Flushing things Out
Working on Mobile Version
Witnessing the Win
RETROSPECTIVE
Wishful thinking 💭
Flushing things Out
Working on the Mobile Version
Witnessing the Win
TAKEAWAYS 🎯
Time Management
Beware Assumptions
Research Saved Us
RETROSPECTIVE
Wishful thinking 💭
Flushing things Out
Working on the Mobile Version
Witnessing the Win
Flushing things Out
Working on the Mobile Version
Witnessing the Win
TAKEAWAYS 🎯
Time Management
Beware Assumptions
Research Saved Us
Time Management
Beware Assumptions
Research Saved Us
The final solution
The final solution
Once we were able to redirect our focus in terms of the website interface, the finish line was just on the horizon. After a few minor layout adjustments, styling corrections, and user-flow prototyping, we were able to complete Pet Pair, with the team successfully presenting both the mobile and web designs at the end-of-semester showcase, along with the various projects by many of our other peers.
constraints
constraints
Ideas, Ideas, Ideas
Powering through burnout
Ideas, Ideas, Ideas
Powering through burnout
Ideas, Ideas, Ideas
Powering through burnout
Crafting the experience
Crafting the experience
Once we had a satisfactory amount of assets and data to work with, we immediately began our work. As one of the two designers working on the website interface, the work for this task was divided with my teammate - they generated the wireframes with a general layout based on our key features, and I took point in re-formatting them to specifics and translating it into the high-fidelity designs.
The landing page was initially intended for both adopters and shelter employees, to simplify the login process by making it accessible from one singular point. However, after looking over it as a team, we realized that an issue existed with this - redundancy.
Since we already had mobile designs that were more flushed out, we decided against including the use of this adopter-focused web interface to keep the presentation simple and clean. Instead, we directed all of the website focus strictly for the context of shelter operations, and keeping the adopter-focused version as backup material.
Ideation
Ideation
Following a phased format for the project’s development, we crafted and procured key materials post-research that would serve as a guide for us as we progressed: branding inspiration, product requirements, stakeholder insights, and low-fidelity wireframes that would serve as the early concepts of Pet Pair as a MVP.
The mood overall: bold, colourful, playful, and soft. Just like you’d expect a pet to be.
The mood overall: bold, colourful, playful, and soft. Just like you’d expect a pet to be.
34%
of Calgarians struggle with finding a pet that fits their lifestyle.
of Calgarians struggle with finding a pet that fits their lifestyle.
Majority of our respondents were in the 25-35 age bracket, located in the Calgary area, and are working professionals.
18%
of our respondents completed the pre-screening process multiple times when adopting.
of our respondents completed the pre-screening process multiple times when adopting.
34%
reported that they did not find the adoption process challenging - only time consuming. Easy ≠ efficient.
reported that they did not find the adoption process challenging - only time consuming. Easy ≠ efficient.
72%
expressed that being able to view pets from all local shelters was a feature they would be most interested in
expressed that being able to view pets from all local shelters was a feature they would be most interested in
68%
stated that they were willing to spend as much time as it takes on the adoption process, to ensure a best fit.
stated that they were willing to spend as much time as it takes on the adoption process, to ensure a best fit.
Survey sample size: n =22
In addition, one key insight discovered was that breed, health history, age, sociability, and temperament are the highest factors that influence pet adoption. People keep an eye out for these things when searching for pets.
In addition, one key insight discovered was that breed, health history, age, sociability, and temperament are the highest factors that influence pet adoption. People keep an eye out for these things when searching for pets.
RESEARCH and discovery
RESEARCH and discovery
Since the goal of Pet Pair was to reach a wide and diverse range of users, we conducted user research by administering qualitative and quantitive research through the distribution of a survey and conducting user interviews within our network and adopters in shelters. From these research methods, we found that:
WHERE DID WE START?
WHERE DID WE START?
Our team already had a vague idea of the direction we wanted to take in our designs when discussing the project. However, before we could jump into it, we needed to gain a better understanding of our target audience and establish proper validation of the challenge we identified; whether or not it was a real problem that people were facing.
