The Pet Club
NEW PRODUCT
ADOPTION PLATFORM
MARKETPLACE
PRODUCT DESIGN
NATIVE APP
A platform that helps shelters manage animals efficiently and guides adopters through a transparent adoption journey
A platform that helps shelters manage animals efficiently and guides adopters through a transparent adoption journey
The Pet Club
NEW PRODUCT
ADOPTION PLATFORM
MARKETPLACE
PRODUCT DESIGN
NATIVE APP
UX
UI
The Pet Club
NEW PRODUCT
ADOPTION PLATFORM
MARKETPLACE
PRODUCT DESIGN
NATIVE APP
UX
UI
Overview
Overview
CHALLENGE
CHALLENGE
Animal adoption is emotionally meaningful but structurally fragmented.
Shelters struggle to communicate clearly, while adopters face uncertainty, slow processes, and inconsistent information.
Pet Club reimagines adoption as a transparent, guided digital journey connecting shelters and adopters with clarity and trust.
Animal adoption is emotionally meaningful but structurally fragmented.
Shelters struggle to communicate clearly, while adopters face uncertainty, slow processes, and inconsistent information.
Pet Club reimagines adoption as a transparent, guided digital journey connecting shelters and adopters with clarity and trust.
SCOPE
SCOPE
Concept platform co-created, addressing real adopter and shelter pain points through UX research and iterative prototyping.
Role: End-to-end Product Designer (UX/UI & Visual Identity)
Duration: 4 Weeks
Focus: UX/UI Design, Prototyping.
Team: Susan Suzart, Jesus Villarroel, Jeannine Schölzel, Maca Suiter Burdach
KEY RESULTS
KEY RESULTS
Higher decision confidence reported by adopters, driven by transparent steps and matching logic
Streamlined shelter workflows, reducing manual effort and repetitive communication
Process
Process
APPROACH
APPROACH
We designed The Pet Club to feel supportive, warm, and trustworthy, reducing the emotional pressure often tied to adoption. Instead of overwhelming users, the platform empowers decision-making through clear information architecture, gentle guidance, and transparent steps. The result is an experience where finding a pet feels exciting, thoughtful, and human-centered.
We designed The Pet Club to feel supportive, warm, and trustworthy, reducing the emotional pressure often tied to adoption. Instead of overwhelming users, the platform empowers decision-making through clear information architecture, gentle guidance, and transparent steps. The result is an experience where finding a pet feels exciting, thoughtful, and human-centered.
01
First, the research
To understand the problem from both sides, we conducted survey and interviews with both adopters and shelters based in Germany. Two insights shaped our solution:
To understand the problem from both sides, we conducted survey and interviews with both adopters and shelters based in Germany. Two insights shaped our solution:
Fixing shelter workflows - the biggest bottleneck in adoption - improves outcomes for all stakeholders.
Fixing shelter workflows - the biggest bottleneck in adoption - improves outcomes for all stakeholders.
A true match is when personality, lifestyle, budget and care guidance come together - benefiting both the pet and the adopter.
A true match is when personality, lifestyle, budget and care guidance come together - benefiting both the pet and the adopter.
02
Our Goals
Based on these insights, we defined three core goals, addressing the core needs of every stakeholder in the adoption process. Every design decision we made connects back to these goals.
Based on these insights, we defined three core goals, addressing the core needs of every stakeholder in the adoption process. Every design decision we made connects back to these goals.
SHELTERS
Streamline shelter operations
Streamline shelter operations
PETS
Find true matches for stray animals
Find true matches for stray animals
ADOPTERS
Guide adopters through the entire journey
Guide adopters through the entire journey
03
Defining the Design Principles
To translate these goals into design, we worked with three guiding principles. These principles shaped not just the interface, but the tone of the entire experience.
04
Coming up with a vision
We envisioned The Pet Club as a trusted companion throughout the adoption journey, not just a listing platform.
We envisioned The Pet Club as a trusted companion throughout the adoption journey, not just a listing platform.
05
Defining the Style Guide
The visual language of The Pet Club was designed to reduce anxiety and build trust. We focused on warmth, clarity, and emotional softness, while maintaining strong contrast and accessibility for information-heavy screens.
