Reducing post-COVID stress between pups and parents.
A solution for pandemic pups.
How do we reduce the stress of a post-COVID lifestyle for pups and parents?
In 2020 April, the national pet adoption rate jumped 34 percent over the previous year, according to the group’s “Covid-19 Impact Report.”
Problem
First time dog parents who adopted a pup during the pandemic are used to spending the whole day with their doggo. Their return to a post-COVID lifestyle is a cause of concern, as some parents are already returning their pups back to shelters. Additionally these dog parents do not trust boarding options.
Solution
Puppal helps pup parents get the support they need. The app helps dog parents schedule dog sitting options with their friends and family network. The app also helps alleviate short term and long term travel for pup parents by providing them with dog-friendly locations to visit.
Process
14 Informational interviews dog parents, synthesis of insights through affinity mapping, journey mapping, defining user types and personas, defining user flows, creating wireframes and prototyping.
Dog parents need structure in their routine and dog sitters to help them.
“She’s pretty much on a really strict schedule especially because of her pills”
Dog parents would like to be reassured that dog sitters who help them out adhere to their instructions on how to properly care for their pet. They would like to discuss preferences.
Dog parents prefer to choose folks they know to help with dog sitting.
“ He chills and stays home alone, he doesn’t like being in strange places by himself”
Dog parents tend to be hesitant of placing their pup in boarding facilities when they travel and prefer to have friends and family take care of their dog when they are away.
Dog parents prefer dog-friendly areas to travel with their pets.
“ Were like planning these trips and were like what are we going to do with the dog…”
Dog parents would like to find dog-friendly locations to bring their dog with them whenever they do travel. They feel separation anxiety when away from their pet.
DIRECTOR OF LUCKY DOG
“Anyone who felt like, ‘I can’t adopt an animal because I’m at work all day’ is now finding they’re at home,” - Matt Horowitz
Currently, dog parents spend moments throughout the day bonding with their dog.
The pandemic has provided more opportunities for work and life to intersect throughout the day. For dog parents, this is a great thing, as most parents spend quality time with their pups throughout the day.
Dog parents will not be able to bond with their pups for large portions of the day post-pandemic.
Post-pandemic routines and lifestyles will change drastically for some parents. They will not have as many opportunities to bond with their dog throughout the day. As a result, they will require dog sitters and friends and family members to help them out.
“Shelter directors, too, are wondering what will happen as Americans start returning to school and work.”
— Washington Post
FUTURE STATE JOURNEY WITH APP
With the app, parents can check in with their pups via Puppal while they are at work.
Puppal provides dog sitting options for short term leave.
Dog parents can have friends and family members check in on their pup or stay with their pup.
Puppal provides dog sitting options for long term leave.
Dog parents can have friends and family members check in on their pup or stay with their pup.
DESIGN PROCESS
Design criteria to narrow the scope of the app and user feedback from ideation sessions.
Puppal design criteria.
Design criteria for Puppal helped narrow the concept down during the ideation process to focus on building an MVP (minimum viable product).
Feedback from ideation sessions:
“If it shows my dog being taken care of or like how they are doing while I’m gone that would be really cool.”
“Need an easy way to show my dogs routine so it’s not confusing for my parents when they watch her.”
FEATURED DESIGNER
Meet Valorie Erickson.
Hi there. I'm a designer from Philadelphia, PA.
While graphic design is my passion, I get excited about taking on freelance UI UX projects. Puppal was inspired by all my friends with dogs an becoming a proud dog mom myself during this pandemic.