Streamlining the Path from Discovery to the Open Road
An AI-powered planner that removes the complexity of pet-friendly travel by matching your pet’s needs with verified routes and stops.
An AI-powered planner that removes the complexity of pet-friendly travel by matching your pet’s needs with verified routes and stops.
An AI-powered planner that removes the complexity of pet-friendly travel by matching your pet’s needs with verified routes and stops.
VIEW PROTOTYPE
VIEW PROTOTYPE
VIEW PROTOTYPE
Duration
Duration
Duration
16 weeks
16 weeks
Industry
Industry
Industry
Travel Tech
Travel Tech
Role
Role
Role
Sole Designer
Sole Designer
Project Type
Project Type
Project Type
Bootcamp Project
Bootcamp Project
Background
Pet safety is the emotional anchor that influences the entire travel strategy for pet owners. While the pet travel market is skyrocketing toward a $4.6 billion valuation by 2032, the tools supporting pet-friendly road trips remain fragmented. With 78% of owners bringing their pets along, and the vast majority preferring road trips for safety and control, there is a clear gap between user expectations and existing solutions. I designed PetPaths to bridge this gap.
PetPaths is an AI-powered app designed to ease the cognitive load for pet owners planning a pet-friendly trip. By entering details about their pets and travel plans, users can receive a customized itinerary in seconds, tailored to both their needs and those of their pets. This streamlined process reduces the hours spent navigating between websites and eliminates the hassle of piecing together a travel route on their own.
Pet safety is the emotional anchor that influences the entire travel strategy for pet owners. While the pet travel market is skyrocketing toward a $4.6 billion valuation by 2032, the tools supporting pet-friendly road trips remain fragmented. With 78% of owners bringing their pets along, and the vast majority preferring road trips for safety and control, there is a clear gap between user expectations and existing solutions. I designed PetPaths to bridge this gap.
PetPaths is an AI-powered app designed to ease the cognitive load for pet owners planning a pet-friendly trip. By entering details about their pets and travel plans, users can receive a customized itinerary in seconds, tailored to both their needs and those of their pets. This streamlined process reduces the hours spent navigating between websites and eliminates the hassle of piecing together a travel route on their own.
Uncovering the hurdles of a road trip workflow
Through user interviews and digital ethnography, I identified a recurring issue in the pet travel market: pet owners often have to act as their own travel agents. This creates a cognitive burden for travelers who must navigate multiple websites to organize their trips and verify pet policies. They often call establishments directly, particularly since many hotels have weight restrictions.
Through user interviews and digital ethnography, I identified a recurring issue in the pet travel market: pet owners often have to act as their own travel agents. This creates a cognitive burden for travelers who must navigate multiple websites to organize their trips and verify pet policies. They often call establishments directly, particularly since many hotels have weight restrictions.
"Finding hotels that allow dogs is actually pretty easy. Finding ones that will happily open their doors to 300 pounds of large, scary-looking ones is not."
"Finding hotels that allow dogs is actually pretty easy. Finding ones that will happily open their doors to 300 pounds of large, scary-looking ones is not."
"It can be challenging to find restaurants, cafes, etc. that allow dogs when we want to stop to eat. We usually do some googling and then call ahead."
Main Competitor - Bringfido
Main Competitor - Bringfido
Through digital ethnography, I identified BringFido as a widely used tool for pet travel. Although it serves effectively as a high-volume discovery platform, my research revealed a key gap: users were overwhelmed by the manual effort, often having to verify the pet policies by directly calling businesses and mapping their stops into a route using multiple sources.
This analysis not only focuses on the features but also on the logistical friction points that PetPaths could address.
Through digital ethnography, I identified BringFido as a widely used tool for pet travel. Although it serves effectively as a high-volume discovery platform, my research revealed a key gap: users were overwhelmed by the manual effort, often having to verify the pet policies by directly calling businesses and mapping their stops into a route using multiple sources.
This analysis not only focuses on the features but also on the logistical friction points that PetPaths could address.
Through digital ethnography, I identified BringFido as a widely used tool for pet travel. Although it serves effectively as a high-volume discovery platform, my research revealed a key gap: users were overwhelmed by the manual effort, often having to verify the pet policies by directly calling businesses and mapping their stops into a route using multiple sources.
This analysis not only focuses on the features but also on the logistical friction points that PetPaths could address.
