A pawfect place for pet owners to connect
Overview
I created the concept, brand and website for a new venture: Pawdly.
I was desperate to get a puppy. I am basically obsessed with dachshunds, and while I was researching, I realised it really takes a team to raise a needy pet.
I’m talking about great breeders; rescue homes; pet sitters; dog walkers; great vets. People you can trust with your furry / feathery / scaly pal.
I didn’t want to compromise too much on my lifestyle, so I needed to know how to travel with my dog; where the pet-friendly cafes, restaurants and venues are at home and away and I needed to track down pet-friendly accommodation too.
I couldn’t find a place where all of this and more was in one place and it was easy to search for the info I needed. A place where locals, visitors, digital nomads and expats could share their pet knowledge — so I thought I'd create it.
Research phase
I began by getting a feel for the kind of information pet owners are looking for by sending out a survey in pet owners circles. I then spoke to a number of local pet owners about their pet knowledge needs and pain points.
Based on feedback from this research, I put together some wireframes to test out content with some local pet owners and see what did and didn’t resonate.
"I had to do soooo much research, planning, logistics and money spent to bring my dog to Portugal. I was very stressed that i was missing something."
Survey participant
Visual design phase
I created the Pawdly brand. The wordmark looks fluffy and cuddly. I used fresh green colours as a nod to the great outdoors and chose friendly and welcoming imagery, with pets showcased front and centre. I also wanted to make sure the colours, content and interactions were accessible and were producing the lowest levels of carbon possible.
The launch
The launch was very exciting. The word was spread across pet owner groups and I placed stickers and cards over Lisbon.
To incrementally improve the site, I use Google Analytics and Hotjar and I regularly chat with the community to help it serve the members better.
The Pawdly site has since been featured on Relume’s site inspiration showcase.
Future plans
Pawdly is up and running and is expanding to other cities and countries.
Get in touch if you would like to be involved.
How can I help you build your new business venture?
I practice what I preach. I use lean startup methodologies to test and validate new business ideas. Get in touch to discuss how I can help you make your mark.
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