MuttMatch...All three of the competitor sites are fairly simple search tools with varying levels of filtration. The user journey varied drastically amongst the three applications and

MuttMatchWe’re dedicated to saving the lives of

shelter and rescue animals. Our mission is to match your lifestyle and personality

to dogs that need a loving home. Through our initial profile building exercises and

thorough search options, we’re confident that you’ll find your perfect MuttMatch.

A U X D E S I G N P R O J E C T

The Process

learnDEFINE THE PROBLEM

USER RESEARCH

COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS

exploreBUILD PERSONAS

EMPATHY MAP

USER STORIES

CARD SORTS

USER FLOWS

SITEMAPS

conceptWIREFRAMES

PROTOTYPES

USER TESTING

refineSTYLE GUIDE

ITERATION ON DESIGN

The challengeTo better match qualified potential dog owners to shelter/rescue pets through a lifestyle analysis.

Not every adoption is a match made in heaven.

Sometimes adopters end up selecting the wrong

dog for their experience, available time or energy

level. As a shelter volunteer, it was heartbreaking

to see a pet returned post-adoption due to a

poor match.

No matter where a pet is adopted from,

applicants must fill out adoption paperwork

prior to consideration. But, with a puppy

nipping at their heels, they might bend the

truth in order to get approved for a certain dog.

My goal with the development of MuttMatch is

to eliminate the ‘cuteness factor’ and tackle the

reality of the potential adopters lifestyle first.

65+

55-64

45-54

35-44

25-34

18-24

PARTICIPANT AGE RANGES

02 04 06 08 0 100OTHER ANIMALS

WORK SCHEDULE

CHILDREN

ALLERGIES

SIZE OF HOME

ACTIVITY LEVEL

LIFESTYLE CONSIDERATIONS

100%of participants used online search tools to find a dog

89.9%considered their

own activity level when searching

for a dog

The users27 individuals were surveyed that either a) recently adopted a dog or b) looking to adopt a dog.

In order to learn more about how people

approach the search for a dog, I first

needed to conduct a survey to find out

what their process was. It was no surprise

that everyone started via the internet. An

overwhelming 100% of survey respondents

used online tools like Petfinder.com to

assist them in finding a dog and 63% used

online resources to research breeds and

temperaments. However, online resources

didn’t have all the answers because 68.8%

of respondents consulted with friends and

family to determine what type of dog they

should get.

Research aside, I also asked what other

considerations they had when looking for

a dog. 88.9% considered the activity levels

of themselves and other family members.

Over half of the respondents were looking

for the perfect family companion and often

had small small children in the household.

And 37% were searching for a particular

size, personality and energy level that

would fit their lifestyle. Less than half of

those surveyed considered the size of their

dwelling when selecting a dog and over a

third of respondents searched over 60 days

to find their perfect pet.

Discovering pain points4 individuals were interviewed about their recent adoption search and three common pain points were discovered:

• Outdated site information

• Narrow search functions

• Limited breed knowledge

I spoke with four individuals who had

recently adopted a dog from a shelter or

rescue and came across many similarities

in their experience and pain points. All four

of those interviewed started their search

through Petfinder.com but unfortunately,

a constant issue they encountered was

outdated information and availability. They

also found that search tools were fairly limited

on Petfinder and made it hard to search for

specific needs say, a hypoallergenic dog.

As first-time dog owners, all four individuals

and had limited knowledge of dog breeds,

temperaments and energy levels. Several

mentioned changing their minds about certain

breeds after doing extensive research due

to mainly the activity levels certain breeds

required. Two of the four interviewed had

narrowed their search to ‘hypoallergenic’

breeds due to allergies in the household

and were fairly focused on a narrow list of

dogs. The other two had no specific breed

in mind and were searching based on size,

temperament and energy levels.

A commonality between all four respondents

was that even though Petfinder.com was

a useful tool in their search but they were

unable to find their dogs through this

service. However, Petfinder.com did act

as an intermediary to find the shelter or

rescue where they eventually adopted from.

Collectively, they found that the individual

rescue/shelter websites were more accurate

than Petfinder.com, and the most up-to-date

information was found in social channels,

mainly Facebook.

While everyone visited one or more shelters,

3 out of 4 found their dogs through a rescue

organization of which they located through

Petfinder.com. Adopting through a rescue

organization came at a premium price and the

adoption process was more stringent than that

of a shelter but since the dogs were living in

foster situations, they felt more confident that

the dog’s profile was accurately reported. Also,

many of the rescue organizations offered them

continued support post-adoption, which was

appealing to new owners.

In conclusion, all four individuals would prefer

a tool that improves the search process

and can incorporate the real-time adoption

updates that they’re seeing on social channels.

While Petfinder.com was helpful in linking

them to their final shelter/rescue, they had

less confidence in using the tool after inquiring

about animals that had already been adopted.

