User Research and Personas

Research Objective:

The goal of our user research was to understand the pain points, needs, and challenges that pet owners face when managing their pets’ health. By conducting surveys and interviews, we identified several key personas that shaped the design of PetHealth+.

Research Findings:

Time Constraints: Many pet owners, especially working professionals, struggle to schedule regular vet visits and need a reliable solution for quick diagnosis.

Access Issues: Rural pet owners have limited access to veterinary services and need remote care solutions.

Breed-Specific Needs: Some pet owners desire breed-specific health advice to better manage their pets’ unique health conditions.

Ease of Use: Elderly pet owners prefer simple, user-friendly interfaces that allow them to manage their pets’ health from home.

Low-Fidelity Wireframes and Design Evolution

Low-Fidelity Wireframes:
In the early stages of designing PetHealth+, we developed low-fidelity wireframes to map out the app’s core structure and user flow. These wireframes focused on the functionality of key features, such as:

Smart AI Diagnosis for quick symptom checks,

Live Vet Consultations for remote professional advice,

Switch Pet Profile for managing multiple pets,

Find Nearest Vet for locating emergency and non-emergency services.

The goal of these wireframes was to ensure users could easily navigate through the app and access the main features without confusion. At this stage, the emphasis was on usability, not detailed visuals.

Key Insights from Wireframe Testing:

Clear Navigation: Early testing with the wireframes showed that users appreciated the simple, straightforward layout. The large buttons and clear labels allowed for easy movement between sections.

Feedback Mechanisms: However, user feedback indicated a need for more visual feedback, such as progress indicators for actions like video uploads and confirmation prompts after booking vet consultations. These suggestions were noted and implemented in later stages.

Transition to High-Fidelity Designs: After validating the app’s usability with the low-fidelity wireframes, we transitioned to high-fidelity mockups. In this phase, we refined the visual design by incorporating color schemes, icons, and interactive elements, while maintaining the clean and simple navigation established in the wireframes. This progression ensured that the app was both functional and aesthetically pleasing, addressing user needs from both a usability and design perspective.

Initial Designs and Design Choices

Initial Wireframes:
The initial low-fidelity wireframes focused on creating a user-friendly interface that allowed for quick access to critical features such as:

Smart AI Diagnosis for symptom checks.

Live Vet Consultations for remote advice.

Find Nearest Vet for locating nearby services in case of emergencies.

Design Choices:

Simplified Navigation: Large, clearly labeled buttons guide users through the app, helping them easily access important features like AI diagnosis or emergency help.

Clear Visual Feedback: To address users’ concerns, we focused on including confirmation prompts and progress indicators (e.g., during video uploads) to ensure users know when actions are successfully completed.

Accessibility: The design uses high contrast colors, large fonts, and easily tappable buttons to ensure accessibility for users with vision or mobility challenges.

Usability Study Findings

Objective:

To evaluate the ease of navigation and the usability of PetHealth+, focusing on features like Smart AI Diagnosis, Live Vet Consultations, and Find Nearest Vet.

Participants:

Five participants were selected based on the target personas: busy professionals, elderly pet owners, rural pet owners, and tech-savvy younger users.

Tasks:

Task 1: Use the AI diagnostic tool to upload a video and check symptoms.

Task 2: Book a live vet consultation.

Task 3: Find the nearest vet using location-based search or manual entry.

Findings:

Task Completion Rate: 90% of users completed tasks without major issues.

Positive Feedback: Users appreciated the clean design and found the navigation intuitive. The Switch Pet Profile feature was particularly well-received.

Suggestions for Improvement: Users requested clearer file upload guidelines and more visual feedback during the booking and diagnosis processes.

Changes Implemented: We added progress bars for file uploads and confirmation screens for booking vet consultations.

Design Mockups and Final Prototype

High-Fidelity Mockups:
The high-fidelity mockups incorporated feedback from the usability study. Key changes included:

Improved File Upload Guidance: Users now receive clear instructions on supported file formats and see progress bars during uploads.

Enhanced Confirmation Screens: After booking a vet consultation or completing a diagnosis, users receive clear confirmation messages.

Accessibility Considerations

Color Contrast and Readability:
We ensured that all text and interactive elements meet WCAG color contrast guidelines to support users with visual impairments, including colorblindness. We avoided using red-green combinations to accommodate colorblind users.

Large Fonts and Buttons:
The interface uses large, easily readable fonts and buttons, ensuring accessibility for users with limited vision or motor impairments, particularly elderly users.

Optional Voice Assistance:
For users with mobility issues, PetHealth+ includes an option for voice-guided navigation, allowing them to interact with the app hands-free.

Conclusion

PetHealth+ successfully addresses the key challenges faced by pet owners across different demographics. Whether it’s the need for quick diagnoses, remote consultations, or access to nearby emergency services, the app offers a seamless solution for managing pet health. By integrating user feedback and prioritizing accessibility, PetHealth+ delivers a versatile and practical tool for pet owners looking for peace of mind in caring for their pets.