The problems that I had to solve when creating the pet care reminder app was the challenge of managing pet care tasks efficiently.
The semester project was an independent project where I was the sole developer and researcher. I was responsible for the user needs analysis where I conducted research, competitive analysis, interviews, and surveys to understand the pain points and behaviors of pet owners and pet specialists. Another focus was the design and planning of the app, in which I focused on defining key app features which included scheduling pet sitters and adding reminders. These focuses of app planning made sure that the usability objectives and metrics for success would both be met for user needs and business viability. The project was independent, but I did engage with others in collaboration amongst the users that were interviewed in a structured interview process, in which I gathered real-world insights to validate the apps features.
The proposed solution directly addressed the problems identified through user research by integrating key features designed to improve pet care management. The app provides a customizable scheduling system that allows users to set reminders for feeding, medication, grooming, and other essential tasks that can be time specific, and repeatable which solves the user identified problem of forgetting pet care tasks. Another integration of a key feature is the scheduling of a pet sitter in which the user would receive real-time updates on their pets’ well-being while they were away. This feature solved the lack of communication, scheduling issues, and allowed users to feel more comfortable when it came to having separation anxiety of being away from their pets. By implementing these solutions, the app simplifies the user's pet care management process and allows the user to efficiently manage pet health and routines. Overall the pet care management app enhances organization, accountability, and peace of mind for pet owners.
The personas of Sarah Smith and Kate Riley were created to represent the two core user groups critical to the Pet Reminder App: pet owners and pet specialists. Sarah reflects users who need help organizing daily pet care tasks like feeding and medication scheduling, while Kate represents specialists who manage multiple pets and rely on clear communication and reminders to deliver consistent care. Together, these personas helped define the app’s focus on scheduling, monitoring, and messaging features designed to simplify pet care for both personal and professional users.
The task flows map two core actions within the Pet Reminder App: setting up reminders and creating pet sitting requests. These flows were designed to prioritize simplicity, allowing users to quickly create, edit, and manage reminders, or book and schedule caretakers with minimal friction. Each flow supports the broader goal of helping pet owners and specialists organize and monitor pet care activities more efficiently.
I arrived at the solutions for the Pet Care Reminder app starting with developing wireframes that provided a user-centered design approach to making improvements to the interface. These improvements will include things such as a customizable scheduling system that allows users to set reminders for feeding, medication, grooming, and other essential tasks which redesigned the app for better functionality and user engagement.
The high-fidelity prototype demonstrates the final design of the Pet Reminder App, focusing on simple navigation and clear visual scheduling. It features personalized greetings, organized reminder cards, and an easy-to-use flow for adding new tasks. The design prioritizes quick access to critical information, helping users manage pet care routines more efficiently with minimal friction.