Rescue perspectiveLearning more about the other side of the process from rescue organizations

In addition, 2 adoption specialists at

Compassion Without Borders (CWOB)

and The Golden Gate Basset Rescue

(GGBR) were interviewed to get a better

understanding of how potential adopters

are screened and how online search tools

are helping or hurting them. Both rescues

mentioned that Petfinder.com did generate

lots of inquiries to their organization

however, many were not qualified potential

owners. Compassion Without Borders

generated many more leads from Petfinder

than The Golden Gate Basset Rescue.

Although each rescue varied in stringency of

their screening process, both organizations

investigate lifestyle, family in the household,

other pets, work schedule, income, prior

experience, yards and size of dwelling of

potential adopters. GGBR had an extensive

background check, reference checks and

also a home visit prior to showing a potential

adopter a dog. CWOB is operating with

less volunteers and therefore has a less

stringent process but still requires disclosure

of lifestyle, work hours, income, family and

other pets. They also require all pets and

family to be present when meeting a dog

they’re interested in adopting.

CWOB has a more extensive social presence

and actively seeks adopters through sharing

facebook posts with friends of friends.

They were also more accepting of Petfinder.

com than GGBR. GGBR has a waiting list

of applicants that they can call on once a

dog arrives to their rescue. They provide

a matchmaking service and do not allow

potential adopters to visit the dog unless

they have been pre-qualified and deemed

a good match for the dog that has come

available. Both rescues mentioned that lack

of resources and volunteers make it hard

to keep up with the inquiries that do come

through Petfinder.com

Not surprisingly, both rescues confirmed

that puppies adopted out the fastest and

older/disabled dogs stayed in foster care the

longest looking for suitable owners. GGBR

mentioned they have a very low return rate

and often dogs are only returned when an

owner has fallen ill or passes and can no

longer care for the dog. CWOB mentioned

that dogs that do get returned to the rescue

is typically due to not being the right fit for

the family.

Understanding the competitionSince 100% of those surveyed started with online search tools, I downloaded and tested 3 applications: Petfinder, AllPaws and WeRescue. My competitive competitive analysis focuses on the following usability heuristics:

#4 Consistency and standards#6 Recognition rather than recall#7 Flexibility and efficiency of use #8 Aesthetic and minimalist design

All three of the competitor sites are fairly

simple search tools with varying levels of

filtration. The user journey varied drastically

amongst the three applications and each

have their list of pro’s and con’s.

BEST EXPERIENCE

Petfinder Petfinder’s app ranks highest in #4 Consistency and standards, #6 Recognition rather than recall and #8 Aesthetic and minimalist design. A clean and simple interface with a single brand color throughout, is pleasing to the eye and easy to navigate. A consistent experience throughout with the use of color, buttons, icons, etc., yields a user-friendly experience. Petfinder’s major downfall is in #7 Flexibility and efficiency of use. This app, unfortunately, does not allow the user to select additional trait filters or select more than one aspect at a time. For example, if the user was searching for a dog that ranged from 0-3 years of age and was okay with either a male or female, they would have to perform four separate searches instead of one. You cannot select baby + young and male + female in one search.

NEEDS IMPROVEMENT

AllPawsAllPaws app ranks highest in #7 Flexibility and efficiency of use and #8 Aesthetic and minimalist design and lower in #4 Consistency and standards and #6 Recognition rather than recall. The user interface is clean and fairly simple with a pleasing blue/green color palette. Where this app falls short is in its main page presentation, showing just one dog’s profile. Instead of prompting a user to search for a specific dog type/age/size, this app pushes one dog’s profile to the main page based on your zip code entered at sign-in. It’s also not immediately apparent that the user can swipe right to see more options or search can be performed by tapping ‘search’ at the top right navigation. After exploring the search function and, in comparison to the other two applications, Allpaw’s had the most efficient search with flexibility, advanced search options and a well-edited list of filters.

WORST EXPERIENCE

WeRescueWeRescue’s app ranked highest in #7 Flexibility and efficiency of use but poorest in #4 Consistency in standards, #6 Recognition rather than recall and #8 Aesthetic and minimalist design. This app has great information, functions and search features but it feels muddled by the distracting user interface. The overall experience is confusing, inconsistent from page-to-page and hard to navigate. Too many colors, icons and semi-transparent backgrounds increase the cognitive load on the user. However, once the user learns the interface, it reveals some robust functions over the other apps, like extensive filters, push notifications, social integrations, a marketplace, etc.

Defining the usersDeveloping personas and uncovering the emotions of adopting a new dog

Using the information gathered from

previous user surveys, interviews and

discussions with adoption specialists, I

was able to develop 4 key persona’s for

the MuttMatch application. I started

by going back through my surveys and

interviews and bucketing similarities in my

respondents and their lifestyle concerns.

From there, I was able to further discover

how these individuals would think, do,

hear and feel throughout the process and

bring to life some of the pain points we

uncovered earlier in this study.