Real User Feedback
Strengths:
Large volume of listings across multiple categories (hotels, parks/activities, and restaurants)
Social proof (reviews, photos, and community input)
Users can compare and book pet-friendly hotels within the platform
Weaknesses:
Manual verification across sources (cross-check Google, reviews, and websites)
Helps find places, but users must build their trip manually outside of the platform
Lack of real-time updates (pet policies tend to change)
"I hate that I found a hotel on BringFido, but then had to go to Google Maps to see if it was actually on my way. Then I had to go back to BringFido to find a park near the hotel."
[Reddit: r/roadtrip, 2025]
Strengths:
Large volume of listings across multiple categories (hotels, parks/activities, and restaurants)
Social proof (reviews, photos, and community input)
Users can compare and book pet-friendly hotels within the platform
Weaknesses:
Manual verification across sources (cross-check Google, reviews, and websites)
Helps find places, but users must build their trip manually outside of the platform
Lack of real-time updates (pet policies tend to change)
Strengths:
Large volume of listings across multiple categories (hotels, parks/activities, and restaurants)
Social proof (reviews, photos, and community input)
Users can compare and book pet-friendly hotels within the platform
Weaknesses:
Manual verification across sources (cross-check Google, reviews, and websites)
Helps find places, but users must build their trip manually outside of the platform
Lack of real-time updates (pet policies tend to change)
Real User Feedback
"I hate that I found a hotel on BringFido, but then had to go to Google Maps to see if it was actually on my way. Then I had to go back to BringFido to find a park near the hotel."
[Reddit: r/roadtrip, 2025]
Real User Feedback
"I hate that I found a hotel on BringFido, but then had to go to Google Maps to see if it was actually on my way. Then I had to go back to BringFido to find a park near the hotel."
[Reddit: r/roadtrip, 2025]
Turning challenges into opportunities
Scattered planning
Streamlining discovery and planning
Users can input their travel details, and the system will map out rest areas, activities, and accommodations. This minimizes the mental effort required to navigate multiple sites for route creation and stop compatibility.
Pet policy verification
Automated profile matching
By capturing pet details (size & breed), the system filters results, showing users only verified options that fit their pet's requirements. This eliminates the need for users to call and confirm whether their pet complies with the hotel's pet policies, streamlining the verification process.
Scattered planning
Streamlining discovery and planning
Instead of manually creating a route and checking various sources for stop compatibility, users can input their travel details. Within seconds, rest areas, activities, and accommodations are mapped out, minimizing the mental effort of navigating multiple sites.
Pet policy verification
Automated profile matching
By capturing pet details (size & breed), the system filters results, showing users only verified options that fit their pet's requirements. This eliminates the need for users to call and confirm whether their pet complies with the hotel's pet policies, streamlining the verification process.
Scattered planning
Streamlining discovery and planning
Instead of manually creating a route and checking various sources for stop compatibility, users can input their travel details. Within seconds, rest areas, activities, and accommodations are mapped out, minimizing the mental effort of navigating multiple sites.
Pet policy verification
Automated profile matching
By capturing pet details (size & breed), the system filters results, showing users only verified options that fit their pet's requirements. This eliminates the need for users to call and confirm whether their pet complies with the hotel's pet policies, streamlining the verification process.
HOW MIGHT WE
HOW MIGHT WE
Create a smooth transition from the discovery phase to the itinerary phase while maintaining a focus on pet-specific details.
User flows
I created two user flows to visualize the user journey, providing a clear step-by-step understanding of how the user will navigate through the application.
I created two user flows to visualize the user journey, providing a clear step-by-step understanding of how the user will navigate through the application.
Creating/Logging into account
Creating an itinerary
Please view full version on a desktop
Wireframes
The mid-fidelity wireframes were used to bring my ideas to life and run a usability test, ensuring I could gather as much feedback as possible along the way.
The mid-fidelity wireframes were used to bring my ideas to life and run a usability test, ensuring I could gather as much feedback as possible along the way.
Please view full version on a desktop
Refining the user experience
I conducted usability testing with five new participants over two rounds to validate the design and identify areas for improvement.
First Round:
80% of users completed all tasks; however, many encountered recurring issues, particularly with locating the option to add a stop and saving their itinerary. There was a 20% abandonment rate when it came to saving the itinerary. After scrolling back and forth through the itinerary, users often gave up in frustration.
