Zihan Wang
Overview
Pawfect Match is a pet adoption app designed to connect adopters with their ideal furry companions through a seamless and user-friendly experience. The app simplifies the adoption process with personalized pet recommendations, an intuitive search and filter system, and direct communication with shelters.
Design Process
01
Step
DISCOVER
Competitive Analysis
Survey
User Interview
02
Step
DEFINE
User Persona
User Journey Map
User Flow
03
Step
DEVELOP
Wireframe
Protetype
04
Step
DELIVER
Final Product
Testing
Problem Statement
Many people want to adopt pets, but the process is often time-consuming, overwhelming, and lacks proper matching between adopters and pets. Existing platforms may not provide a seamless experience in finding pets based on lifestyle compatibility, clear adoption steps, or sufficient support for first-time adopters. This results in longer adoption times and increased return rates of adopted pets.
Goals
Enhance Compatibility Matching
Support First-Time Adopters
Improve Transparency & Trust
Discover
COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS
Features
Search & Filters
Pet Matching
Adoption Process Transparency
User Experience
Mobile App
Insights
Add detailed filtering
Introduce personalized pet recommendations
Provide adoption guidance
Ensure a clean, easy-to-use design
Make it mobile-friendly
Discover
USER RESEARCH
Survey
To better understand the challenges and needs of potential pet adopters, I conducted a user survey targeting individuals who have adopted or are interested in adopting a pet. The survey received 28 responses and aimed to identify key pain points in the adoption process.
Interview
To gain deeper insights, I conducted 6 short interviews (10-15 minutes each) with pet adopters and potential adopters.
Takeaways
Based on the survey and interviews, I decided to focus on the following core solutions in my app:
✅ Simplified adoption steps – A clear, step-by-step guide to reduce confusion.
✅ Personalized pet recommendations – A quiz-based system to suggest pets based on user preferences.
✅ Direct communication with shelters – A chat or inquiry feature to streamline communication.
✅ Detailed pet profiles – Verified information on medical history, behavior, and adoption requirements.
Define
USER PERSONA
Define
USER FLOW
Start
Sign up
Home Screen
Quiz
Browse Pets
Pet Listings
Pet Profile
Apply to Adopt
Save for Later
Contact Shelter
Schedule Pickup
Exit Point
Adoption Form Submission
Emily Chen
Age
27
Education
Masters in Business
Status
Single
Occupation
Sales Manager
Location
Seattle
TEch literate
High
I want a pet, but I don’t know where to start. There’s so much information out there—it’s overwhelming!
Personality
Curious
Optimistic
Cautious
Overthinker
Bio
Emily is a 27-year-old marketing specialist living in a small urban apartment. She has always wanted a pet but has never adopted before, and she worries about choosing the right one. She’s tech-savvy and prefers using mobile apps for convenience.
Core needs
•
Find a pet that fits her busy lifestyle and apartment.
•
Have a clear, guided adoption process to reduce confusion.
•
Get trustworthy pet information on temperament, training needs, and health.
Frustrations
•
Too many options—doesn’t know where to start.
•
Unsure about which pet fits her lifestyle.
•
Worries about making a wrong choice and not being prepared.
Payment medium
Apartment
Platform
Mobile App
Maria Moore
Age
35
Education
Bachelor in Education
Status
Married
Occupation
Teacher
Location
Portland
TEch literate
Moderate
I need a pet that’s great with kids. I don’t want to make the wrong choice and put my family in a difficult situation.
Personality
Caring
Organized
Risk-averse
Family-focused
Bio
Maria is a primary school teacher with two young kids. She wants to adopt a pet that’s family-friendly, but she’s worried about how well it will adjust to a home with children. She’s not very tech-savvy but uses her tablet and phone for research.
Core needs
•
Find a kid-friendly pet that fits well into a family environment.
•
Learn about the pet’s behavior, health, and energy level before adopting.
•
Ensure the adoption process is safe and straightforward.
Frustrations
•
Hard to tell if a pet is good with kids just from pictures.
•
Adoption requirements are unclear and inconsistent.
•
Struggles to keep track of different shelters and applications.