Allison Blum mom, first time dog owner

Steven Vaughn retired, first time dog owner

Matt Smith experienced dog owner

Karen Cox SPCA volunteer

"I'm searching for a companion for my family to enjoy."

Age: 34Work: TeacherFamily: Married with 2 kidsLocation: Livingston, NJCharacter: Caregiver

Introvert Extrovert

Thinking Feeling

Sensing Intuition

Judging Perceiving

Caring Patient Protective Busy

Find a family-friendly dog that will be gentle with children.A hypoallergenic breed for her youngest son with allergies.Motivating her sons to play outside and avoid screen time.

Understanding which breeds are most suitable for theirfamily's lifestyle.Not knowing the shelter dogs background/history.Finding hypoallergenic dogs.

Allison is a 5th-grade teacher, working full-time and has two smallchildren, ages 3 and 6. Her boys have been begging for a dogand her and her husband have agreed to introduce a four-legged friend to their family. When she's not at work she'smanaging her hectic life as a mother and a wife. It's important toAllison to spend quality time with her family and maintain anactive lifestyle for her boys. She wants them outside and playingand avoiding screen time whenever possible. Allison issearching for a medium-sized hypoallergenic dog, maybe a fewyears old and already housetrained but with enough energy toplay with her young sons.

Incentive

Fear

Growth

Power

Social

Traditional Ads

Online & Social Media

Referral

Guerrilla Efforts & PR

"I'm searching for my new bestfriend to hike with."

Age: 68Work: Retired AttorneyFamily: Divorced, grown childrenLocation: Seattle, WACharacter: Explorer

Introvert Extrovert

Thinking Feeling

Sensing Intuition

Judging Perceiving

Leader Dependable Intelligent

Want to find a larger dog that can keep up on a hike.Maintain an active and healthy lifestyle.Finding my new best friend.

Inexperienced as a dog owner, not sure what to expect.Unsure of how to find a dog that fits his personality.Not super tech-savvy.

Steven worked tirelessly his whole life as an attorney and hislong hours prevented him from having a dog. He recently retiredfrom his practice and now has an open schedule, which giveshim the availability to care for a dog. He loves the great outdoors,enjoys walking, hiking and swimming on a daily basis. He'sfeeling a little lonely now that he's not spending hours at theoffice and would enjoy having a companion to spend time with.Steven is thinking he would like a larger dog that is activeenough to keep up on a hike.

Incentive

Fear

Growth

Power

Social

Traditional Ads


Referral


"We're looking to add another 'fur baby' to our family."

Age: 28Work: Software DeveloperFamily: FiancéLocation: San Francisco, CACharacter: Tech Boy

Introvert Extrovert

Thinking Feeling

Sensing Intuition

Judging Perceiving

Friendly Smart Savvy Optimistic

Get another 'fur baby' for his fiancé, Jessica.Wants a mellow office-friendly dog.A smaller dog with a big personality.

Finding a good personality match for their older dog.Hard to agree on a breed and size.Pet search sites are not updated frequently.

Matt and his fiancé Jessica, are recently engaged and plan onwedding sometime next year. They just purchased a condotogether in San Francisco and are excited to start their lives as amarried couple. Both Matt and Jessica are very career motivatedat the moment and work rather long hours but luckily, theiroffice's are pet-friendly. Matt has an older mutt he adopted fromthe SPCA years before meeting Jessica but they'd love to addanother 'furbaby' to their family. Matt likes big dogs but Jessicaprefers something on the smaller side.

Incentive

Fear

Growth

Power

Social

Traditional Ads


Referral


"I'm looking out for the welfare of our shelter animals"

Age: 55Work: SPCA VolunteerFamily: Married with grownchildrenLocation: Monterey, CA Character: Caregiver

Introvert Extrovert

Thinking Feeling

Sensing Intuition

Judging Perceiving

Patient Caring Nurturing Loving

To find qualified adopters for her shelter dogs.To better understand adopters lifestyle and background.To match dogs personality to potential adopter's personality.

Too many unqualified adopters inquiring about dogs anddifficult to verify backgrounds.The screening process is time consuming and puts a strain onvolunteer resources.Maintaining the website, social media and Petfinder accountsis too time-consuming.

Karen is a longtime animal activist and volunteer with the SPCA.She started her volunteer efforts as a dog walker and hasbranched out to the mobile adoption team. Each weekend, Karenpacks up a van full of adoptable dogs and brings them to outdoormalls, pet stores and other public locations for adoption events.She gets to know each dog and feels personally responsible thatthe dog finds the best possible home. She won't hand over herdogs too easily, she requires a thorough lifestyle assessment.

Incentive

Fear

Growth

Power

Social

Traditional Ads


Referral


OpportunitiesWhat are consumers craving? What does your community need?What skills, knowledge, and tools does your company have to extend toindividuals, businesses, or organizations?