OUTCOME
OUTCOME
After several months of work from January to April, our team was able to complete Pet Pair as a MVP with features that addressed our identified problem. The team* was able to successfully present Pet Pair at the end-of-semester showcase, where it was well received by both audiences and stakeholders alike.
* Unfortunately I was the only member absent at the showcase because I was away on a family trip 🙁
So, how was this addressed?
So, how was this addressed?
After brainstorming approaches to a solution, we decided that adopters needed a database containing all adoptable pets in their area where they can filter through pet information to find their perfect pet. This database would also allow shelter employees to determine if adopters make a good match by filling out a profile with information. This two-way process would allow all pets from all local shelters to be viewed in one place rather than having adopters go back and forth between shelters, and thus the concept of Pet Pair was born.
I took on the role of designing the web interface along with one of my team members. Our focus was making sure that the site would have the same appeal and branding as the mobile app, which was being designed by two other team members. Tasks spanned across project documentation to wireframe amendment and high fidelity prototyping to make sure things were cohesive across both platforms.
CHALLENGE
CHALLENGE
The idea of looking for a pet can be exciting, but oftentimes the process is not what most people expect it to be. It can involve back-and-forth between various shelter websites, and can be tedious. Potential adopters need to be able to view adoptable pets on an accessible interface that takes into account all adoptable animals within their area, so no sweet critter is left behind.
The idea of looking for a pet can be exciting, but oftentimes the process is not what most people expect it to be. It can involve back-and-forth between various shelter websites, and can be tedious. Potential adopters need to be able to view adoptable pets on an accessible interface that takes into account all adoptable animals within their area, so no sweet critter is left behind.
DETAILS
DETAILS
WHAT I USED
Figma
Canva
ROLE
UX Designer (Web)
Timeline
Jan - April 2025
Who I worked with
Meagan Dickie
Graphic Designer, Project Lead
Filiz Erkmen
UX Designer (Mobile)
Nikko Montealto
UX Designer (Mobile)
Rajdeep Narela
UX Designer (Web)
Product Design
Website Design
Wireframing
Prototyping
What I did
As part of the capstone project for the Interactive Design Diploma at SAIT, we were tasked with developing a MVP from scratch that would be showcased at the end of the semester, and the program itself.
Pet Pair is a consolidated management portal for both pet adopters and shelters that streamlines the adoption process, eliminating repetitiveness and pushing it towards efficiency. We designed for two platforms, with mobile being geared primarily towards adopters, and the web interface meant for shelter employees, but also available for the former. The focus for this case study will be on the web interface.
As part of the capstone project for the Interactive Design Diploma at SAIT, we were tasked with developing a MVP from scratch that would be showcased at the end of the semester, and the program itself.
Pet Pair is a consolidated management portal for both pet adopters and shelters that streamlines the adoption process, eliminating repetitiveness and pushing it towards efficiency. We designed for two platforms, with mobile being geared primarily towards adopters, and the web interface meant for shelter employees, but also available for the former. The focus for this case study will be on the web interface.
CONTEXT
CONTEXT
The final solution
Once we were able to redirect our focus in terms of the website interface, the finish line was just on the horizon. After a few minor layout adjustments, styling corrections, and user-flow prototyping, we were able to complete Pet Pair, with the team successfully presenting both the mobile and web designs at the end-of-semester showcase, along with the various projects by many of our other peers.
constraints
Because not everything is perfect. These were things we identified during our process that held us back during this project:
Ideas, Ideas, Ideas
Powering through burnout
Ideas, Ideas, Ideas
Powering through burnout
Crafting the experience
Once we had a satisfactory amount of assets and data to work with, we immediately began our work. As one of the two designers working on the website interface, the work for this task was divided with my teammate - they generated the wireframes with a general layout based on our key features, and I took point in re-formatting them to specifics and translating it into the high-fidelity designs.
The landing page was initially intended for both adopters and shelter employees, to simplify the login process by making it accessible from one singular point. However, after looking over it as a team, we realized that an issue existed with this - redundancy.
