Mobile app that connects dog owners with trusted local walkers — with real-time tracking, flexible scheduling, and peace of mind.
Our goal is to create a user-friendly dog walking app that connects dog owners with reliable walkers, offers flexible scheduling, & addresses socialization preferences, resolving the challenges of finding trustworthy dog care.
01 — Problem
Defining the Problem
Using FigJam, I facilitated a collaborative brainstorming session to identify the core challenges dog owners face day-to-day — and the risks that arise when those challenges go unaddressed.
The central tension was clear: dog owners want their pets to receive proper care and exercise, but their own schedules often make that impossible. Finding a trustworthy walker felt uncertain, unstructured, and stressful.
02 — Research
Competitive Analysis
I conducted a deep-dive into two of the leading apps in this market segment, with the goal of identifying their unique selling propositions, where they excelled, and the gaps they left open.
This gave me a clearer picture of what users had already come to expect — and where there was room to offer something more personal, reliable, and transparent.
03 — User Research
Listening to Dog Owners
Through user interviews I uncovered the real pain points dog owners experience — not assumptions, but lived frustrations. From this research, I built a user persona that captured the needs, anxieties, and motivations of the target audience.
Five non-negotiable features emerged from the research:
Reliability and Trustworthiness
Convenience and Peace of Mind
Lack of Personal Connection with walkers
Detailed Walk Instructions
Flexible Walk Length and Timing
04 — User Flows
Mapping the Journey
With the research complete, I mapped out the key user flows — from first open to completed booking. The goal was to make every step feel effortless, with no dead ends or unnecessary friction.
Key flows designed: onboarding, adding a pet profile, searching and booking a walker, real-time walk tracking, and post-walk review.
05 — Wireframes
Sketching the Structure
Starting with low-fidelity sketches, I explored multiple layout options before committing to a direction. Taking cues from competitors while improving on their shortcomings, I iterated quickly through variations.
One concept that emerged early was a promoted walker card — a way for experienced walkers to increase their visibility while creating a potential revenue stream for the platform.
06 — High Fidelity
Moodboard, Branding & Mockups
The visual direction leaned warm and approachable — earthy oranges and greens evoking the outdoors and trust. The typography is friendly but structured, and the UI keeps things spacious and clear for users who are often checking in on the go.
Key screens designed: Login, Sign Up, Adding a Pet, Booking a Service, Real-Time Walk Tracking.
07 — Usability Testing
Testing & Iteration
Putting real users in front of the prototype surfaced two clear issues that wouldn't have been caught in design review alone.
08 — Conclusion
What I Learned
The goal with Wag was to build something that genuinely solved a real problem — not just an exercise in UI aesthetics. Dog owners needed trust, transparency, and flexibility, and every design decision was made with those three values in mind.
Usability testing proved invaluable. The calendar and walker list issues were both invisible during design reviews but immediately obvious to real users — a good reminder that assumptions need to be tested.
Given more time, I'd expand the walker profile section with richer history and social proof, and explore deeper walk-tracking features like route replay and milestone photos sent to owners mid-walk.