Example: Well established position with a well defined market niche. Identifiedmarket for consultancy in areas other than HRM.

ThreatsWhat obstacles do you foresee challenging your company’s success?Which competitors have the potential to threat your business?Is your consumer market evolving in a way that poses a risk to your company’sfuture?

Example: Large consultancies operating at a minor level. Other smallconsultancies looking to invade the marketplace.

Allison Blum

Personality

Goals

Frustrations

Bio

Motivation

Brands & Influencers

Preferred Channels

Steven Vaughn

Personality

Goals

Frustrations

Bio

Motivation


Preferred Channels

Matt Smith

Personality

Goals

Frustrations

Bio

Motivation


Preferred Channels

Karen Cox

Personality

Goals

Frustrations

Bio

Motivation


Preferred Channels



Introvert Extrovert

Thinking Feeling

Sensing Intuition

Judging Perceiving





Incentive

Fear

Growth

Power

Social

Traditional Ads


Referral




Introvert Extrovert

Thinking Feeling

Sensing Intuition

Judging Perceiving





Incentive

Fear

Growth

Power

Social

Traditional Ads


Referral




Introvert Extrovert

Thinking Feeling

Sensing Intuition

Judging Perceiving





Incentive

Fear

Growth

Power

Social

Traditional Ads


Referral




Introvert Extrovert

Thinking Feeling

Sensing Intuition

Judging Perceiving





Incentive

Fear

Growth

Power

Social

Traditional Ads


Referral






Allison Blum

Personality

Goals

Frustrations

Bio

Motivation


Preferred Channels

Steven Vaughn

Personality

Goals

Frustrations

Bio

Motivation


Preferred Channels

Matt Smith

Personality

Goals

Frustrations

Bio

Motivation


Preferred Channels

Karen Cox

Personality

Goals

Frustrations

Bio

Motivation


Preferred Channels



Introvert Extrovert

Thinking Feeling

Sensing Intuition

Judging Perceiving





Incentive

Fear

Growth

Power

Social

Traditional Ads


Referral




Introvert Extrovert

Thinking Feeling

Sensing Intuition

Judging Perceiving





Incentive

Fear

Growth

Power

Social

Traditional Ads


Referral




Introvert Extrovert

Thinking Feeling

Sensing Intuition

Judging Perceiving





Incentive

Fear

Growth

Power

Social

Traditional Ads


Referral




Introvert Extrovert

Thinking Feeling

Sensing Intuition

Judging Perceiving





Incentive

Fear

Growth

Power

Social

Traditional Ads


Referral






Allison Blum

Personality

Goals

Frustrations

Bio

Motivation


Preferred Channels

Steven Vaughn

Personality

Goals

Frustrations

Bio

Motivation


Preferred Channels

Matt Smith

Personality

Goals

Frustrations

Bio

Motivation


Preferred Channels

Karen Cox

Personality

Goals

Frustrations

Bio

Motivation


Preferred Channels



Introvert Extrovert

Thinking Feeling

Sensing Intuition

Judging Perceiving





Incentive

Fear

Growth

Power

Social

Traditional Ads


Referral




Introvert Extrovert

Thinking Feeling

Sensing Intuition

Judging Perceiving





Incentive

Fear

Growth

Power

Social

Traditional Ads


Referral




Introvert Extrovert

Thinking Feeling

Sensing Intuition

Judging Perceiving





Incentive

Fear

Growth

Power

Social

Traditional Ads


Referral




Introvert Extrovert

Thinking Feeling

Sensing Intuition

Judging Perceiving





Incentive

Fear

Growth

Power

Social

Traditional Ads


Referral






Allison Blum

Personality

Goals

Frustrations

Bio

Motivation


Preferred Channels

Steven Vaughn

Personality

Goals

Frustrations

Bio

Motivation


Preferred Channels

Matt Smith

Personality

Goals

Frustrations

Bio

Motivation


Preferred Channels

Karen Cox

Personality

Goals

Frustrations

Bio

Motivation


Preferred Channels

PAIN GAIN

HEAR SEE

THINK & FEEL

SAY & DO

• Search is time consuming• Hard to find hypoallergenic dogs• Dog walkers + training is expensive

• Confused by which breed to look for• Excited to get a companion for her family• Concerned about not knowing the dogs background/history• Wondering if a puppy or grown dog is better

• Researches which breeds are most suitable for her family’s lifestyle

• Asks vets about hypoallergenic dogs• Talks to her friends about how hard it is

to find a hypoallergenic dog to adopt

• Will her family be ready to take this on?• Will it be expensive?• Concerned about her inexperience with dogs

• Asks friends and family about what it’s like to own a dog

• Researches trainers and dog walkers in her area• Visits local shelters and talks to staff about her

needs and available dogs

• Doodle breeds are the most common hypoallergenic dogs• Moms at the playground with children and dogs• Humane Society ads on TV• Lots of Pit bulls and Chihuahua’s at shelters• Instagram dogs like Doug the Pug, Manny the Frenchie• Photos of friends dogs on Facebook

