“…Pets are an under-recognized conduit for building social capital and strengthening the social fabric of communities.”
- US National Library of Medicine &
National Institutes of Health
Overview
Providing community for dog owners
Pointer created a community where dog owners could connect with others, discover unique activities, and create true bonds outside of the app. To encourage the high frequency of engagement needed to build a robust community, an app platform was the best solution.
Highlighted features:
Gamification
Community building
Customized suggestions and robust search
Role
Product Designer
Personal project
Design methods - Generative user research, Evaluative user research, Interaction design, Visual design, Prototyping
Timeline - 6 months
Programs
Figma
Sketch
Background
Moving to a new city often means finding new friendships. When I moved to Portland, Oregon, I assumed I’d take my dog on a walk and just run head first into a group of dog-loving people who would become my lifelong friends.
Instead, I would return from walks with nothing but a dog. Where were the quirky dog parades? Where were the dog-friendly bars? Where were my fellow dog owners?
I wanted to see if other dog owners felt a similar need for a fun and inclusive community.
36.8%
of Portland residents own dogs
61.4%
of dog owners say they got to know neighbors by owning a dog
Process and research
How a thoughtful design process leads to a better product
Initial research | User personas | Empathy map
Onboarding
Introducing users to Pointer and its features
Lofi to hifi | User testing | Prototyping
Navigation
Highlighting important features for users
Lofi to hifi | User testing | Prototyping
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Edge case
Exploring how a path less taken can inform design for all
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Design system
Setting the tone for fun, with accessibility in mind
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Mentors
Learning from experienced designers