FURBIT
A smart pet collar aimed at enhancing the bond between pet owners and their pets. This project aims to create a seamless and intuitive experience that makes pet care easier, more accessible, and more emotionally rewarding for users. Ultimately, the goal is to offer a solution that provides peace of mind and strengthens the relationship between pets and their owners.
My role
UX Research, Persona Development, Wireframing, Prototyping, Visual Design, Usability Testing
Year: 2024
🏆 CHALLENGE
Busy pet owners who travel frequently worry about their dogs’ health, safety, and lack of interaction when they’re away. They need a way to stay connected and ensure their pets are cared for despite a demanding schedule.
“I am a pet lover and I love spending time with them. However, as a busy business owner, I worry about my dogs health and safety when I’m not around. I just don’t have time to play with them all day.”
David, 45 ( A business owner)
👁️ UNDERSTANDING USER’S PERSPECTIVE
✦⋆ Pet owners experience separation anxiety and struggle to stay emotionally connected with their pets when away.
✦⋆ Owners worry about their pet’s safety, especially when they roam freely or are in unfamiliar areas.
✦⋆ Owners often can’t monitor their pet’s health, leading to missed signs of illness or stress.
🙋🏻♀️ WHY TO THIS HAPPEN?
ꕥ Busy Lifestyle
⋆ Hectic schedules
⋆ Long hours of work
ꕥ Lack of Communication
⋆ Pets cannot speak or communicate their feelings directly.
⋆ Lack of real-time interaction or understanding of what the pet is feeling.
ꕥ Absence of Emotional Bonding Tools
⋆ Lacks tools that allow owners to stay emotionally engaged with the pets in real-time.
🔖 RESEARCHES
A study by the Pet Health Council found that 52% of pet owners report feeling guilt about leaving their pets alone during the day.
A study published in Veterinary Clinics of North America found that separation anxiety is a common condition in pets, especially dogs.
According to a study published in the journal Anthrozoös, pet ownership is associated with a strong emotional bond.
The study emphasizes that pets areseen as family members.
A study from Petside found that owners who used interactive video tools reported lower levels of guilt and higher levels of satisfaction with their relationship to their pets.
✧ HOW MIGHT WE
How might we help pet owners maintain strong bonds with their pets while away, ensuring their pets stay safe and happy?
༻ WHAT WE AIM TO ACHIEVE
˚୨୧˚ FURBIT SOLUTIONS
✧ FEATURE 1: TRANSLATION
The live call and translation feature allows users to make voice or video calls to their pets, with sound transmitted through the collar. Users can send voice commands, see translations of their pet's responses, and engage in interactive activities like playing fetch or sending playful "threats." This feature enhances communication and deepens the bond between owners and their pets, especially for those with busy schedules.
✧ FEATURE 2: SAFE ZONE
The GPS and safezone feature allows users to track their pet's location in real time and set up a virtual fence or safe zone. If the pet moves outside the designated area, the owner receives an alert, ensuring their pet’s safety. This feature offers peace of mind, especially for pets that roam freely outdoors.
✧ FEATURE 3: HEALTH MONITORING
The Daily Activity and Health Report feature tracks your pet’s physical activity, sleep patterns, and overall wellness throughout the day. It provides detailed insights into their exercise levels, calorie expenditure, and health metrics, helping owners monitor their pet’s fitness and well-being. The reports are easily accessible, enabling users to make informed decisions about their pet’s care and lifestyle.
.* STYLE GUIDE
.* DESIGN ITERATION
.* PROTOTYPE
ꕥ What I learned
Designing a user experience that balances emotional connection with practical functionality. It’s crucial to create intuitive, seamless interactions that fit into busy pet owners’ lifestyles while providing clear and meaningful health and safety insights. User empathy guided the design to build trust and reassurance, and iterative testing emphasized the need for simplicity to ensure quick, effortless communication between owners and their pets.