UI/UX CASE STUDY 1 | Divya Pillai 2

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Timeline: 1 Week

Stray Animal Welfare App

Divya Pillai

PROJECT 1

Problem Statement

India has a significant stray animal crisis, with millions of dogs, cats & other animals living on the streets without food, shelter, or medical care. These animals often suffer from malnutrition, disease, accidents, and abuse.

While many animal lovers and NGOs are eager to help, there is no structured and efficient system to connect them with the resources needed for effective rescue and rehabilitation. Currently, there is no widely adopted app in India that helps people track stray animals in need easily or find foster homes for them. Additionally, many animal lovers are unaware of local volunteering events or how they can contribute to the cause.

Most efforts rely on scattered WhatsApp groups, random social media posts, and word-of-mouth, which are inefficient and often lead to delayed or missed rescue opportunities. There is a need for a dedicated mobile app that simplifies the process of reporting strays, finding foster homes, and connecting volunteers with shelters. By creating a centralized, community-driven platform, we can improve stray animal welfare through better organization, real-time updates, and increased participation from the public.

Possible Solution

A mobile app that serves as a centralized platform to streamline the process of reporting stray animals, finding foster homes, and connecting volunteers with NGOs can address these challenges.

Users can quickly report stray animals in need by uploading photos and sharing locations to alert experienced rescuers and shelters who in turn can rescue them. This creates a collaborative system where people who can’t rescue themselves due to a lack of funds or knowledge, can still play a role in animal welfare by reporting it to other people who have the resources.

To tackle the lack of foster homes, the app can host a network of foster caregivers, allowing users to find shelter for rescued animals. Individuals interested in fostering or adopting can easily sign up too.

The app would also bridge the gap between volunteers and animal shelters by offering a directory of local NGOs and shelters in need of assistance. Users can register for volunteer opportunities to participate. A community forum and educational content would further engage users by spreading awareness about animal welfare, legal rights, and first-aid tips for injured strays.

A community discussion forum can enhance collaboration by allowing users to discuss rescue cases, seek advice, and coordinate efforts.

Design Thinking Process

Emphatize Phase

Qualitative Research

I did an interview with 3 people to better grasp the issue and to find out users needed. It helped me understand the problem more and helped brainstorm solutions.

Interview Questions

Have you ever come across a stray animal in need? What challenges did you face?
Would you be willing to foster a stray? If not, what stops you?
Are you aware of any local shelters or NGOs that help strays? How would you find volunteering opportunities?
Would you use an app to report strays, find fosters, or volunteer? What features would be most useful for you?

Key Insight Derived

Many people want to help strays but don’t know how. They don’t have enough funds to feed the strays regularly. They also don’t have access to vets nearby.
They hesitate to intervene due to fear of handling injured or aggressive strays without proper knowledge.
They lack awareness of local animal NGOs they can report to.
People who are willing to volunteer are not aware of volunteering events in their city they can participate in. There is a lack of proper information about local events on the internet as well.
The animal fostering community in India is still pretty small. So many people don’t know it’s an option or how it works. Most fostering happens through word-of-mouth or scattered social media posts, limiting reach and efficiency.
The app can address fostering challenges by providing a verified foster network so that people can contact the fosters to let them know about a stray in need or sign up to become a foster themselves.  Users can also report strays by uploading photos and locations to alert rescuers through notifications.  People willing to volunteer can find a list of volunteering events of verified NGOs in their city to participate in.  Lastly, a community discussion forum can allow users to share experiences or seek advice, fostering a stronger and more engaged animal welfare community.