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TailMap
TailMap
TailMap
Stray Animals & Society; living together
Stray Animals & Society;
living together
UX/UI Design Case Study
UX/UI Design Case Study
TailMap - App Design
Designed to help communities track, report, and feed stray animals, making rescue efforts more efficient and accessible
Tools
Figma
Procreate
Duration
January - February 2025
January -
February
2025
Role
UX/UI Designer
UX/UI
Designer
01
Research & Empathize
Research & Empathize
Research & Empathize
TailMap was designed to help communities connect more effectively with stray animals in their area. By combining real-time tracking with user-generated updates, the platform empowers people to report sightings, log feedings, and support local efforts around stray animal care and adoption. This project allowed me to lead the design process from research through to high-fidelity mockups, aiming to create a solution that’s both practical and compassionate.
Competitive Audit
Competitive Audit
Competitive Audit
When researching for TailMap, I specifically looked for websites and apps dedicated to stray animals and community-driven rescue efforts. Surprisingly, I found only a handful of local websites doing this work—mostly small, regional initiatives rather than large-scale platforms. There wasn’t anything that directly competed with TailMap in terms of real-time updates or a seamless way to connect people who find strays with those who can help. This gap made it clear that there was room for a solution focused on accessibility, ease of use, and community-driven updates.
When researching for TailMap, I specifically looked for websites and apps dedicated to stray animals and community-driven rescue efforts. Surprisingly, I found only a handful of local websites doing this work—mostly small, regional initiatives rather than large-scale platforms. There wasn’t anything that directly competed with TailMap in terms of real-time updates or a seamless way to connect people who find strays with those who can help. This gap made it clear that there was room for a solution focused on accessibility, ease of use, and community-driven updates.
Pain Points
Pain Points
Pain Points
Resources are not being evenly distributed to stray animals
Resources are not being evenly distributed to stray animals
Resources are not being evenly distributed to stray animals
Current platforms are geographically bound
Current platforms are geographically bound
Current platforms are geographically bound
Social media platforms are much too broad and don't provide necessary input
Social media platforms are much too broad and don't provide necessary input
Social media platforms are much too broad and don't provide necessary input
No place for real time updates for contact
No place for real time updates for contact
No place for real time updates for contact
The Users
The Users
The Users
Empathy Map
Empathy Map
Empathy Map
Persona: Diana
Persona: Diana
Goal: Keep track of the stray animal she feeds and coordinate with others to provide for them
Goal: Keep track of the stray animal she feeds and coordinate with others to provide for them
02
Define
Define
Define
Problem
Problem
Problem
Millions of stray animals struggle to find consistent sources of food, relying on chance encounters with kind-hearted people. Without a way to track where and when they are fed, community efforts often become inconsistent, leaving many animals hungry.
Millions of stray animals struggle to find consistent sources of food, relying on chance encounters with kind-hearted people. Without a way to track where and when they are fed, community efforts often become inconsistent, leaving many animals hungry.
Goal
Goal
Create an app that helps communities coordinate feeding efforts for stray animals by allowing users to report sightings, track feeding locations, and share resources—ensuring that no animal goes hungry.
Create an app that helps communities coordinate feeding efforts for stray animals by allowing users to report sightings, track feeding locations, and share resources—ensuring that no animal goes hungry.
03
Ideate
Ideate
Ideate
Information Architecture
Information Architecture
Information Architecture
For TailMap, I focused on organizing information in a way that supports quick, compassionate action. The structure allows users to easily report sightings, feeding updates, and track animals over time—making the experience feel intuitive and community-driven.
For TailMap, I focused on organizing information in a way that supports quick, compassionate action. The structure allows users to easily report sightings, feeding updates, and track animals over time—making the experience feel intuitive and community-driven.
Pen
Pen
Pen
Paper
Paper
Paper
Coffee
Coffee
Coffee
Fixation on perfection
Fixation on perfection
Fixation on perfection
Limits
Limits
Limits
Paper Wireframes
Paper Wireframes
Paper Wireframes
I sketched out early ideas to explore how users might interact with key features like reporting a sighting or viewing nearby animals. These paper wireframes helped me visualize the app’s core functionality with a focus on clarity and ease of use for everyday users.
I sketched out early ideas to explore how users might interact with key features like reporting a sighting or viewing nearby animals. These paper wireframes helped me visualize the app’s core functionality with a focus on clarity and ease of use for everyday users.
Digital Wireframes
Digital Wireframes
Digital Wireframes
Building on the paper sketches, I created digital wireframes to bring more precision to the layout. I prioritized clear calls to action and a clean, map-first interface, ensuring users can quickly contribute to the TailMap network and stay engaged with their local animal community.
Building on the paper sketches, I created digital wireframes to bring more precision to the layout. I prioritized clear calls to action and a clean, map-first interface, ensuring users can quickly contribute to the TailMap network and stay engaged with their local animal community.
04
Test & Prototype
Test & Prototype
Test & Prototype
Mockups
Mockups
Mockups
I translated the refined wireframes into high-fidelity mockups that reflect TailMap’s mission—compassionate, clear, and community-focused. The visual design emphasizes key actions like reporting a sighting or logging a feeding, using intuitive layouts and a clean interface to make helping stray animals feel approachable and rewarding.
I translated the refined wireframes into high-fidelity mockups that reflect TailMap’s mission—compassionate, clear, and community-focused. The visual design emphasizes key actions like reporting a sighting or logging a feeding, using intuitive layouts and a clean interface to make helping stray animals feel approachable and rewarding.
Hi-Fi Prototype
Hi-Fi Prototype
Hi-Fi Prototype
05
Lessons
Lessons
What I learned
What I learned
Much of the success for this project is reliant on user input. They provide most if not all of the data for each animal. An intuitive design can help drive user engagement.
Much of the success for this project is reliant on user input. They provide most if not all of the data for each animal. An intuitive design can help drive user engagement.
Users should receive confirmations and updates when submitting data, ensuring they feel their input is valued and encouraging continued engagement.
Users should receive confirmations and updates when submitting data, ensuring they feel their input is valued and encouraging continued engagement.
Testing wireframes and prototypes early prevents major revisions later in the process. Get user feedback at multiple stages to refine ideas before investing too much in development.
Testing wireframes and prototypes early prevents major revisions later in the process. Get user feedback at multiple stages to refine ideas before investing too much in development.
Designing for different needs ensures inclusivity and expands the potential user base. Integrate accessibility best practices from the beginning, like color contrast, text size options, and alternative input methods.
Designing for different needs ensures inclusivity and expands the potential user base. Integrate accessibility best practices from the beginning, like color contrast, text size options, and alternative input methods.