• Get a doodle breed• Get a puppy• Get a grown dog that’s already house trained• Are you sure you have time for a dog?• Dogs are great for children to grow up with• Steer away from bully breeds• Adopt, don’t shop

• How excited her children are for a dog• Unconditional love and affection• A more active lifestyle for her family

Allison Blum

PAIN GAIN

HEAR SEE

THINK & FEEL

SEE & DO

• Feels lonely not at the office daily• Wants a companion• Unsure of what to expect

• I want a hiking dog• Asks people on trails about their dogs• Contact trainers for training fees

• Unsure which breed is right for him• Nervous about training• Will he be able to handle a larger dog?

• Researches the best outdoor dogs• Visits a few shelters• Talks to neighbors and friends about wanting

to get a dog

• People hiking with dogs on his favorite trails• Adoption fairs outside of his local coffee shop• Humane Society ads on TV• Lots of Pit bulls and Chihuahua’s at shelters

• Get a Labrador• Dogs are great companions• Dogs help people to stay active• A dog will help you meet more people• Dogs are expensive• All dogs must get training

• Finding the perfect personality fit for him• Expense of training and upkeep of a dog• Time consuming shelter visits and paperwork to meet dogs

• A more active lifestyle• A more social lifestyle• A best friend

Steven Vaughn

PAIN GAIN

HEAR SEE

THINK & FEEL

SAY & DO

• Does not want an alpha dog• Wants to avoid ‘purse dogs’• Concerned about how the new dog will

get along with his older dog

• Wants to make his fiancé happy• Wants a dog that not too high

maintenance• Talks to co-workers about their dogs

• Unsure which breed is right for him• Needs to be an office-friendly dog• Would love a fund and goofy personality,

nothing too ‘foofy’

• Researches dog breeds on his phone• Visits a few shelters• Observes his dogs interactions with smaller

breeds at the dog park

• Small dogs bark a lot• Women carrying small dogs in purses• Small dogs at restaurants and shops• Humane Society ads on TV• Instagram dogs like Doug the Pug, Manny the Frenchie• Too many Chihuahua’s in shelters

• Small white dogs are yappy• You could lose your man-card• French Bulldogs are the most popular breed in SF• Big dogs are more fun• Let your fiancé choose the dog• Get a puppy

• Search is time consuming• Matching personality to his older dog• Cost of dog walker and care while traveling will double

• How excited his fiancé will be• Will be nice to have a companion for his older dog• Practice for parenthood with a ‘fur baby’

Matt Smith

PAIN GAIN

HEAR SEE

THINK & FEEL

SAY & DO

GAIN

• Worried about dog finding the right adopter• Petfinder services are too complicated• Too many inquiries from unqualified applicants

• Asks applicants various lifestyle questions• Observes applicants interacting with shelter dogs• Discusses applicants level of experience

• Too time consuming to update website• Hard to adequately screen applicants• Uncertain of applicants dog experience

• Tries to match people’s personality and lifestyle with a shelter dogs

• Observes interactions with children and other pets• Encourages friends and family to support with

donations to her shelter

• People gravitate towards young puppies• Dogs being returned because not a good match• New dog owners who are unprepared• Dogs in shelter suffer from stress• People are not realistic about what they can handle• Black dogs, older dogs and disabled dogs take

longest to get adopted

• I want a dog that is child-friendly• I want a companion for my dog• I don’t know how to train a dog• This dog is so cute• I want a puppy• I don’t want a Pit bull or Chihuahua• What is this dogs background?

• Inaccurate lifestyle information submitted by applicants• Too time-consuming to screen potential applicants• People selecting ‘cute’ dogs over the right dog for them

• Dog goes home to a family and lives happily• More room in the shelter to save other pets• Save a life

Karen Cox

MVP & User Stories Project

Heidi Sanders / Springboard UX Workshop

FEATURES USER STORIES REQUIREMENTS

Sign-up / Login As a user, I want to be able to create an account, so that I can save my information and don't have to enter it evertime I open the app.

Implement account signupAs a user, I want to be able to select a username, so that I can create a profile. Implement select username during account signupAs a user, I want to be able to select a password, so that I can save my profile. Implement select password during account signupAs a user, I want to be able to reset my password, so that I can gain access to my profile. Implement reset password via email.As a user, I want to be able to use my social login, so that I can create an account easily. Implement social logins.As a user, I want to be able to view app contents without signing up, so that I can see if it will work for me.