Payment medium
House with a yard
Platform
Website
Mobile App
James Walker
Age
40
Education
Masters in Design
Status
Married
Occupation
Graphic Designer
Location
San Francisco
TEch literate
High
I’ve adopted before, but finding the right pet is still a challenge.
Personality
Patient
Logical
Introvert
Compassionate
Bio
James is a 40-year-old freelance graphic designer who works from home. He owns a dog and wants to adopt another, but finding the right fit is tough. He needs a platform that lets him search efficiently and communicate with shelters directly.
Core needs
•
Find a rescue dog that gets along with his current pet.
•
Use detailed filters to refine his search.
•
Communicate directly with shelters instead of waiting days for responses.
Frustrations
•
Websites don’t always have detailed pet profiles.
•
Long application processes and unclear shelter policies.
•
Can’t filter by pet compatibility with his existing dog.
Payment medium
House
Platform
Website
Mobile App
Actions
Thoughts & Feelings
Pain Points
Opportunities
Awareness
Research
Consideration
Decision
Adoption & Post-Adoption
Searches online for pet adoption options.
"There are so many websites, I don’t know which to trust!"
Overwhelmed by too many platforms.
Provide trust signals (verified shelters, ratings, etc.).
Browses pet profiles and adoption guides.
"I need clear info on which pet is right for me."
Lacks knowledge about breeds and pet needs.
Add a pet-matching quiz to suggest suitable pets
Shortlists pets she likes.
"I love this one, but will they accept my application?"
Doesn’t understand adoption requirements.
Show transparent adoption criteria upfront.
Applies for adoption.
"I hope I did everything right."
Confusing forms and long wait times.
Provide application tracking and estimated response times.
Picks up pet, seeks post-adoption resources.
"I need help with pet training and supplies!"
Feels unprepared for pet care.
Offer post-adoption guides and support resources.
USER JOURNEY MAP
Develop
WIREFRAMES
Develop
Usability Test
Improvements
Move adoption requirements higher up on pet profile pages for better visibility.
Provide estimated response times on the confirmation page.
Ensure listings update automatically when pets get adopted.
Users found the homepage well-organized and the search functionality intuitive.
Users appreciated the detailed pet descriptions, including temperament and medical history.
Some Users Missed the Adoption Requirements Section
Lack of Clarity on Response Time for Applications
Some pets still appeared on the listings even after being adopted.
Key Findings
Methodology
Type: Remote or in-person usability testing
Participants: 6 users (first-time adopters, experienced adopters, families)
Tools: Figma (clickable prototype), Zoom, observation notes
Develop
DESIGN SYSTEM
Typography & color
Proxima Nova
Aa
Aa
Aa
Aa
Regular
Medium
Semibold
Bold
#D7B027
#D7B027
#111111
#6B6B6B
#9A9A9A
#BFBFBF
#E1E1E1
#FDFDFD
Main Colors
Greyscale
Primary
Secondary
Tertiary
Components
Grid system
3 Months
Mixed
Seattle, WA
Luna
3 Months
Mixed
Seattle, WA
Milo
12 Months
Husky
Redmon, WA
Nieve
8 Months
Boxer
Portland, WA
Paula
400k
700k
100k
300k
700k
No Max
300k
700k
100k
400k
$200k
$800k
🐶 Dogs
🐶 Dogs
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🔻
Variants sample
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Pug
French Bulldog
Puppy
American Shorthair
Deliver
UI SCREENS
HOME SCREEN
ONBOARDING
SIGN UP
BLOG & CHAT
WHAT I LEARNED
Working on Pawfect Match was an insightful experience that deepened my understanding of user-centered design and the challenges of designing for both adopters and shelters. Here are my key takeaways:
Adopting a pet is an emotional journey, and I learned how crucial it is to create a warm, engaging, and reassuring user experience.
Users want personalized recommendations but also a seamless adoption process. I had to strike a balance between offering customization (filters, quizzes, preferences) and ensuring the journey didn’t feel overwhelming.
Through user research and usability testing, I identified key frustrations—such as unclear adoption steps, lack of real-time shelter responses, and overwhelming pet choices.
Usability testing revealed areas for improvement, and iterating based on feedback refined the experience. Small changes—like adjusting button placements and simplifying form fields—made a big difference in usability.
