PetReminder: UX I Semester Project
When I began the PetReminder project, my goal was clear: create a solution that made managing pet health more intuitive for everyday pet owners. As a solo UX designer and researcher working on a semester long assignment, I had approximately six weeks to conceptualize, research, and prototype a mobile application that addressed a real user need in the pet care space.
Understanding the Problem
My competitive analysis showed that most pet care apps were outdated or designed around vets, not pet owners. Few supported everyday needs like tracking health and appointments, prompting the question: what do pet owners actually need to stay organized?
To answer that, I conducted a User Needs Analysis (UNA) through research, interviews, and behavioral data—focusing on what pet owners do, why they do it, and how technology could improve their routines.
Main Task Flow
Finding the Solution
The most valuable insights came from user interviews, where a clear pattern emerged: pet owners preferred using mobile calendars to track appointments. This wasn’t just a workaround—it was their go-to method.
With that in mind, I designed PetReminder with a built-in calendar to manage vet visits, medications, and checkups in one place. It wasn’t just a convenience—it aligned with user habits, making the app feel more intuitive and useful.
Early Prototype Wireframes
My Role
As the sole contributor to this project, I led every aspect from research to design. I conducted interviews with potential users, synthesized feedback, mapped task flows, and developed low- to high-fidelity wireframes. Ultimately, I created an interactive prototype that offered a more user-centric approach to managing pet health information.
“I usually put a reminder in my calendar for every other month or so, whenever you need to go so it pops up as a reminder”
-Participant 1 Interview Quote
Overcoming Challenges
Time management was one of the biggest hurdles. With only a month and a half to bring everything together, I quickly learned the importance of creating a structured timeline. By breaking the project into focused phases — research, ideation, prototyping — I was able to balance my efforts and ensure that no part of the project felt rushed or neglected.
Impact on Users
The final PetReminder prototype addressed a simple but meaningful gap: the lack of an app that aligns with how pet owners naturally organize their lives. By combining health tracking with calendar functionality, I created a tool that fit into users’ existing routines instead of forcing new ones — something that resonated strongly in my user interviews.
Project Reflection
This project taught me the true value of user-centered design. I went in with assumptions, but it was through listening, observing, and iterating that I arrived at a solution that genuinely met user needs. Understanding not just what users do, but why they do it, was key to creating something both functional and familiar.
PetReminder reaffirmed that good design isn’t just about innovation — it’s about empathy. When we listen closely and design accordingly, we can create products that feel like they were made just for the user.