Ruffs. The Playdate Dog App.
Concept Social Meetup App Project
Ruffs is a social media app that assists you to find dog play dates based on your location. It is designed to find dogs in your proximity area to match your dog’s energy and safely securely dates while making it a fun experience.
Timeline
Concept App: 2 Weeks
Redesign: 2 Weeks
Roles
User Research, Design, & Testing.
The Problem
Ruff is a concept playdate app for dog owners. Initially, the project was designed for desktops only. The content wasn’t as legible, and colors weren’t contrasted with one another. We live in a world where a lot of us rely on our smartphones as they are more easily accessible, thus the reason for a redesign for a mobile app.
The Process
Understanding the User:
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Seeking an app that’s organized and easy to navigate that also allows the user to have a balanced lifestyle involving her work and dog’s needs and easily accesible.
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In search for other dogs who have similar energy levels as the user’s dog to compliment their dog’s temperament.
User Flow:
Pain Points:
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The first version of the social media platform was a desktop version that doesn’t allow the user to easily access their calendar and have all resources at their fingertips.
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Description text goes here
The Research:
User Personas
Wireframing
Before Redesign
Prototype (Old Design)
The first design of the Ruffs app was functional, but I knew some improvements could make the app more conventional. Therefore, I decided to change the color scheme to convey a more fun and vibrant experience. Added conventional features such as an integrated calendar. I made sure the app was fun for users to use and add more features while making sure the user experience doesn’t get overcomplicated and difficult for the user to navigate.
Final Re-Design
New Redesign
Results
Next Steps
As slowly introduced on the redesigned update, I added an accessibility menu that will help users who need their needs met. Social apps are constantly updating, so a dog dating app would have to update to continue to keep up with the many ways people connect online and create a safe environment when meeting in person for the first time. An example of how the app could be expanded further is the introduction of stories and daily updates. The calendar could also show other users when someone is blocked out or available on certain days to make meeting up even easier.