Walkabout Dog Walking Product Case Study
Walkabout app is a mobile application that easily and simply connects dog owners with local dog walkers. The challenge was to design the mobile application to be user friendly and help dog owners gain some peace of mind by providing them an easy to use platform to reach reliable dog walkers.
Role
UI/UX & Branding
Contributors
Brook Wells (Senior Designer & Illustrator)
Dog walking apps were largely transactional focused on scheduling and payments rather than the emotional trust needed when someone else cares for your pet. For many owners booking a walk felt like hiring a stranger instead of finding a reliable person for their dog.
Problem Space
How might we design a dog walking app that helps owners feel secure and cared for while making walkers feel valued and trusted. Transforming simple transactions into meaningful a connection.
How Might We Statement
Walkabout set out to create a more human first platform that built confidence and trust on both sides of the leash. The goal was to turn a utility into a relationship driven experience, one that felt warm, approachable and reassuring.
Project Idea
Dog owners looking for trustworthy walkers and consistent care for their pets. Dog walkers who want to showcase their experience, feel respected and build long term relationships with clients and there dogs.
Potential User
Situation
Most dog walking apps felt transactional and sterile, focused on logistics rather than the trust and care needed when someone looks after a pet. Walkabout set out to create a friendlier, relationship driven platform. One that helped owners feel confident and cared for, and made walkers feel valued and trusted.
As the lead designer, I saw an opportunity to turn Walkabout into more than a utility to design an experience that felt warm, approachable, human first, blending product, brand and storytelling.
The challenge was to build trust and connection into every touchpoint.
Key priorities included:
Creating a distinctive visual identity that is trust worthy, conveys warmth, approachability and.
Designing the core flows for onboarding, walker discovery, booking and messaging. To feel simple, friendly and .
Walker profiles as the emotional decision point for owners.
Design a clear, lightweight navigation structure that supported the most frequent actions.
Task
Action
Brand Identity & Visual Language
Developed a soft, friendly visual style rounded shapes, muted tones, playful illustrations and playful copy.
The app should feel more like a trusted companion than a gig work marketplace.
Expanded illustration into onboarding and even error states to keep the tone reassuring and personable.
User Research & Insights
Conducted informal interviews with dog owners and walkers to understand pain points and expectations.
Found that owners wanted more trust, transparency and cost. Walkers often felt undervalued or invisible.
Noticed in testing that users lingered on walker profiles, which revealed a desire to understand the person not just see a rating.
Micro Interactions & Feedback Loops
Animated iconography.
Real time walk updates and notifications.
Mid walk photo messages from walkers to owners for added trust and a way for the owner to keep up to date with the walk.
UX Strategy & Core Flows
Elevated walker profiles in the hierarchy, adding bios, certifications related to dogs, tags like “puppy specialist” and a “favorite walker” option for repeat bookings.
Simplified the booking flow to three clear steps. Choose a walker → pick a time → confirm.
Integrated messaging into the primary navigation to encourage ongoing communication.
Used high fidelity Figma prototypes for remote walkthroughs with both owners and walkers.
Asked participants to narrate their expectations at each step, revealing friction and assumptions.
Adjusted flows, copy and interactions to make the app feel less like a transaction and more a brand you can trust.
Testing & Iteration
Transformed Walkabout from a utility into a relationship builder, focusing on human connection and trust.
Elevated walker profiles became one of the most loved features in testing users said they felt more confident booking with someone they could “get to know.”
Simplified flows and feedback improved user confidence and reduced booking friction.
The brand’s approachable look and friendly tone resonated with both walkers and owners, setting Walkabout apart from competitors.
Results
What I have learned is sometimes what you do the first time is never the right decision and you might have to go back to figure out another solution again and again till it works right. The design process matters. Going from A, B to C helps in the long run for the process.
Self Reflection