PawVoyage
mobile app
PawVoyage 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!
Role: UX Strategist, Researcher, Ux Designer.
Tools: Figma, FigJam, Miro, Adobe Creative, Google Suite,
Timeline: 4 months
Process: Research, Ideation, Prototyping, and Testing. Repeat.
The problem Space
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 Travel Expending:
Notably, pet owners in the United States have dedicated over $10 billion to pet travel expenses in recent years, encompassing pet-friendly accommodations, transportation, and related costs, according to the APPA.
Pet Ownership Growth:
With approximately 67% of U.S. households owning pets, as reported by the American Pet Products Association (APPA), this figure has steadily risen over time.
Rising Demand for Pet-Friendly Accommodations:
There's a burgeoning demand for pet-friendly lodging options, prompting hotels, vacation rentals, and other accommodations to adapt and cater to
pet owners' needs.
Impact on Travel Plans:
A staggering 64% of Millennial pet owners have cited concerns about leaving their pets alone as a reason for canceling travel plans, indicating the significant role pets play in travel decision-making.
EMPATHIZE
Unleashing Insights:
Who is really our User?
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.
I needed to understand who the users were. 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.
Quotes from interviewees
User insights
Sara, a dedicated pet owner, seeks assistance in orchestrating a pet-friendly getaway with her beloved cat, Chico. Hindered by her hectic work schedule, she grapples with the overwhelming sea of information, fraught with inaccuracies and unreliability.
Problem statement
“Sara, an avid pet owner who cherishes traveling with her furry companion, is determined to meticulously plan her vacation. She seeks indispensable safety guidelines, pet-friendly lodging options, and engaging activities tailored for her and her cherished cat, Chico, ensuring a seamless and joyous experience away from home."
"How can we streamline and provide current, trustworthy information on pet-friendly travel, empowering pet owners to efficiently plan vacations?
COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS
How do other competitors tackle this challenge?
DEFINE
Meet SAra, a globetrotter & Super Cat MOm
The Research phase has uncovered a myriad of user needs and pains, ranging from the generic to the specific. To ensure a comprehensive understanding of my key audience segments, I synthesized the diverse insights and quantitative user research into a cohesive pattern. This allowed me to create reliable and realistic representations of typical users for reference, laying the foundation for informed decision-making in app development.
She's juggling long work hours and eagerly awaits weekends to bond with her family. While she adores traveling, the planning process feels like a chore, especially when it means leaving her beloved pets behind. Too often, she and her cats are turned away from so-called 'pet-friendly' places that aren't truly welcoming.
Her dream? To globe-trot stress-free with her furry companions, knowing they're safe and well-cared for wherever they roam.
SARA DOE, 34 yrs old, the Globetrotter
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.
NEEDS
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.
PAINS
IDEATE
User flow
Before diving into app design, I needed to figure out how users would navigate through it. So, I started by doodling some user journey ideas on paper, based on what I learned from research and brainstorming. Each flow went through a bunch of tweaks to make sure it was super easy for users to complete tasks.
The following flow represents booking a pet-friendly accommodation. The flow to discover places to eat and to see would be similar.
Sketching: new Concepts Take Shape
PROTOTYPE
Sketching: new Concepts Take Shape
LESSONS LEARNED
Final thoughts
Founder's Vision and Open-mindedness
Lidia Talavera, the visionary founder behind the business, entrusted us with full autonomy to redesign her website, explore innovative UX/UI solutions, and develop cutting-edge technology to address customer pain points. The project is currently on hold as Lidia seeks funding to support its realization. In the meantime, we are delving deeper into AR technology, strategizing its seamless integration, and preparing for rigorous testing as we pave the way for transformative changes ahead.
User Education on New Technology
Another crucial lesson gleaned from this experience is the necessity of educating users about new technologies. We discovered that even groundbreaking features can be met with resistance or confusion if users are not adequately informed about their purpose and functionality. Moving forward, we will prioritize user education initiatives, including tutorials, guides, and demos, to ensure seamless adoption and maximize the benefits of innovative technologies.
Budget Limitations and Development Costs
One of the key takeaways from this case study is the importance of carefully managing budget limitations, particularly in the context of development costs. We learned that while ambitious goals can drive innovation, they must be balanced against the financial constraints of the project. Going forward, it is essential to conduct thorough cost analyses and prioritize features to ensure that resources are allocated effectively
Thank you!