The Problem
Stray animals are a global issue, and Bulgaria has seen a steady increase in the number of homeless animals each month. Many face fatal consequences due to the lack of animal welfare infrastructure, socioeconomic challenges, and low awareness of responsible pet ownership. Addressing this issue requires not only shelters and organizations but also broader community involvement.
The Solution
PetMe was designed as a compassionate initiative to connect people with ways to support stray animals and shelters. Through the platform, users can:
- Report injured animals and receive updates on their condition, fostering care and connection;
- Adopt pets physically or virtually, offering support even if in-person adoption isn't possible;
- Explore volunteer opportunities and participate in welfare events to actively help shelters.
Research
Surveys
Over the course of a week, 31 people completed a survey, helping uncover user needs and preferences that shaped the platform.
80%
would help an animal right away
60%
would consider a one-time virtual adoption
60%
would consider a physical adoption
70%
would attend adoption events
40%
would volunteer in shelters
Interviews
To dig deeper, we interviewed 5 potential users aged 18-35 (the majority of survey participants). We explored their experiences with pets, awareness of challenges, and motivation to engage in animal welfare.
Insights
The research set clear design goals:
- Increase adoption applications by 10% per month;*
- Raise completed volunteer applications by 15%;
- Grow virtual adoption support by 15%;
- Improve post-adoption survey participation by 20%;
- Ensure users find shelter information faster (20% time reduction);
- Achieve at least a 4.5-star satisfaction rating for shelter information.
Defining the Users
User Personas
Based on insights, personas like Hanna and Oliver captured common goals, frustrations, and motivations of the main audience.
Empathy Maps
Empathy maps helped visualize what users think, feel, and need, making it easier to design experiences aligned with their emotional drivers and challenges.
Ideation
Information Architecture
A clear, intuitive structure ensured users could find what they needed quickly, reducing friction and keeping them engaged.
User Flows
Mapping key flows - reporting, adoption, volunteering - allowed us to streamline navigation and ensure each action was easy to complete.
Final Design
Signals
Report stray animals, track submissions, and get updates from shelters. This creates accountability and builds user trust.
Adoption
Explore animals, submit adoption applications, or support through virtual adoption. Clear steps guide users no matter how they choose to help.
Volunteering
View and apply for opportunities at local shelters. Applications are stored in the user profile for easy access.
Events
Browse events organized by shelters to stay engaged and support awareness efforts.
Responsive Design
Accessibility across devices ensures users can contribute anytime, anywhere.
Validation
Usability Testing
A clickable prototype was tested with 14 participants. Tasks included submitting signals, applying for adoption, virtually adopting, volunteering, and browsing events. Participants later filled a questionnaire on usability and overall experience.
70%
successfully navigated the prototype
80%
completed all tasks
60%
expressed interest in using the application
Takeaways
Improvements identified:
- Add donation functionality for direct support to shelters;
- Introduce a personalized dashboard to serve diverse user needs;
- Provide dedicated information pages on adoption, volunteering, and sheltering to improve clarity.
