PawPrints
Reuniting Lost Pets with Their Families
Personal project - Enhancing the safety, health, and rehoming success of lost or adopted pets through microchip-associated pet profiles
01. Project overview
B2C, Non-profit
Platform: Mobile App
Role: Product Designer
Team: Personal Project in collaboration with Israel's humane society
Time Frame: Nov - Dec 2022
02. Research findings
Fresh eyes on a pervasive problem
To create a solution with tangible, widespread impact, and ensure it meets the real-world needs of both pet owners and rescuers, I partnered with several experts in the rescue community, including Israel's Humane Society.
Preliminary research with the experts and a comprehensive market audit revealed that a significant issue lies within fragmented, outdated, and rudimentary microchip registry systems. These systems are failing our lost, sick, or frequently rehomed pets.
“The biggest issue we face is that the dog's information isn't consistently updated. As result rescued dogs remain lost to their owners, and new families often end up adopting them unaware of their issues. Then the dogs are returned even more traumatized"
- Sivan Haill, Israel's humane society
How might we make sure that every microchipped pet has the best chance of reuniting with their family, getting appropriate care, or finding a suitable new home?
03. The solution
PawPrints, a Pet-Centric Platform
03. Design highlights
Design highlight 1
Beyond Identification: Comprehensive Medical and Behavioral Records
Unlike traditional microchip registries , in PawPrints Pet owners and rescues can document crucial medical history, ongoing treatments, allergies, and behavioral traits. This depth of information transforms microchips from a simple identification device into a holistic pet identity system, improving outcomes in lost pet scenarios, veterinary emergencies, and adoption processes.
For lost pets
This information can be lifesaving, enabling immediate appropriate care.
For shelters and potential adopters
It provides invaluable insights into a pet's needs and temperament, significantly reducing failed adoptions due to unexpected health issues or behavioral mismatches.
Veterinarians
Could have access to the pet's full medical history, ensuring continuity of care even if the owner is unreachable.
Design highlight 2
A more intuitive user-flow
The initial usability study, conducted with five participants, confirmed that users saw the immediate need for the app and were excited about its availability. It also revealed some potential areas for usability improvement:
"These options are a little confusing. Should I go with SEARCH or LOST A PET?" - Lezlie, study participant
The home screen had 4 main navigation options, which confused several users.
The solution:
I responded by simplifying the design, reducing the main actions to just two:
Creating a new profile
Searching for an existing one
The design was improved with each iteration based on feedback and insights collected from testers
Some users didn't understand the full scope of the app's capabilities, suggesting the need for better initial guidance.
The solution:
I addressed this by designing splash screens that clearly explain the platform's value proposition before the sign-up.
The result
Task Completion Time: Improved by 30% after we streamlined the user journey.
User Satisfaction Score: Increased by 50% after iterations that simplified the profile creation process and clarified navigation.
Design highlight 3
Real-Time Updates and Alerts
Pet owners have the ability to activate a "Lost Pet/Found Pet Alert," which is promptly showcased on their pet’s profile. The alert also appears prominently on the main app page for users and rescues located near the pet’s last known whereabouts, maximizing the chances of reuniting lost pets with their families.
An active, community-driven effort
This approach tackles the critical gap in traditional systems where pets can remain "lost" to their owners while staying in shelters or clinics.
Crucial real-time updates
The system notifies registered pet owners if their pet's profile is accessed or its location is updated.
Post-adoption monitoring
Rescuers could can use this features to keep track of pets post-rehoming, ensuring they continue to receive proper care.
1
1
Lost pets are displayed on the main page for users in proximity to the pet's last known location.
04. Summary
"Necessity is the mother of invention."
PawPrints started as a very personal project, originating from a desire to support rescue organizations and decrease the need for rehoming and euthanasia. This experience emphasized the significance of approaching a project with adaptability, empathy, and curiosity - being open to new perspectives and not getting too attached to initial assumptions. The most effective solutions often arise when you allow empathy and data to guide you.
Takeaways
Always validate assumptions
The preliminary research revealed the urgent problem of unidentified microchipped pets, prompting a complete shift in the project's focus. This experience underscored the significance of remaining open to new insights and not becoming too attached to initial assumptions.
Test early, Test often
Early feedback helped simplify PawPrints' key user flows into a more intuitive, user-friendly platform.
Simplicity is accessibility
Overcomplicated design can lead to confusion and frustration, especially in high-stress situations, and among older, less tech-savvy users. The interface iterations focused on reducing cognitive load during pet emergencies.
