Your guide to fostering without the guesswork.
Fetchr is a mobile app designed to make the pet fostering process easier. It connects shelters and rescue organizations with potential fosters, allowing them to browse available pets and express interest in fostering. By providing a simple and efficient way to connect, Fetchr helps shelters create space for more animals while giving foster pets a safe environment to heal, grow, and receive the care they need until they find their forever homes.
My Role
UX/UI Designer & Researcher
Deliverables
user research and testing, wireframes, prototypes
Read Time
10 minutes
The Problem
01
Addressing the Gap in Pet Fostering
Fostering animals isn’t a new concept, but it often goes unnoticed by those who love animals and want to help. The current process requires applying through individual shelters and contacting them directly—an approach that can feel tedious, uninviting, and inaccessible to those unfamiliar with fostering.
For those not ready to adopt, fostering offers a meaningful way to experience companionship or provide temporary care for an animal in need. By making fostering more accessible, we can help more people familiarize themselves with pets and provide animals a warm, safe place they need to get their bearings and prepare for the next step.
User Research
02
Insights That Shape Design
These insights were gathered through a survey of potential fosters and interviews with individuals who have previously fostered pets. The responses highlighted common barriers such as complex application processes and underscored the need for a simpler, more accessible fostering solution.
93% of respondents cited barriers that prevented them from fostering, including complicated application processes, lack of awareness, and uncertainty about responsibilities.
"I would love to foster, but every shelter has a different process, and it’s overwhelming. If there were a simpler way to connect with shelters, I’d definitely do it."
-Anonymous
"I’ve fostered before, and while it’s incredibly rewarding, the process of getting started was more complicated than it needed to be. A simpler process would definitely help get more people involved, and we need the help!"
-Anonymous
User Persona
User Flow
Wireframe Sketches
03
Layouts and Navigation Concepts
In the initial wireframe sketches, navigation was centered around a hamburger menu. However, after quick usability testing, it became clear that unnecessary pages could be condensed, and the multiple clicks required by the hamburger menu added friction.
As a result, the navigation was streamlined to a more intuitive bottom navigation bar. Additionally, the sketches revealed the need for a simpler onboarding process to better accommodate the initial questions for potential foster guardians, ensuring a smoother and faster start to the fostering journey.
Iteration
04
Low-Fi Wireframes
Evolving Through Iteration
Major improvements were made through iterative testing to streamline the user experience and reduce cognitive load.
Drawing from Hick’s Law—the principle that increasing the number of choices increases decision time—the app shifted to a swipe-based interaction for browsing animals. This eliminated endless scrolling and instead presented users with tailored options based on their initial sign-up responses.
Swiping right saves an animal to a dedicated page, allowing users to thoughtfully revisit their choices before committing to foster—acknowledging the weight of the decision while still making the process intuitive and engaging.
The onboarding process was also simplified by centering it around general questions commonly required by shelters when reviewing applicants. This allows shelters and rescues to assess potential fosters based on their own criteria while keeping the process user-friendly and approachable for those new to fostering.
Other pages were simplified using the principle of chunking, breaking information into digestible sections to reduce cognitive load. This, combined with a cleaner visual hierarchy and more engaging aesthetic, helps guide users seamlessly through the app.
Design System
05
Typography
Color Palette
The Fetchr color pallete is centered around a bright green, inspired by the tennis ball icon in the app.
Hex: #A7C957
RGB: 167, 201, 87
Hex: #F8F9FA
RGB: 248, 249, 250
Hex: #001219
RGB: 0, 18, 25
Hex: #EF233C
RGB: 239, 35, 60
Hex: #FCBF49
RGB: 252, 191, 73
Hex: #001219
RGB: 0, 18, 25
Logo
Illustrations & Iconography
User Testing
06
Refining Through Real Feedback
User testing played a crucial role in validating and improving Fetchr’s design. Two rounds of testing were conducted. Final testing included three participants, all of whom shared that the simplified swipe interaction, structured onboarding, and multi-step applying process made the app feel approachable and easy to use—even for first-time fosterers. Participants also noted that the gradual flow toward officially applying gave them a stronger sense of confidence—both in their decision to foster and in the app’s reliability.
User 1
"I loved that I wasn’t thrown into a commitment. The steps made it feel like I had time to think, which made me feel more confident."
User 2
"Even though I’ve never fostered before, the app made everything feel clear and doable."
User 3
"The swipe feature made browsing animals fun and easy—way better than scrolling through a long list."
Final Design Solution & Prototype
07
Highlights
Fostering One Swipe at a Time
As an alternative to scrolling through a long list, Fetchr utilizes a profile-swiping feature that makes discovering foster animals feel fun and engaging. This interaction keeps the experience light while helping users connect more easily with pets that match their lifestyle and preferences.
Get to Know Your Foster
Each animal profile offers a brief bio written by the shelter, along with any physical or behavioral needs to ensure the right fit. The profile also includes the shelter’s location and a direct link to their website—giving users access to more information and even the potential to adopt if they fall in love.
Confirm with Confidence
While you consider your options and prepare to care for a foster animal, your saved pets are safely stored. Apply officially when you’re ready—no pressure, just support.
Your Foster Journey
Keep track of your current applications, view updates from shelters, and revisit the animals you’ve helped in the past. Your profile acts as a central hub—giving shelters key info about you, while keeping you informed every step of the way.