Enter your travel details for you and your furry co-pilot, and let PetPaths craft a personalized, pet-friendly getaway in seconds!

A mobile app that makes planning road trips with your pets simple, stress-free, and actually fun.

A mobile app that makes planning road trips with your pets simple, stress-free, and actually fun.

A mobile app that makes planning road trips with your pets simple, stress-free, and actually fun.

VIEW PROTOTYPE

VIEW PROTOTYPE

Duration

Duration

Duration

16 weeks

16 weeks

Project Type

Project Type

Project Type

Mobile App

Mobile App

Role

Role

Role

End-to-End Designer

End-to-End Designer

Tools

Tools

Tools

Figma, Maze, Mirro

Figma, Maze, Mirro

Problem

Problem

When planning a road trip that accommodates pets, owners use various resources to arrange lodging, rest stops, and activities, leading to a disjointed and time-consuming planning process.

When planning a road trip that accommodates pets, owners use various resources to arrange lodging, rest stops, and activities, leading to a disjointed and time-consuming planning process.

Solution

Solution

PetPaths is an AI-powered platform that simplifies road trip planning for pet owners by delivering personalized itineraries in seconds. Designed with both human and pet needs in mind, it offers a time-saving, convenient solution for stress-free travel.

PetPaths is an AI-powered platform that simplifies road trip planning for pet owners by delivering personalized itineraries in seconds. Designed with both human and pet needs in mind, it offers a time-saving, convenient solution for stress-free travel.

Research

User Interviews

To uncover key challenges during the moving process, I interviewed four participants and discovered an unexpected pattern. 3/4 participants expressed concerns about pet transportation.

To uncover key challenges during the moving process, I interviewed four participants and discovered an unexpected pattern. 3/4 participants expressed concerns about pet transportation.

To uncover key challenges during the moving process, I interviewed four participants and discovered an unexpected pattern. 3/4 participants expressed concerns about pet transportation.

Planning to move to the Netherlands once their child is a few years old, but they're already figuring out how to transport their 200lb dog. They discovered that most airlines have weight limits for dogs stored in the cargo hold.

Moved with four pets: she flew with one of the cats while her husband drove the two dogs and another cat.

She was looking for a Thumbtack-style service focused on pet transportation, offering reliability and peace of mind for her pets’ safety.

Knew hiring help was necessary since they had to drive with dogs and couldn’t fly, so they made a road trip out of it.

Secondary Research

To better understand the challenges pet owners face, I combined survey results with insights from Reddit threads where users shared their real experiences traveling with pets.

To better understand the challenges pet owners face, I combined survey results with insights from Reddit threads where users shared their real experiences traveling with pets.

To better understand the challenges pet owners face, I combined survey results with insights from Reddit threads where users shared their real experiences traveling with pets.

Self-transport is common: Two-thirds of survey participants reported driving their pets themselves.

Community validation: A review of 150 comments on a Reddit community about relocating with pets revealed that many users also preferred driving their pets personally.

Reasons for preference: Trust concerns and prioritizing their pets’ comfort were key factors.

Best practices for long trips: Users recommended planning ahead, leveraging pet-friendly resources, and checking hotel policies to minimize stress during travel.

Define

POV & HMW Statements

These statements helped me identify the user’s main problem and shape my ideas, making sure every design decision contributed to a meaningful solution.

These statements helped me identify the user’s main problem and shape my ideas, making sure every design decision contributed to a meaningful solution.

I feel overwhelmed trying to manage everything on my own. I still have to finish packing for my move while also planning a road trip that includes pet-friendly stops and overnight accommodations. The thought of navigating such a time-consuming process makes me anxious and stressed.


How might we simplify the effort and reduce the time it takes for users to plan a pet-friendly road trip?

I feel overwhelmed trying to manage everything on my own. I still have to finish packing for my move while also planning a road trip that includes pet-friendly stops and overnight accommodations. The thought of navigating such a time-consuming process makes me anxious and stressed.


How might we simplify the effort and reduce the time it takes for users to plan a pet-friendly road trip?

Sitemap

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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

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Design

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.

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Usability Testing

Usability Testing Results

I conducted usability testing with five new participants to validate the design and uncover areas for improvement. Based on their feedback, I implemented the necessary design changes to make the application more user-friendly.

I conducted usability testing with five new participants to validate the design and uncover areas for improvement. Based on their feedback, I implemented the necessary design changes to make the application more user-friendly.

  • Missing “Add Another Pet” Option

    3/4 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

    4/5 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

    4/5 participants took longer than expected to locate the “Save Itinerary” option hidden under the three-dot menu, while one participant gave up due to difficulty finding it.

    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).

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Final Design

Preview of the Itinerary

The following screen shows an example of what your itinerary looks like after completing the form. Personalization doesn’t stop there, you can continue to add or remove stops even after your itinerary is created.

The following screen shows an example of what your itinerary looks like after completing the form. Personalization doesn’t stop there, you can continue to add or remove stops even after your itinerary is created.

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. 🐾

Conclusion

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

Getting inspired by other users' adventures

Getting inspired by other users' adventures

A section where users can explore and get inspired by itineraries shared by other users, showcasing unique adventures across the platform.

Connect and collaborate with travel companions

Connect and collaborate with travel companions

Create groups where users traveling along the same route or nearby can connect, share plans, and arrange meetups.

A "What's Next" feature

A "What's Next" feature

The "What's Next" feature generates new trips based on the users' previous itineraries, offering similar travel experiences for their next adventure.

Thank you for reading!

Thank you for reading!

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