The visual language of The Pet Club was designed to reduce anxiety and build trust. We focused on warmth, clarity, and emotional softness, while maintaining strong contrast and accessibility for information-heavy screens.
Primary
Calmness and trust
Strong contrast
Secondary
Warmth, friendliness
Welcoming feeling
Functional Accents
Purple: personality tags
Green: cost-related info
Orange: medical info
Iconography
Clean, consistent, highly legible
Quick recognition
Cohesive visual language
Font Families
Warm, rounded shapes balance clarity with friendliness.
Easy to scan info & emotionally approachable experience.
Sansita Swashed
Aa
Patua One
Aa
Baloo 2
Aa
Logotype
06
Building the Component Library
The visual language of The Pet Club was designed to reduce anxiety and build trust. We focused on warmth, clarity, and emotional softness, while maintaining strong contrast and accessibility for information-heavy screens.
The visual language of The Pet Club was designed to reduce anxiety and build trust. We focused on warmth, clarity, and emotional softness, while maintaining strong contrast and accessibility for information-heavy screens.
Animal
Animal
Label text
Label text
Visitation Request
A confirmation email was sent to Alex Rivera, including:
Saturday, 14.06 at 3pm
Musterstr 1, 10938 Berlin
An accurate profile significantly increases time-to-adoption :)
See in mailbox
Resend
Step 5
Visitation approved
Saturday, 14.06 at 3pm
Musterstr 1, 10938 Berlin
Edit
Add to calendar
The Pet Club
Home
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Pets
Chat
Profile
November 2025
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07
Prototypes
The Shelter
The Shelter
Follow how a shelter worker uploads a new animal into The Pet Club. This flow shows how shelters upload animals into a centralized space where they can manage profiles, communicate with adopters, and track the adoption process from start to finish.
Follow how a shelter worker uploads a new animal into The Pet Club. This flow shows how shelters upload animals into a centralized space where they can manage profiles, communicate with adopters, and track the adoption process from start to finish.
Play
The Adopter
The Adopter
Follow a first-time adopter through the first steps of the adoption journey. This flow demonstrates how adopters confidently move from discovery to adoption through clear information, consistent steps, and a transparent process.
Follow a first-time adopter through the first steps of the adoption journey. This flow demonstrates how adopters confidently move from discovery to adoption through clear information, consistent steps, and a transparent process.
Play
Adoption guidance
Adoption guidance
Follow the final adoption steps in The Pet Club app. After approval, the adopter receives guidance and schedules a home check from suggested dates. Once completed, the app walks them through final approval and payment — and the pet can go home.
Follow the final adoption steps in The Pet Club app. After approval, the adopter receives guidance and schedules a home check from suggested dates. Once completed, the app walks them through final approval and payment — and the pet can go home.
Play
Impact & Reflection
Impact & Reflection
Impact & Reflection
IMPACT
The Pet Club reduced uncertainty in the adoption journey by aligning emotional decision-making with clear, structured systems.
Adopters were able to move forward with greater confidence, while shelters gained more efficient workflows and higher-quality adoption requests, improving outcomes on both sides of the marketplace.
The Pet Club reduced uncertainty in the adoption journey by aligning emotional decision-making with clear, structured systems.
Adopters were able to move forward with greater confidence, while shelters gained more efficient workflows and higher-quality adoption requests, improving outcomes on both sides of the marketplace.
The Pet Club reduced uncertainty in the adoption journey by aligning emotional decision-making with clear, structured systems.
Adopters were able to move forward with greater confidence, while shelters gained more efficient workflows and higher-quality adoption requests, improving outcomes on both sides of the marketplace.
REFLECTION
This project reinforced that adoption is a strategic matching problem, not just a discovery task. Designing for trust, clarity, and alignment between stakeholders proved more impactful than optimizing speed alone.
This project reinforced that adoption is a strategic matching problem, not just a discovery task. Designing for trust, clarity, and alignment between stakeholders proved more impactful than optimizing speed alone.
With more time, I would focus on post-adoption touchpoints and data-informed support to extend long-term success.
With more time, I would focus on post-adoption touchpoints and data-informed support to extend long-term success.