Implement guest function without saving information or preferences

Profile Creation As a user, I want to save my location, so that I don't have to re-enter it each time. Add zipcode to profile locationAs a user, I want to save my search preferences, so that I can re-perform at a later time. Add preferences to user profileAs a user, I want to easily add my lifestyle preferences, so that I don't have to type them in. Add preferences to user profileAs a user, I want to see which dogs are best matched with me, so that I can learn more about the individual dogs that are availble. Implement match results on main page

User Profile As a user, I want to be able to edit my profile, so that I can update my lifestyle information. Implement edit profile function

As a user, I want to be able to edit my profile, so that I can update my location. Implement edit profile function As a user, I want to be able to edit my profile, so that I can update my email address. Implement edit profile function

As a user, I want to be able to edit my profile, so that I can update my password. Implement edit profile functionAs a user, I want to be able to edit my account settings, so that I can receive push notifications. Implement edit notifications settings functionAs a user, I want to be able to edit my account settings, so that I can turn off push notifications. Implement edit notifications settings function

Favorites As a user, I want to be able to save the dogs I like, so that I can go back and look at their profiles. Implement favorites function

As a user, I want to receive confirmation that I saved a dog's profile, so that I can be sure I saved it correctly.

Implement timed toast notification with 'saved to favorites' and fill heart with color

As a user, I want to see my favorited dogs status, so that I know whether or not the dog is available or adopted. Implement available or adopted flag on dogs profile

As a user, I want to easily contact a rescue/shelter, so that I can enquire about my favorite dog. Implement send message within dogs profile

As a user, I want to unfavorite a dog, so that I can remove it from my favorites tab. Implement remove from favorites function, remove color from heart

As a user, I want my favorites to sort by date, so that my most recently favorites are on top. Implement sort by date function.As a user, I want to receive push notifications about my favorited dogs, so that I know immediately if their status changes. Implement push notifications

Messages - user As a user, I want to be able to see my incoming and outgoing messages, so that I can manage my inquiries and conversations with shelter/rescue organizations.

Implement message center with inbox / sent / deleted folders

As a user, I want to see that my message was sent, so that I can confirm it worked properly. Implement timed toast notification with 'message sent'As a user, I want to delete messages from my inbox, so that I can remove messages that I no longer need. Implement delete message function.

As a user, I want to be able to differentiate between new and read messages, so that I can easily see new messages.

Add bold text to subject lines on new messages, read messages remain unbolded

As a user, I want to see a new message notifcation on the main screen, so that I don't have to open the message center every time.

Add a red dot with the number of new messages to message icon on bottom nav

As a user, I want to receive a push notifcation on my phone, so that I can quickly respond to new messages from shelters/rescues about my favorite dogs. Implement push notifications

Messages - Shelter/Rescue As a user, I want to be able to see my incoming and outgoing messages, so that I can manage my inquiries and conversations with potential adopters.

Implement message center with inbox / sent / deleted folders

As a user, I want to see that my message was sent, so that I can confirm it worked properly. Implement timed toast notification with 'message sent'As a user, I want to delete messages from my inbox, so that I can remove messages that I no longer need. Implement delete message function.

As a user, I want to be able to differentiate between new and read messages, so that I can easily see new messages.

Add bold text to subject lines on new messages, read messages remain unbolded

As a user, I want to see a new message notifcation on the main screen, so that I don't have to open the message center every time.

Add a red dot with the number of new messages to message icon on bottom nav

As a user, I want to receive a push notifcation on my phone, so that I can quickly respond to new messages from potential adopters. Implement push notifications

Search As a user I want to be able to easily search for a dog without too many steps, so that I can get results quickly. Implement basic search functions

As a user I want to be able to narrow down my search results by entering more detailed information, so that I don't have to sort through too many profiles. Implement advanced search functions

As a user, I want to be able to back out of my search results and edit my search, so that I don't have to re-enter information to change one value. Add back button to search results and dogs profile

As a user, I want to be able to select how far to search, so that it is within a certain number of miles from my location.

Add search by location field and select by miles: 5, 10, 25, 50, etc.

As a user, I want to be able to sort my search results by location, so that I know which dogs are closest to me.

Implement sort by location function via miles from users zipcode

As a user, I want to be able to search for a certain breeds, so that I can narrow my search results to only those types of dogs. Add seach by breed function

As a user, I want to be able to search for a certain age, so that I can narrow my search results to only those types of dogs. Add seach by age function

As a user, I want to be able to search for multiple ages, so that I don't have to perform separate searches for various ages. Implement multiple selections on age search

As a user, I want to be able to search for a certain gender, so that I can narrow my search results to only those types of dogs. Add seach by gender function

As a user, I want to be able to search for both genders, so that I don't have to perform two separate serches for male or female dogs. Implement multiple selections on gender search

Breed info As a user, I want to be able to scroll an alphabetical list, so that I can easily find a breed I want to check out. Implement 'sort alphabetically' function

As a user, I want to be able to sort the dog breeds into sizes, so that I can see only 'small dogs', for example. Implement 'sort by size' function

As a user, I want to be able to sort the dog breeds into activity levels, so that I can see only 'active dogs', for example. Implement 'sort by activity level' function

As a user, I want to be able to sort the dog breeds into personality types, so that I can see only 'goofy' types, for example. Implement 'sort by personality' function

As a user, I want to be able to sort the dog breeds into working dog types, so that I can see only 'hunting' dogs for example. Implement 'sort by job' function

As a user, I want to be able to see dogs within the breed I'm viewing nearby, so that I can easily locate available dogs in my area.

