Adoring: Connecting Dogs and Dog Owners Worldwide

A Dog Social Network App Designed by Yifei Li

Many dog owners love their pets dearly but struggle to provide them with proper breeding programs, healthy bodies, and socialization practices. Traditionally, dog owners have relied on their immediate circle to find mating partners for their dogs, resulting in a limited pool of options. However, Adoring seeks to change this by offering a comprehensive solution that considers physiological characteristics, breed purity, and medical fertility standards.

Unlike other pet apps in the market that primarily focus on pet trading and care, Adoring stands out by prioritizing pet socialization practices and mating. The app features a sophisticated matching algorithm that takes into account various factors such as location, breed, personality, and habits to find the most suitable mate for a dog. Additionally, dog owners can use Adoring to record their dog's growth, find friends for their furry companions, engage in conversations with other dog owners, and share their dog ownership experiences.

The design and realization of Adoring involved a combination of research, design thinking, and key technologies. Yifei Li and his team utilized design tools such as situational interviews, brainstorming sessions, market research, and prototyping with Adobe XD. The user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design were crafted using Photoshop, Sketch, and Figma. The app incorporates an emotional design approach and simple interactions to create a warm and engaging pet community.

One of the key technologies employed in Adoring is the "tag-based recommendation algorithm." This algorithm analyzes a vast amount of tag data to find the most suitable breeding and social partners for pet dogs. By leveraging this technology, Adoring ensures that dog owners can connect with compatible mates and create meaningful relationships for their beloved pets.

Adoring is designed specifically for the iOS system, providing a seamless and intuitive user experience for iPhone users. The app's interaction revolves around the concept of tags, allowing dog owners to define their dogs' characteristics and preferences. This enables other users to easily find and connect with their dogs. Additionally, Adoring features an innovative chat function that takes pets as the primary point of view, fostering conversations and connections within the pet community.

The Adoring project was completed in June 2020 at Zhejiang University. Throughout the design process, extensive research was conducted to understand the needs of dog owners and the existing market landscape. Interviews with long-term dog owners provided valuable insights, while market research revealed the lack of dedicated apps for pet breeding and mating. The design team used this information to create a differentiated product that addresses these specific needs.

Developing Adoring came with its fair share of challenges. The team had to explore the feasibility of the app, considering the limited presence of similar products in the market. Extensive research and testing were conducted to validate the app's viability. Additionally, defining dog feature tags and continuously improving the user experience posed creative and technical challenges that the team successfully overcame.

Adoring is a testament to the dedication and passion of Yifei Li and his team at Zhejiang University. By creating a dog social network app that connects dogs and dog owners worldwide, they have provided a valuable platform for dog socialization and healthy lifestyles. With Adoring, dog owners can find friends for their dogs, record their growth, engage in conversations from a pet's perspective, and share their experiences with fellow dog owners.

Images by Adoring Design Team, 2020

This Design was awarded Bronze in the A' Mobile Technologies, Applications, and Software Design Award in 2021. The Bronze A' Design Award recognizes outstanding and creatively ingenious designs that demonstrate experience, resourcefulness, and best practices in art, science, design, and technology. Adoring contributes to quality of life improvements, making the world a better place for both dogs and their owners.