WAGS: Virtual Dog Training Platform

Role

Research & Analysis, Concept Development, UX/UI Design, Branding

Timeline

Oct 2020 - March 2021

Project Overview

Background

Wags was born as a passion project during the pandemic and was developed as part of my online CareerFoundry UX design course.

Problems

When the pandemic struck… Where are virtual dog training classes?

In 2020, amid stay-at-home orders, dog adoptions surged resulting in a 9.77% growth in US pet ownership from 2020 to 2022. This led to an increased demand for online dog training. Existing options were limited to pre-recorded videos, failing to meet individual needs and relying solely on owner’s discipline. The need for affordable yet accountable online dog training has become urgent.

Solution

Accessible Virtual Classes

WAGS is a platform that connects dog owners with trainers virtually, offering a variety of instantly bookable classes. From affordable group sessions to personalized one-on-one coaching, WAGS provides tailored guidance for every owner's unique challenges, helping pet parents nurture their newly adopted dogs into well-behaved companions.

How users use Wags

Understanding the Market

Gaps found in virtual dog training market

  • In-person trainings (Petco and Local Trainers) are reliable but expensive and does not allow for social distancing.

  • Pre-Recorded videos (Youtube and Udemy) are free or affordable but lack personalization and accountability.

Virtual training can offer comparable accountability and reliability to in-person sessions while ensuring social distancing and maintaining a moderate price point.

Understanding the Users

  • User Interview

    Empathizing with and understanding user needs and pain points

    3 Interviewees

  • Survey

    Gathering measurable insights

    10 Participants

  • Research Analysis

    Identifying patterns and themes from interviews and surveys to validate concepts and reveal insights

  • User Persona

    Setting primary and secondary personas to prioritize and guide design direction

To sum up,

The concept of a virtual dog training platform emerged during market research. Later, user research validated the concept and provided valuable insights, as follows…

Interview & Survey Insights

1.

User’s belief: “Well organized training centers will have quality trainers. ”

2.

Users trust trainers based on their certifications and positive users reviews

4.

Dog training budget is limited to $50-$200 for most users

5.

No immediate classes? Users seek alternatives

3.

Consistency is key to successful training, yet it’s most challenging

6.

Users are unsure about the appropriate training for their dog while searching

User Story Crafted from Research

As a millennial first-time dog owner during pandemic, I want to find affordable yet quality virtual dog training immediately so that I can effectively train my dog with the right methods and consistency while maintaining social distancing.

Creating Main Features

Using insights from research, key screens have been developed through the following process

  • User Journey

    Identifying user drop-offs and pinpointing areas that require improvement

  • User Flow

    Mapping out three major user flows that address frustrations found in user research and user journey

  • Sitemap

    Creating the structure of the platform and improving it through card sorting

  • Key Screen Designs

    Quickly designing the essence of the product through wireframing

Prototyping and Testing

Key screens have evolved into a prototype for user testing

  • Low Fidelity Prototype

    Quickly visualizing screens based on user flows

  • Mid Fidelity Prototype

    Creating interactive prototypes for usability testing

  • Usability Testing

    Gathering feedback from users

    Participants: 6

  • Testing Analysis

    Identifying patterns and prioritizing key issues using rainbow sheets

The usability testing indicated the potential value of Wags to users but also highlighted issues requiring attention.

Testing Findings into Iteration

Issue 1

unclear whether classes are exclusive to virtual training

Update:

Added heading to the “Home” screen that communicates the main purpose of the platform

Issue 2

Unclear what each category means

Update:

Incorporated illustrations for each category to help understanding

Issue 4

Missing feedback after message submission during homework log

Update:

Added pop-up screens informing users of the success of their submission

Issue 3

Absence of dashboard for viewing current and past classes lists

Update:

Added Dashboard on “My Classes” and displayed list of classes and the progress

Evolution of Home Screen

Solution Highlights

Guided Class Search: Easy Step by Step Questionnaire

The step-by-step questionnaire, offered during sign-up, helps confused users in finding suitable classes from the start

Home Screen: Various Class Search Options

Various search options allow users to quickly locate relevant classes, depending on their search stage and preference

Class & Trainer Info: Building User Trust & Helping Decisions

  1. Key class information up front

  2. Social proof with ratings

  3. Full transparency on the price

  4. Easy way to contact trainers

  5. Validating trainer qualifications through certification and education

Instantly Bookable Classes: From Group to Private Sessions

Offering affordable group sessions and personalized private sessions, both readily bookable

Maintaining Practice Regimen with Homework Log & Trainer Feedback

  • Daily homework log helps dog owners stay motivated and allows trainers to check progress

  • Share & Ask Questions section enables users to seek feedback from trainers

Style Guide

Reflection

Main Challenges

Despite investing a significant amount of time in the project, I encountered challenges in achieving the desired quality outcome through this UX design course. While the tasks from the course taught me a great deal about the UX design process and methodologies, they fell short in helping me produce the best results due to its lack of emphasis on design exploration, UI refinement and quality feedback.

Lesson Learnt

This experience has taught me the importance of setting a clear north star before beginning a project. Doing so enables me to step back during the process and ensure that I'm aligning with my initial goals.

Next Steps

Given more time, I would like to dive deeper into exploring various solutions for the "Class Booking" and "Homework Log" features to ensure their usefulness. Additionally, I aim to refine the UI design to enhance usability and aesthetic appeal.