Implement feed with breed viewed + location within 25 miles

Dog Profile As a user, I want to preview a dogs photo and name, so that I can decide whether or not to view the entire profile. Implement profile preview under search results

As a user, I want to be able to save the dogs I like, so that I can go back and look at their profile. Implement favorites function

As a user, I want to receive confirmation that I saved a dog's profile, so that I can be sure I saved it correctly.

Implement timed toast notification with 'saved to favorites' and fill heart with color

As a user, I want to be able to view multiple photos and videos of a dog, so that I can get a full understanding of it's size and personality. Add gallery within pet photo area

As a user I want to be able to view pertinent information directly below a pets photo, so that I can easily skim pertinent information before deciding to read the full bio. Implement accordian-style tabs to fold out full bio

As a user, I want to easily contact a rescue/shelter, so that I can enquire about the dog I'm viewing. Implement send message within dogs profile

As a user, I want to be able to link to breed information of the dog, so that I can learn more about the breed charateristics associated with the dog I'm viewing.

Implement 'learn more' button under breed info within dogs profile

As a user, I want to be able to back out of breed info, so that I can return to a dogs profile. Add back button on breed infoAs a user, I want to be able to back out of a dog's profile, so that I can return to my search results. Add back button on dogs profile

As a user, I want to be able to share a pets profile, so that I can email it or share on social medial with friends and family. Add share button on dogs profile

Dog Profile - Shelter/Rescue As a user, I want to easily create a new profile, so that I can add a new dog available for adoption. Implement create new profile under shelter portal

As a user, I want to be able to auto-populate frequently used fields, so that I don't have to enter it everytime. Implement auto-fill on shelter information and location

As a user, I want to easily upload photos, so that I can add them to a dogs profile. Add upload button to dogs profile under pet portalAs a user, I want to easily add common traits to a dogs profile, so that I don't have to type them every time.

Add buttons for common profile settings like size, age, gender, activity levels, fur length, personality, etc.

As user, I want to easily push new profile information to our Facebook account, so that I can share with followers. Add share button to shelter portal

As a user, I want to be able to edit and existing dogs profile so that I can add new information and photos. Implement 'edit profile' under shelter portal

As a user, I want to be able to edit and existing dogs profile so that I can update status if adopted. Implement 'edit profile' under shelter portal

As a user, I want to be able to remove an existing dogs profile, so that it is removed from the site within 30 days after adoption. Implement 'delete profile' under shelter portal

Developing orderUnderstanding the users top priorities and key search terms

Using a closed card sort for both

exercises, I asked 7 sorters to place

cards into one of the two categories

provided. It was also required that

they place the cards in order of

importance—most important on the

top of the stack to least important

on the bottom of the stack.

The first of the two sorts was to determine

how much information to include in the

profile building of a new user who is signing

up for the first time. 100% of those who

performed the sort selected ‘Other animals

in household’ as their top, most important

card. ‘Energy Level of Dog’, ‘My Activity

Level’, ‘My Personality’ and ‘Size of Dog’

came in as the second most important

elements in the sort.

The second of the two sorts was to

determine how to split search categories

into Basic and Advanced searches. Those

who participated in the sort, sped through

this activity producing almost unanimous

results on the top five items placed in

the Basic search options. The sorters

confidence in placing these cards into the

two categories, is a great representation

of how most users would answer.

Mapping it outDeveloping user flows and site maps

Reaching back to both my personas

and user stories, I mapped out

individual user flows for each of the

personas looking to adopt a dog.

I took into consideration the users

specific needs, wants and level of

technological knowledge. From

there, I was able to develop task-

driven user flows which helped to

futher develop the overall sitemap

and architecture of the application.

User flow sketchesSketching and immediately iterating on missing or forgotton information

