A UX/UI upgrade to the Petkit app. A multipurpose pet lifestyle app.
UX Research
UI Design
Design System
Adobe XD
Adobe Illustrator
PETKIT is a pet specialty brand focused on creating WIFI, bluetooth, and smart connected pet products for dogs and cats. PETKIT has a large product line that helps humans maintain their pet's happy and healthy lifestyle. Their products are considered smart products, and many connect to the PETKIT mobile application.
For this project, I redesigned the PETKIT mobile application making it more user friendly, and personalized so humans feel comfortable with their daily pet sitter. I also created a Design System to have a structured way to build solutions for the company.
PETKIT initially launched in North America in 2016 with the introduction of the "PETKIT KIT" a water resistant dog and cat activity monitor measuring mood, sleep, and activity. After their successful launch they began creating additional products that help humans maintain their pet's happy and healthy lifestyle. All of their products are considered SMART products, and many connect to the PETKIT mobile application.
This case study emerged from a medium article I wrote, critiquing the UX design of the PETKIT app. Once published, I got responses from other PETKIT customers stating that they have been having the same issues. As a curious user experience designer, I wondered what I could do to improve the experience for PETKIT customers. Knowing I had access to some PETKIT customers I began a UX/UI redesign of the PETKIT mobile application.
Realizing I am not my user I left my views inside the medium article and began conducting user research. I approached research in 4 ways.
Three areas of improvement found during user research:
Afterwards I wanted to familiarize myself with the current state of the platform. I conducted usability audits and took screenshots throughout the process and noted pain points throughout.
Four areas of improvement found during the usability audit were:
Using all the information gathered from user research, I created a user persona for PETKIT's primary user, The Pet Dad. He is a busy professional who treats his pets as his children. He bought the PETKIT smart feeder because of its reliability and its lengthy product line that connect to one mobile application.
Here is where my priorities shifted. After user research I took some time to assess what was really making this application difficult for its users. While the users loved the application they were often confused by its navigation, wording, and some functions. As I went deeper into my investigation I discovered that the company was trying to solve the same design problems multiple times and in many different ways. There needed to be a more efficient, cohesive set of designs to which the prototype is based on. That lead me to pivot my original focus because in order to deliver the most successful product I would need to create a Design System.
The PETKIT design system is a library of styles, components, patterns that make up the UI of the product. It is built with usability in mind, with all decisions based in user research, and market analysis. It helps eliminate repetitive redesigns of UI elements, as well helps to remove inconsistencies within the product.
A prototype of the mobile application is coming! Having a detailed design system allows for a much more smooth design process because most of the assets are already created. It almost feels as if the mobile design is a puzzle. I have all the pieces from the design system and in making the wireframes, I am putting the pieces together.
This project encouraged me to deep dive into design systems and their importance in creating a brand identity and use-fullness for designers. While design systems are an incredibly steep uphill battle and might be more of a challenge than just jumping into designing, the payoff for the company is invaluable.
I also learned the value of taking time to realize what the best solution for the problem is. After I finished my research, I jumped into the design and quickly realized something was missing. Assets were inconsistent, and the tone and voice did not match with the company. I decided to take another look at my research and then determined that the best solution would be first to create a design system. Sometimes the best solution isn't the most obvious one, and moving forward, I am determined to take time to discover the best solution for my clients.
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