PetYaya
A Cross-Platform Mobile App for Pet Sitting and Care Services
Project Overview
PetYaya is a community-driven mobile application that connects pet owners with trusted local pet sitters for walking, day care, and lodging services. As both UI/UX designer and full-stack developer, I contributed to every phase—from user research through design, development, and user testing.
Duration
August 2024 - November 2024 (4 months)
Platform
Cross-platform mobile app (iOS, Android, Web)
Status
MVP Completed & User-Tested
The Problem
Pet owners in the Philippines lack a trusted, convenient, and community-driven platform to connect with reliable local pet sitters.
Research Findings:
- •74.3% of pet owners struggle to find trustworthy, reliable care for their pets
- •80% expressed strong willingness to use neighborhood-based platforms
- •Most rely on risky informal arrangements through social media groups
- •Pet owners experience anxiety leaving pets with strangers found online
- •Fragmented communication and scheduling causes chaos
"I used to spend hours coordinating pet care through text messages and phone calls. The stress of not knowing if my dog was okay was overwhelming."
The Solution
PetYaya is a peer-to-peer platform that emphasizes local, neighborhood-based connections to build trust through proximity and shared community values.
Key Innovation
Unlike traditional platforms like Rover or Wag!, PetYaya emphasizes local, neighborhood-based connections to build trust through proximity and shared community values, making pet care more accessible and affordable.
Key Features:
My Role
Design Responsibilities
- •Conducted user research through surveys and interviews
- •Created user personas and journey maps
- •Designed wireframes and high-fidelity mockups in Figma
- •Developed visual design system (colors, typography, components)
- •Designed 40+ app screens for pet owners and sitters
- •Conducted usability testing and iterated based on feedback
Development Responsibilities
- •Architected Firebase backend structure
- •Implemented Flutter frontend with Dart
- •Built booking and scheduling module
- •Developed real-time chat functionality
- •Integrated Google Maps API for GPS tracking
- •Implemented Firebase Authentication and security rules
- •Created community engagement features (feed, comments, following)
Design Process
User Research
Conducted surveys and interviews to understand pain points. Discovered that 74.3% of pet owners struggle to find reliable care.
User Personas
Created detailed personas: 'Maria' (Busy Professional Pet Owner) and 'Carlo' (Community-Minded Student Sitter).
Journey Mapping
Mapped end-to-end experiences for both pet owners and sitters, identifying key touchpoints and pain points.
Information Architecture
Designed 5-tab navigation structure for each user role with clear hierarchy and intuitive flow.
Wireframing
Created low-fidelity wireframes focusing on information hierarchy and user flow validation.
Visual Design
Developed high-fidelity mockups with warm, friendly color palette and pet-themed iconography.
Prototyping
Built interactive prototypes in Figma for early user testing and stakeholder feedback.
User Testing
Conducted UAT with 20 participants, achieving 4.75/5.0 satisfaction rating.
Tech Stack
Frontend
Backend
Third-Party APIs
Tools
Key Features
Booking & Scheduling Module
Complex scheduling system supporting different service types with real-time availability updates to prevent double-booking.
Real-Time Chat System
Booking-specific communication with image sharing, unread counters, and push notifications.
Community Engagement
Social feed with posts, likes, comments, and 'Pupscribe' (follow) functionality to build trust beyond transactions.
GPS Tracking
Real-time location tracking during active walking services for pet owner peace of mind.
Security Implementation
Comprehensive protection of sensitive user data with role-based access control.
Challenges & Solutions
Third-Party API Integration Complexity
Payment gateway and Google Maps API integration more complex than anticipated.
Allocated dedicated time for API research, created wrapper services, studied official documentation early, and implemented incrementally with testing at each step.
Stable integrations achieved with no issues in production testing.
Scope Creep
Temptation to add features mid-sprint, risking timeline delays.
Strict adherence to Sprint Backlog, moved new features to Product Backlog, maintained clear Definition of Done.
Delivered MVP on time with all core features completed.
Real-Time Data Synchronization
Keeping booking status, availability, and chat messages in sync across multiple devices.
Leveraged Firestore's real-time listeners, implemented optimistic UI updates, added conflict resolution logic.
Instant updates across all connected devices with zero sync issues.
Complex Availability Management
Different services requiring different availability structures (hourly vs. multi-day).
Designed separate Firestore subcollections, created flexible data model, built intuitive UI with TableCalendar widgets.
Users found availability setup easy to understand and use.
Security & Privacy
Protecting sensitive user data including locations, payments, and personal information.
Comprehensive Firestore Security Rules, GPS only active during services, secure payment gateway, regular security testing.
Zero security vulnerabilities found in testing. All security tests passed.
Results & Impact
Key Metrics
What Users Loved ❤️
- ✓"Easy and smooth navigation"
- ✓"The community tab feels like a good starting point for building relationships"
- ✓"Clean UI design"
- ✓"Very straightforward - everything needed can be seen in the app"
- ✓"Direct messaging with pet sitters is very convenient"
Areas for Improvement 💡
- •Desktop view needs better responsiveness (UI elements stretched)
- •Add keyboard shortcuts (Enter key for messages)
- •Dark mode option requested
- •Initial lodging setup could be clearer
- •Profile picture upload indicator needs to be more obvious
What I Learned
Technical Skills
- →Flutter & Dart - Mastered cross-platform mobile development
- →Firebase Ecosystem - Deep understanding of BaaS architecture
- →Real-time Systems - Building responsive, live-updating applications
- →API Integration - Third-party service integration best practices
- →Security Implementation - Protecting user data at scale
- →Git Collaboration - Team-based version control workflows
Design Skills
- →User Research - Conducting surveys and synthesizing insights
- →Design Systems - Creating consistent, scalable component libraries
- →Prototyping - Building interactive, testable prototypes
- →Usability Testing - Running UAT and iterating on feedback
- →Mobile-First Design - Optimizing for touch interfaces
- →Accessibility - Designing for diverse user needs
Soft Skills
- →Agile/Scrum - Working in sprints with daily standups
- →Time Management - Balancing design and development tasks
- →Problem Solving - Breaking down complex features
- →Communication - Presenting work and incorporating feedback
- →Teamwork - Collaborating with 4-person team
Gallery
Onboarding Flow
Pet Owner Home Screen
Sitter Discovery
Booking Flow
Real-Time Chat
GPS Tracking
Community Feed
Rating & Review
Interested in working together?
I'm currently seeking opportunities where I can leverage both my design and development skills.