Adding a dog-friendly feature to a popular app
About:
With 1 billion active users each month, Google Maps serves far beyond navigation purposes. It functions as a tool for discovering restaurants, hotels, and attractions, providing users with essential details like a business's website, menu, or operating hours.
Tools
Figma
Miro
Timeline
3 weeks
25/hrs per week
My Role
UX research
Wireframes
Visual Design
Goals
My goal is to incorporate a feature into Google Maps that enables users to easily filter for dog-friendly locations
Additionally, users will have clear visibility on whether a location is dog-friendly when viewing it on Google Maps
The Problem:
When using Google Maps to explore a location, determining whether it's dog-friendly can sometimes be unclear.
The platform lacks a specific filter for "allows dogs," and while searching for "dog-friendly restaurants" yields results, many are based on matching keywords found in review comments.
For instance, a search might return simply because a review contained the word "friendly." This highlights the challenge of reliably discerning genuine dog-friendly establishments from search results.
The Solution
Key Features
Dogs Allowed Filter
Allows users to customize their search results saving users time and effort when looking for places to visit with their pets.
Consistency and Reliability
Users will trust the pet section as a dependable source for information about dog-friendly places.
Depending on the business, the info will say either:
Dogs Allowed
Dogs Not Allowed
Unknown, contact business directly
How we Got There
Research
Competitive Analysis
I researched one direct competitor, Apple Maps, and two indirect competitors, Yelp and Trip Advisor.
After analyzing competitors, I found that all three have addressed the pet-friendliness question more than Google Maps.
Among them, Apple Maps stands out as a significant direct competitor, notably offering a dog-friendly filter option—a feature absent in Google Maps.
User Interviews
Restaurants, aside from dog parks, are the most popular places for people to bring their dogs.
60% of participants strive to bring their dogs to as many places as possible.
For all users, calling the business is seen as a last resort when researching dog-friendly places.
40% of users frequently travel with their dogs on vacation.
User Pain Points
Challenges in consistently and promptly finding information about dog-friendliness on Google Maps.
Uncertainty regarding the details of what constitutes "dog-friendly," including rules concerning leash policies and indoor vs. outdoor seating options.
2. Building Empathy
User Persona
I've developed this persona to help me better understand the common challenges dog owners encounter when taking their pets out and about
How Might We
Improve Google Maps so information on dog-friendliness is more accessible for users to find?
3. Prioritization
Feature Roadmap
Given my time and resource restraints I created this feature roadmap to guide what features to focus on initially and provide a framework for expanding and refining those features in the future.
4. Information Architecture
User Flow
I achieved the objective of enabling users to discover dog-friendly options by structuring my flow around users utilizing an "Allows Pets" filter when searching for restaurants
5. Designing a Solution
Lo-fi Wireframes
In my wireframes, users employ the 'Dogs Allowed' filter within the More Filters section to generate a precise results page featuring exclusively dog-friendly restaurants.
When viewing the business information devised two distinct options for users to access dog-friendliness information.
Option 1 closely resembles Google Maps' current design system, placing Dog Friendly details within the Accessibility section.
Option 2 enables users to access dog-friendly information directly on the initial page of the restaurant card, featured within a dedicated Key Features Section.
High Fi-Wireframes
6. Prototype & Test
Usability Testing
I conducted usability interviews with target users, specifically dog owners who use iPhones and Google Maps. Half of the participants were already familiar with the feature because I had previously interviewed them, while the other half were being interviewed for the first time.
Research Goal
The objective of the interview was to observe users' methods in locating dog-friendly restaurants
Determining their expectations regarding the placement of a "dogs allowed" filter.
Identifying where they anticipated verifying this information on the business's profile card.
Results
All users successfully found and utilized the "Dogs Allowed" filter, expressing their intention to use it if available. When seeking dog-friendly information on the restaurant card, all users opted to navigate to either the "About" section or the "See More" section, both of which led them to the correct location for verifying this information.
Every user unanimously affirmed that having the Pet section consistently located was crucial and highly beneficial to them. This section, which may vary based on the business, will indicate either "Dogs allowed," "Dogs not allowed," or "Unknown, contact business directly."
7. Iterations
Based on my research, users are keen on additional details about a business's pet-friendliness policies, including outdoor seating restrictions, dog breed regulations, and the availability of a dog menu. They prioritize understanding indoor versus outdoor seating options, especially considering weather conditions.
To address these concerns I refined my initial design by adding small info buttons to the upper right-hand corner of the Pet, Accessibility, and Children sections.
Original Design
No info buttons in the About Section
Iteration
Info buttons added to Accessibility, Pets and Children sections that align with the style currently utilized in Google Maps
Conclusion
Key Takeaways
I ensured the dog-friendly filter met user needs by market validating its demand and understanding user expectations through interviews. While I aimed to redesign how Google Maps presents business information, I had to compromise due to time and resource constraints and to avoid confusing users accustomed to the current system. This experience taught me that UX design often involves compromise and collaboration among various team members and stakeholders.
Next Steps
To proceed with implementation of the info buttons, I'll need to conduct further research with dog owners, parents, and individuals with accessibility challenges to determine the most important information to include in each section.