Second Round:
After implementing the changes, the success rate reached 100%, as users were able to complete the same tasks in a shorter period of time. They praised the design concept, expressing how much they loved it and stating that they would use it to plan a road trip with their pets.
I conducted usability testing with five new participants over two rounds to validate the design and identify areas for improvement.
First Round:
80% of users completed all tasks; however, many encountered recurring issues, particularly with locating the option to add a stop and saving their itinerary. There was a 20% abandonment rate when it came to saving the itinerary. After scrolling back and forth through the itinerary, users often gave up in frustration.
Second Round:
After implementing the changes, the success rate reached 100%, as users were able to complete the same tasks in a shorter period of time. They praised the design concept, expressing how much they loved it and stating that they would use it to plan a road trip with their pets.
Missing “Add Another Pet” Option
80% of participants had more than 1 pet, but there wasn't an option to add another pet profile.
Solution: After completing the initial pet profile, users are returned to the Pet Profiles screen, where they can easily add another pet.
Icons were not visually prominent enough
80% of participants reported difficulty adding a stop to the itinerary, noting that the “+” button was not prominent enough.
Solution: I resized the icons from 24px to 32px after users mentioned having trouble spotting the "+" button, making it more noticeable and easier to find.
Challenges With Saving the Itinerary
80% of participants took longer than expected to locate the “Save Itinerary” option hidden under the three-dot menu, while there was a 20% task abandonment rate.
Solution: I added a sticky heart (save) button at the bottom of the viewport so users can save the itinerary from anywhere on the page, addressing the difficulty they had finding it in the edit menu (three-dot icon).
Please view full version on a desktop
The iterative planning hub
While AI generates the logic, the UI provides the flexibility to pivot, ensuring the user remains the primary decision-maker in the planning process.
While AI generates the logic, the UI provides the flexibility to pivot, ensuring the user remains the primary decision-maker in the planning process.
Please view full version on a desktop
Final design
Below is a walkthrough of the final interactive prototype. Starting from the dashboard, you’ll follow the full journey, from creating an account to customizing a personalized itinerary designed for you and your furry companion. 🐾
Below is a walkthrough of the final interactive prototype. Starting from the dashboard, you’ll follow the full journey, from creating an account to customizing a personalized itinerary designed for you and your furry companion. 🐾
Project reflection
Reflecting on challenges, what I learned, and future opportunities.
Reflecting on challenges, what I learned, and future opportunities.
Challenges Faced
The most challenging part of PetPaths was creating an interactive itinerary prototype that was both flexible and easy to navigate. My goal was to give users the freedom to add or remove stops and make changes at any point in their trip, while keeping the experience clear, smooth, and not overwhelming.
The most challenging part of PetPaths was creating an interactive itinerary prototype that was both flexible and easy to navigate. My goal was to give users the freedom to add or remove stops and make changes at any point in their trip, while keeping the experience clear, smooth, and not overwhelming.
What I'm Most Proud Of
What I’m most proud of is the journey behind this project and how much I grew throughout the process. From the early research phase to pivoting after my first round of interviews, I learned how important it is to stay open-minded and let real user feedback shape the direction of the design. Seeing everything come together in a high-fidelity prototype was incredibly rewarding, especially because PetPaths is something I personally connect with.
I love animals and road trips, and creating a solution that truly supports pet owners felt meaningful. Reflecting on the final product, I’m proud that the AI feature helps make itinerary planning faster, easier, and far less stressful, turning what used to feel overwhelming into something simple and enjoyable.
What I’m most proud of is the journey behind this project and how much I grew throughout the process. From the early research phase to pivoting after my first round of interviews, I learned how important it is to stay open-minded and let real user feedback shape the direction of the design. Seeing everything come together in a high-fidelity prototype was incredibly rewarding, especially because PetPaths is something I personally connect with.
I love animals and road trips, and creating a solution that truly supports pet owners felt meaningful. Reflecting on the final product, I’m proud that the AI feature helps make itinerary planning faster, easier, and far less stressful, turning what used to feel overwhelming into something simple and enjoyable.
What My Next Steps Would Be
Google & Apple map integration
Google & Apple map integration
Users will have the option to open their personalized route in their preferred GPS.
Booking integration
Booking integration
Introduce in-platform booking to allow users to secure pet-friendly stays without leaving the experience, reducing friction between planning and execution.
Add your own stops
Add your own stops
Allow users to search for and include specific places along their trip, giving them more control over their itinerary.