Waggle App
Waggle is a mobile app concept designed to help dog owners find compatible playmates for their pets nearby. At its heart, Waggle is about giving owners peace of mind, especially when socialising their dogs has felt stressful, unpredictable, or isolating. This solo project explored how thoughtful design can support both dogs and their humans through accessible, trust-building features.
Role: UX/UI Designer
Role: Figma, Miro
Scope: Research, user flows, wireframes, UI design, prototyping
Status: Conceptual product
Skills: User research, competition analysis, information architecture, user flows, wireframes, prototyping
Problem
For many dog owners, knowing their dog is happy and socially fulfilled is deeply tied to their own peace of mind. But when playdates go poorly due to reactivity, fear, or a mismatch in energy, it can make owners anxious to take their dog out again. Over time, this leads to a feeling of isolation and worry that their pet is missing out on connection and exercise.
While platforms exist for finding dog walkers or sitters, there’s a gap when it comes to discovering trusted, nearby playmates — especially those that genuinely suit your dog’s temperament.
Goal
Design a friendly, accessible app that helps dog owners find well-matched local playmates for their pets — helping reduce socialisation anxiety, improve wellbeing, and give owners confidence in their choices.
Discovery & Research
Conducted user interviews and surveys with dog owners to understand how they currently arrange dog meetups and what makes them feel confident vs. hesitant.
Identified common pain points including: fear of unpredictable dog encounters, lack of trusted local contacts, and no easy way to assess compatibility beyond guesswork.
Synthesised findings into personas, motivations, and design opportunities that prioritised both emotional and functional needs.
Key User Needs
Find dogs nearby with similar play styles or energy levels
Build trust with other owners through shared interests and transparency
Reduce anxiety around socialising dogs, especially after past negative experiences
Feel supported by a community of like-minded dog lovers
Created core user flows based on planning a playdate from scratch
Designed low-fidelity wireframes to test layout and flow clarity
Developed high-fidelity UI in Figma using accessible colour contrast and component consistency
Emphasised calming, friendly tones through the visual language to reflect the emotional purpose of the app
Key Features
Visual Direction
Reflection
Waggle helped me connect deeper with the emotional side of UX — not just how people use a product, but how they feel when they use it. I learned how important it is to design for confidence and peace of mind, especially in situations where users may already feel anxious or vulnerable.
If I were to revisit the project, I’d love to explore testing with owners who have dogs with reactivity or nervous behaviours, to better understand how features like profile detail, filters, and tone could support them even further.