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01
Brief
During our initial research, we were seeking a solution to enhance users' experience with dog parks and improve dog parks in general. We aimed to provide a list of available facilities within the dog park for owners to review and choose. However, after interviewing potential users and dog owners, we discovered that most dog owners dislike going to dog parks and would prefer their dogs to interact with other well-behaved dogs in a more controlled environment. Based on the research we collected from our interviews, we shifted our focus to developing software that enables users to create meet-up events for their dogs.
02
Problem
The initial stage of the project involved gaining knowledge about dogs and comprehending the responsibilities of being a dog owner. As most of our team members had no prior experience with pets, it was essential to understand the issues our users were facing and learn more about their perspectives. Our goal was to investigate why users were dissatisfied with dog parks and explore alternative methods for their dogs to socialize with other canines. Through conducting interviews, we discovered that users preferred their dogs to socialize by:
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Setting up a playdate with another dog owner they previously became friends with.
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Searching for social media and other apps that are not specifically for pets, but rather for people to meet up.
03
Solution
Once we identified the user's problem, our goal was to find solutions that would enhance their experience and resolve most, if not all, of their issues. Our team devised a pet-friendly dog meet-up software that requires pet owners to include their pets in the system and fill out the necessary information, such as pet behavior, age, breed, and other relevant details, to set up a playdate. Our software allows users to create events and establish requirements that the pet must meet before the user can attend them.
04
Competitors
After identifying a potential solution to our issue, we researched both our direct and indirect competitors who offer similar services. This helped us gain insight into the market and possible ways to stand out.
05
User Testing
Once we reached our competitors, we began wireframing and creating a functional low-fi prototype. This allowed us to put our solution to the test through user testing. During the testing, we were able to identify which features stood out to our testers and discover any issues we may have missed when coming up with our solution. We used the information gathered during the user testing to improve the prototype and address any encountered issues.
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06
Learning
As this was the first major project that I worked on from scratch, I learned a lot about the research and process required to turn an idea into a product.
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Through my experiences, I have come to understand that effective communication and transparency are fundamental to improving both ourselves and the project we are working on.
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I discovered that it's not always necessary to have an immediate solution to a problem. Research helps us to better understand the issue.
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It's perfectly okay to admit to a mistake made during the process. The sooner you acknowledge your mistake, the quicker you can find a solution.
"Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new" - Albert Einstein.