Since we already had mobile designs that were more flushed out, we decided against including the use of this adopter-focused web interface to keep the presentation simple and clean. Instead, we directed all of the website focus strictly for the context of shelter operations, and keeping the adopter-focused version as backup material.
Ideation
Following a phased format for the project’s development, we crafted and procured key materials post-research that would serve as a guide for us as we progressed: branding inspiration, product requirements, stakeholder insights, and low-fidelity wireframes that would serve as the early concepts of Pet Pair as a MVP.
The mood overall: bold, colourful, playful, and soft. Just like you’d expect a pet to be.
34%
of Calgarians struggle with finding a pet that fits their lifestyle.
Majority of our respondents were in the 25-35 age bracket, located in the Calgary area, and are working professionals.
18%
of our respondents completed the pre-screening process multiple times when adopting.
34%
reported that they did not find the adoption process challenging - only time consuming. Easy ≠ efficient.
72%
expressed that being able to view pets from all local shelters was a feature they would be most interested in
68%
stated that they were willing to spend as much time as it takes on the adoption process, to ensure a best fit.
Survey sample size: n =22
In addition, one key insight discovered was that breed, health history, age, sociability, and temperament are the highest factors that influence pet adoption. People keep an eye out for these things when searching for pets.
RESEARCH and discovery
Since the goal of Pet Pair was to reach a wide and diverse range of users, we conducted user research by administering qualitative and quantitive research through the distribution of a survey and conducting user interviews within our network and adopters in shelters. From these research methods, we found that:
WHERE DID WE START?
Our team already had a vague idea of the direction we wanted to take in our designs when discussing the project. However, before we could jump into it, we needed to gain a better understanding of our target audience and establish proper validation of the challenge we identified; whether or not it was a real problem that people were facing.
OUTCOME
After several months of work from January to April, our team was able to complete Pet Pair as a MVP with features that addressed our identified problem. The team* was able to successfully present Pet Pair at the end-of-semester showcase, where it was well received by both audiences and stakeholders alike.
* Unfortunately I was the only member absent at the showcase because I was away on a family trip 🙁
After brainstorming approaches to a solution, we decided that adopters needed a database containing all adoptable pets in their area where they can filter through pet information to find their perfect pet. This database would also allow shelter employees to determine if adopters make a good match by filling out a profile with information. This two-way process would allow all pets from all local shelters to be viewed in one place rather than having adopters go back and forth between shelters, and thus the concept of Pet Pair was born.
I took on the role of designing the web interface along with one of my team members. Our focus was making sure that the site would have the same appeal and branding as the mobile app, which was being designed by two other team members. Tasks spanned across project documentation to wireframe amendment and high fidelity prototyping to make sure things were cohesive across both platforms.
So, how was this addressed?
CHALLENGE
The idea of looking for a pet can be exciting, but oftentimes the process is not what most people expect it to be. It can involve back-and-forth between various shelter websites, and can be tedious. Potential adopters need to be able to view adoptable pets on an accessible interface that takes into account all adoptable animals within their area, so no sweet critter is left behind.
DETAILS
WHAT I USED
Figma
Canva
ROLE
UX Designer (Web)
Timeline
Jan - April 2025
Who I worked with
Meagan Dickie
Graphic Designer, Project Lead
Filiz Erkmen
UX Designer (Mobile)
Nikko Montealto
UX Designer (Mobile)
Rajdeep Narela
UX Designer (Web)
Product Design
Website Design
Wireframing
Prototyping
What I did
CONTEXT
As part of the capstone project for the Interactive Design Diploma at SAIT, we were tasked with developing a MVP from scratch that would be showcased at the end of the semester, and the program itself.
Pet Pair is a consolidated management portal for both pet adopters and shelters that streamlines the adoption process, eliminating repetitiveness and pushing it towards efficiency. We designed for two platforms, with mobile being geared primarily towards adopters, and the web interface meant for shelter employees, but also available for the former. The focus for this case study will be on the web interface.
Pet pair
A Management Tool for Adopters and Shelters.
Pet pair
A Management Tool for Adopters and Shelters.
Pet pair
A Management Tool for Adopters and Shelters.
