Welcome to Waggly. This app was designed in Figma over three months as part of an Interaction Design course at The University of Cincinnati.
PROBLEM
Have you ever walked into a pet store and felt overwhelmed by the endless products for your pet? As a first-time dog owner, it can be especially daunting. With so many options based on size, age, breed, and health needs, how do you know what’s best? That’s where Waggly comes in.
END RESULT
Waggly is a mobile app to guide new dog owners with educational support for dogs and puppies. The primary feature of the app offers a curated starter package with items recommended by experienced dog parents and professionals, along with the option to build your own bundle. The app will also feature expert insights, helpful tips, and a beginner’s guide to dog ownership. Waggly is great for young dog owners and those within the 55+ community. This is curated for people who aren't so sure what exactly to do when taking the role of becoming a dog parent.
Benchmarking
Once our topic was finalized and a detailed plan for the app was created, the first step in the research process was to benchmark similar apps against our vision. I focused on identifying features we found successful, enjoyable, and beneficial to users. Three apps I analyzed closely were Chewy, Puppr, and PetSmart.
Chewy
A pet care and shopping app that makes it easy for pet owners to buy food, toys, medications, and other essentials, while also managing subscriptions and getting expert pet advice.
Puppr
A pet retail and service app that combines shopping with in-store services like grooming and rewards tracking, giving pet owners an all-in-one pet care resource.
PetSmart
A dog training app focused on teaching obedience and tricks through step-by-step video lessons, progress tracking, and live trainer support for new and experienced dog owners.
User Persona
A design may look appealing, but if it doesn’t meet the needs of its target users, it won’t truly support them. Let’s meet Ted and Maggie, a recently retired couple with specific needs on their dog-ownership journey.
User Task Flow
One of the app’s key features gives users the ability to build their own bundle with complete customization to fit their needs. Below are two task flows that walk the user through the app experience. The first is an onboarding task flow, and the second is the primary task flow showing a user building their own bundle.
Mid-Fi Wireframing
After completing the research stage, I moved on to designing Waggly’s layouts. Below are two task flows that walk through the user process, from creating an account to building a personalized bundle. The final designs differ from the process below.
Visual Design Exploration
After completing the research stage, I moved on to designing Waggly’s layouts. Below are two task flows that walk through the user process, from creating an account to building a personalized bundle. The final designs differ from the process below.
Visual Style Guide
After completing the research stage, I moved on to designing Waggly’s layouts. Below are two task flows that walk through the user process, from creating an account to building a personalized bundle. The final designs differ from the process below.
End Deliverable for Ted and Peg
A functional app was developed to support Ted and Maggie’s needs, allowing them to create an account and purchase their first bundle for their new pup. This app would greatly benefit any new-time dog parent in the process of understanding what the best products are for their dog.
