Canine Cycle Tracker
Tracking a dog’s heat cycle
Background
Canine Cycle Tracker (CCT) is a user-friendly platform designed to help dog owners manage their unspayed companions' heat cycles, which typically occur every six months and last about twenty one days. Tracking these cycles can be challenging, but CCT aims to empower responsible ownership by simplifying the process. While some choose not to spay their pets, CCT acknowledges this decision and provides information on both heat cycle management and spaying alternatives like low-cost clinics. This took 4 weeks to complete using the tool Figma. My roles are user research, visual design, prototyping, and app development.
While other canine health tracking apps offer similar features, Canine Cycle Tracker (CCT) distinguishes itself by providing comprehensive information beyond just tracking heat cycles. CCT empowers users with valuable knowledge on how to care for their dogs during this crucial period, promoting responsible pet ownership.
Competitive Analysis
Dog in Heat
Strengths
Tracks a dogs’ heat cycle
There is a color scheme
Weakness
It doesn’t show when the cycle will start
When typing, the keyboard hides the information to be read on the screen (you can’t see what you are typing)
Breedera
UI friendly
Other events can be tracked
Strengths
Weakness
Only used as a tracking application with no educational purpose
DogLog
Strengths
Brand awareness
Calculates the average number of daily logins
Weakness
Subscription needed to unlock all features
User Interviews
To understand the challenges dog owners face during their unspayed dog's heat cycle, I conducted interviews with five individuals. All five participants acknowledged difficulties managing their dog's behavior and expressed the need for helpful resources. Interestingly, while 100% of interviewees currently manage the situation using diapers, they also unanimously plan to spay their dogs in the future. In this user testing, I learned that 100% of the participants have their own ways of tracking their dog’s heat cycle.
Affinity Mapping
Following the user interviews, I categorized the individual challenges mentioned by each participant. This analysis revealed a common theme: all the interviewees currently employ various personal methods to track their dog's heat cycle.
User Persona
Jenna: A 29-year-old dental hygienist with a busy schedule. She owns an unspayed Golden Retriever named Chai. Jenna struggles to remember the exact start and duration of Chai’s heat cycle, leading to anxieties about managing Chai’s behavior and potential accidents. She needs a reliable and convenient solution to track Chai’s heat cycle and access relevant information to ensure her well-being during this period.
User Flow
The user flow outlines the process for new users who are setting up the Canine Cycle Tracker app for the first time. It specifically focuses on the steps involved in onboarding and entering their dog's heat cycle dates onto the calendar. In the final design, I included the flow of the home page, but did not include the flow of the resource tab. This is due to the fact that the app focuses more on the tracking of a dog’s heat cycle.
Site Map
Through this assignment, I carefully planned the key information elements for each of the app's navigation tabs. While the community and resources features were considered during planning, the design focus was on the core functionality. These elements offer exciting potential for future development and expansion. This planning approach ensured the design choices align with the intended content and function of each navigation tab.
Wireframes
Building upon the low-fidelity wireframes, I created high-fidelity mockups that prioritize the needs of my user persona, Jenna, and the participants I interviewed. The design addresses key pain points, such as needing a platform to stay organized when their dog in heat. This includes the 'Heat cycle tracking' screens, where users can input and edit their dog's heat cycle information. Additionally, the notification screens (e.g., heat cycle reminders) further enhance user experience.
During the high-fidelity stage, I made a user-centered decision to remove the 'plus button' from the bottom navigation. This is because logging heat cycle dates is not always about adding new entries, but also about editing existing ones. Removing the button simplifies the user interaction and avoids potential confusion.
Low Fidelity
High-Fidelity
Onboarding questions
Confirmation of predicted heat date
Predicted heat dates for the year
Notification center
Content Library
These are the visual elements for the Canine Cycle Tracker application, showcasing its user-friendly design through clear text, intuitive buttons, and a cohesive color palette. Utilizing a content library featuring reusable components like buttons, icons, and color palettes, enables efficient design iteration and ensures consistent brand identity throughout the app. This streamlined approach not only facilitates faster prototyping but also allows for easier updates in the future.
Usability Test Results
After creating the prototype, I conducted usability testing with three participants within the app's target demographic. This approach ensured I received feedback from knowledgeable users, allowing them to provide relevant insights into the app's functionality and user experience. The overall feedback was positive, with valuable suggestions for minor improvements. These included keeping a consistent layout and ensuring visible text, which I will incorporate to further enhance the user experience. In conclusion, I learned that 100% of the participants found it easy to navigate through the app, therefore, allowing the purpose of it being user friendly.
Conclusion
Helping pet parents stay informed and organized, Canine Cycle Tracker simplifies managing their unspayed dog's heat cycles. Through user interviews, I learned that remembering heat cycles and managing dog behavior were key challenges. Canine Cycle Tracker addresses these needs by offering dedicated tracking features and valuable resources. My favorite part of the project was understanding user needs and designing an app from scratch to empower dog owners. With a user-centered approach, I'm excited to see how Canine Cycle Tracker can further empower dog owners and contribute to responsible pet care.
