APA Shelter Map
Role: Product designer, prototyping
Timeline: 4 weeks (Mar - Apr 2024)
Team: PM - Jackie Lasut, DEV - Zhouli Xie
Tools: Figma, FigJam, Adobe Illustrator
Streamlining shelter management
with an interactive map.
PROJECT OVERVIEW
An interactive shelter map for volunteers and employees to quickly visualize kennel occupancy.
In Spring 2024, I worked with the Texas Product Engineering Org to launch an interactive map that shows kennel occupancy, color-codes dogs by behavior, and allows searches by traits. As the only designer, I led the visualization of the outdoor shelter map layout and the functional features they need.
This Austin Pets Alive map is an interactive solution that enables users to find vacancies for incoming animals or search for specific dogs with traits desired by potential fosters/adopters.
PROBLEM
Background
Austin Pets Alive, a no-kill shelter, struggles to track over 200 animals constantly being moved in and out of buildings and kennels. As a result, volunteers and employees have a hard time keeping track of animals effectively.
PROBLEM STATEMENT
How might we make it easier for volunteers and staff to navigate
the shelter?
Project Goals
1. Locate animals that fit certain criteria efficiently
2. Quickly read and scan through details of each animal
FINAL SOLUTION + HIFI DESIGNS
Streamlining shelter management with an interactive map.
1. 3D map view: filter with real-time updating list panel
2. Table View: sort and scan quickly
Users can filter animals by collar color or building location, and the list automatically updates,
ensuring staff can quickly find the right animals without additional clicks or navigation.
Users have the option of a structured, grid-like format to go through critical data about each animal
which is beneficial for handling large volumes of data in a concise and accessible manner.
REFLECTION
What I learned
Next steps
This project highlighted the importance of gaining user empathy in design. While making assumptions about user behavior is often necessary during time-constrained projects, I learned the value of validating those assumptions through targeted user research. By understanding the behaviors and pain points of our users, I could create a more intuitive and effective solution. This balance between hypothesis-driven design and user validation strengthened my ability to design with both efficiency and accuracy.
Challenges and
constraints
The project faced significant challenges due to ongoing organizational changes, which led to a lack of support, unstructured workflows, and misaligned priorities. Without a designated design team, feedback was limited, requiring me to navigate conflicting opinions across various teams. These constraints demanded adaptability, strong communication skills, and finding user-focused solutions in a complex and shifting environment.
Expanding Interactive Features
To enhance usability, I would implement additional features such as saved searches and notification alerts for newly available animals matching specific criteria. These updates would streamline workflows for staff, helping them quickly locate animals that fit their needs while ensuring the map remains user-friendly and efficient for shelter management.