Pawsitive Connections

Project Overview

Context

The Pawsitive Connections project was a service redesign initiative aimed at transforming the pet adoption process through design thinking. Inspired by matchmaking services, our goal was to create a seamless and engaging experience for potential pet owners by integrating a paired app element that improves the adoption journey.

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Key Elements of Service Design

This project emphasized the four key elements of service design:‍

• ‍Policy: Understanding operational workflows and adoption regulations.‍
• Assets: Designing user-facing elements that enhance engagement.‍
• Culture: Creating an adoption experience that aligns with user expectations.‍
• Stakeholders: Considering the needs of adoption centers, pet seekers, and animal welfare organizations.

Problem Statement

The traditional pet adoption process is often overwhelming, inefficient, and lacks personalization. Many potential pet adopters struggle with:

• ‍Navigating shelter systems and understanding adoption policies.‍
• Finding the right pet match based on lifestyle and personality.‍
• Lack of engagement in the adoption journey, leading to hesitation or drop-off.

 How might we enhance the pet adoption experience in away that is intuitive, engaging, and user-friendly, ensuring higher adoption rates and lasting pet-owner relationships?

Design Process

Leveraging insights from matchmaking platforms, we developed a paired mobile app concept that would:‍

• ‍Match users with adoptable pets based on personality traits and lifestyle factors.
• ‍Provide an intuitive browsing experience with pet profiles, photos, and behavioral insights.
• ‍Allow seamless communication between adopters and shelters.

Wireframing & Prototyping

• Created low-fidelity wireframes to explore UI structure.
• Developed interactive prototypes to simulate matching interactions and pet profiles.
• Conducted user testing to refine navigation, onboarding, and pet matching flows.

Design Solutions

Our final service redesign integrated:

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Pet-Adopter Matching System

• Users fill out a lifestyle quiz to receive personalized pet matches.
• AI-driven recommendations enhance compatibility scoring.

Interactive Pet Profiles

• High-quality images & behavior insights for better decision-making.
• Users can save & compare potential pets.

Seamless Communication & Adoption Scheduling

• In-app chat & video call features with shelters& foster homes.
• ‍One-click adoption inquiry & appointment booking.

Key Learnings

• Service design requires balancing user needs and operational workflows.
• Personalization significantly enhances user engagement.
• Emotional connection drives action – users are more likely to adopt when they feel a bond.
• You can make a difference without reinventing the wheel

Conclusion

This project showcased the power of human-centered design in reinventing the pet adoption experience, making it easier, faster, and more engaging for both adopters and shelters. 🐾

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