LOGIN / SIGNUP

WELCOME

CREATE ACCT

HOMEPAGE

FAVORITES MESSAGESBREED INFO PROFILE ABOUTSEARCH

LOGIN

SOCIAL LOGIN

FAVS LIST BREED LIST BASIC INBOX SUMMARY ABOUT/CONTACT US

EDIT PROFILE

EDIT EMAIL

EDIT PASSWORD

EDIT LOCATION

PUSH NOTIFICATIONS

SENT

TRASH

ADVANCED

DOG PROFILE

BREED PROFILE

SEARCH RESULTS

ACCOUNT SETTINGS

FORGOT USERNAME OR

PASSWORD

Heidi Sanders - MATCH DOG SITEMAP

OTHER ANIMALS IN HOUSEHOLD

ENERGY LEVEL OF DOG

MY ACTIVITY LEVEL

MY PERSONALITY

SIZE OF DOG

LENGTH OF COAT

MY INTERESTS AND HOBBIES

OTHER PEOPLE IN HOUSEHOLD

TYPE OF HOUSEHOLD

EMPLOYMENT STATUS

OTHER ANIMALS IN HOUSEHOLD

ENERGY LEVEL OF DOG

MY ACTIVITY LEVEL

MY PERSONALITY

SIZE OF DOG

LENGTH OF COAT

MY INTERESTS AND HOBBIES

OTHER PEOPLE IN HOUSEHOLD

TYPE OF HOUSEHOLD

EMPLOYMENT STATUS

Final sitemapA culmination of user flows, information architecture and card sorting exercises

Forgot Password Reset Password New User - Profile Builder

Wireframing + user testingCreating a testable product in an InVision prototype

Considering the user flows and site maps,

I created wireframes to support all of the

information architecture developed. After

developing all pages, I moved to InVision

to create a testable prototype.l

New User - Profile Builder New User - Sign Up

New User - Profile Builder

Mutts That Match My Favorites Basic Search Advanced Search Dog Profile

Breed Guide Breed Profile Account Settings Edit Profile Hamburger Menu

Wireframe sketches

User testingI recruited a total of 6 users for this test that

spanned the Millennial, GenX and Boomer

generations. I felt it was necessary to test

with various age ranges to make sure there

was a general understanding of how the

application worked. I also wanted to have

a good representation of my user personas

in both male and female. Four of the

participants tested in person and two of

the participants tested remotely via Skype.

The Millennials and GenX testers sped

through the the test with ease. They mainly

used the bottom navigation for most tasks

until they were asked to visit the Breed

Guides and Logout at the end. The Boomers

were a little slower to move through the app

but had no issues navigating or completing

the tasks. The Boomers also tended to rely on

the hamburger menu to navigate, so it further

confirmed that my navigation choices of both

the hamburger and the bottom icon quick-

navigation was a good one.

The main concern amongst all testers, was

that not all of the fields were active on the

lifestyle tests. I had mentioned to everyone

prior to testing that only one button per

question was ‘live’ but I think that was lost

on them until they experienced it firsthand.

Once they understood how the Invision

comps worked, they figured it out quickly.

Overall, the app performed very well and

users didn’t have any issues understanding

it. All users felt that the icons felt standard

enough to understand what they were

without having to add supporting text

to things like the heart for favorites, the

envelope for messages, the magnifying

glass for search and the house for home.

Task #1: Create a new user profile• This is the landing page for the app. Proceed

to the next step assuming you want to build

a profile.

• Next you will receive a series of questions

which will help to build your profile.

• Proceed through the 10 questions.

• Next you will arrive on the Sign-Up page for

MuttMatch. Proceed to create your account.

Task #2: Add a dog to your favorites• Once you’ve signed-in you will land on the

main page with your matches. Please select

a dog and view it’s profile.

• Please favorite this dog and then select back

to return to your mutt matches.

• From the bottom navigation, select Favorites.

Task #3: View the Breed Guide• From the main homepage, please open the

menu and select Breed Guide.

• Click on a breed to view it’s profile.

• Return to the Breed Guide by using the

back button.

Task #4: View your messages• Using the bottom navigation, open your inbox.

• Select a message to view it.

Task #5: Perform a search• From your favorites, navigate to search.

• Enter your basic search then click through

to Advanced, select and hit search.

• From the search results, view a dog’s profile.

Task #6: Logout• Please open the menu and logout.

Testing script

Final iteration + style guideAfter performing user testing with the

existing black-and-white wireframes, it was

time to iterate based on user feedback and

infuse the design. A limited color palette

and simplistic design aesthetic was used

throughout to keep the user focused on the

profile building exercises and search tools.

MuttMatchAaNuito Extra Bold

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz1234567890

Color Palette

Fonts

AaNuito Semibold

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz1234567890

Buttons

H2 - Nunito Extra Bold 18pt

Body - Nunito Semibold 18pt

H1 - Nunito Semibold 18pt

(Profile builder questions)

Nunito Semibold 18pt #00863c

Nunito Semibold 18pt #ffffff

#00863c fill

Nunito ExtraBold 14pt #ffffff

Nunito ExtraBold 14pt #00863c

#0086c3

#4A4A4A

#4fc3f7 #D0021B

Primary

Favorites / Alerts

Text

Buttons / Selected States

Hi there!Help us get to know you a little better so that we can find your perfect dog!

How would you describe your energy level?

FIND MY DOG

FIND MY DOG

Lightly Active

Lightly Active1

Icons

Favorites (Selected)Home Search Favorites Inbox

#00863c 1pt stroke

Documents

MuttMatch...All three of the competitor sites are fairly simple search tools with varying levels of filtration. The user journey varied drastically amongst the three applications and