Role
Role
UX Research, User Interview, UI Design,
Usability Testing, Visual Design
UI/UX Designer · Visual Designer · User Researcher
Timeline
Timeline
Mar 2025 - May 2025
Mar 2025 - May 2025
Slinkie
Slinkie
A Fun-Sized World for Pets
Who Don’t Bark or Meow
A Fun-Sized World for Pets
Who Don’t Bark or Meow
about the project
about the project
Reptile care meets human connection—
for a community that’s long been overlooked
Reptile care meets human connection—
or an often-overlooked community
I’m not (yet) an exotic pet owner, but I’ve always been drawn to reptiles—especially Crested Geckos and Snakes. When I began seriously considering keeping one, I did what most curious people would do: I started researching. I downloaded apps, browsed forums, asked AI, and even spoke to reptile-owning friends. The result? A mix of disappointment and realization.
Through dozens of conversations, I heard the same frustrations—difficulty finding vets, isolation from community, uncertainty around daily care. But I also saw potential: the rise of AI, the growing popularity of exotic pets, and a user group that genuinely needs better tools.
That’s how Slinkie was born—a playful, smart, and community-minded platform built not just for pet health, but for human connection too. Because exotic pets deserve better. And so do the people who love them.
I’m not (yet) an exotic pet owner, but I’ve always been drawn to reptiles—especially Crested Geckos and Snakes. When I began seriously considering keeping one, I did what most curious people would do: I started researching. I downloaded apps, browsed forums, asked AI, and even spoke to reptile-owning friends. The result? A mix of disappointment and realization.
Through dozens of conversations, I heard the same frustrations—difficulty finding vets, isolation from community, uncertainty around daily care. But I also saw potential: the rise of AI, the growing popularity of exotic pets, and a user group that genuinely needs better tools.
That’s how Slinkie was born—a playful, smart, and community-minded platform built not just for pet health, but for human connection too. Because exotic pets deserve better. And so do the people who love them.
UX Research
UX Research
0.1
Challenges Facing
the Exotic Pet Community
0.1
Challenges Facing
the Exotic Pet Community
0.2
Market Insight Overview
0.2
Market Insight Overview
0.3
Voices of Reptile Owners
0.3
Voices of Reptile Owners
What Reptile Owners Are Struggling With
What Reptile Owners Are Struggling With
What Reptile Owners Are Looking For
What Reptile Owners Are Looking For
Cats & Dogs Are Surrounded by Support
Cats & Dogs Are Surrounded by Support
But Reptiles Are Surrounded by Glass
But Reptiles Are Surrounded by Glass
Unlike cats and dogs, reptile owners are often left out of the digital pet care conversation. The tools that do exist are either poorly designed, painfully limited, or simply uninviting. Meanwhile, exotic pet owners face real challenges: finding reliable care, accessing accurate information, and feeling understood in a world where their pets are often misunderstood.
Unlike cats and dogs, reptile owners are often left out of the digital pet care conversation. The tools that do exist are either poorly designed, painfully limited, or simply uninviting. Meanwhile, exotic pet owners face real challenges: finding reliable care, accessing accurate information, and feeling understood in a world where their pets are often misunderstood.
View Source
View Source
1.
Only 10% of U.S. veterinarians specialize in exotic pets, while 90% are trained primarily for cats and dogs.
1.
Only 10% of U.S. veterinarians specialize in exotic pets, while 90% are trained primarily for cats and dogs.
2.
Fewer than 5% of the top 100 pet care apps are designed for exotic pets. 70% of the top 10 “reptile pet” apps haven’t been updated in over a year
2.
Fewer than 5% of the top 100 pet care apps are designed for exotic pets. 70% of the top 10 “reptile pet” apps haven’t been updated in over a year
3.
Over 6 million households in the U.S. now own reptiles—a steady increase driven largely by Gen Z.
3.
Over 6 million households in the U.S. now own reptiles—a steady increase driven largely by Gen Z.
Conclusion...
Reptile ownership is rising—but tools and care options still lag far behind.
Conclusion...
Reptile ownership is rising—but tools and care options still lag far behind.
Based on 2016–2024 U.S. pet ownership data from APPA.
Based on 2016–2024 U.S. pet ownership data from APPA.
“My lizard gets sick, Google gives me 8 different answers, but I still don’t know what to do.”
“My lizard gets sick, Google gives me 8 different answers, but I still don’t know what to do.”
“My friends think snake are creepy. I have no one to share stories with.”
“My friends think snake are creepy. I have no one to share stories with.”
Data gathered through surveys.
Data gathered through surveys.
100%
100%
of surveyed reptile owners reported difficulty accessing qualified exotic pet veterinarians.
of surveyed reptile owners reported difficulty accessing qualified exotic pet veterinarians.
said daily medical care and support are difficult to access.
said daily medical care and support are difficult to access.
75%
75%
66.7%
66.7%
lack reliable tools to manage feeding, health tracking, and daily care.
lack reliable tools to manage feeding, health tracking, and daily care.
41.7%
41.7%
feel socially isolated, with limited chances to connect and share their exotic pet experience.
feel socially isolated, with limited chances to connect and share their exotic pet experience.
smart tool to
TRACK DAILY CARE
smart tool to
TRACK DAILY CARE
a trusted, like-minded
COMMUNITY of fellow owners
a trusted, like-minded
COMMUNITY of fellow owners
accurate, real-time
HABITAT INSIGHTS
accurate, real-time
HABITAT INSIGHTS
streamlined access to
EXPERT VET advice
streamlined access to
EXPERT VET advice
UX Design
UX Design
0.1
Dashboard - Stay informed with live habitat data. See what your pet sees. Feel what they feel.
0.1
Dashboard - Stay informed with live habitat data. See what your pet sees. Feel what they feel.
0.2
Reptile Help - Explore trusted info and get help when it matters.
0.2
Reptile Help - Explore trusted info and get help when it matters.
Usability Test
Usability Test
Iterations
Iterations
Iteration 1:
Improve Feeding Calendar Clarity with Visual Status Dots
Iteration 1:
Improve Feeding Calendar Clarity with Visual Status Dots
Feedback:
Over 65% of users reported that the icon-based feeding log felt cluttered and hard to interpret. Many struggled to quickly understand what days their pet had been fed or missed a meal.
Feedback:
Over 65% of users reported that the icon-based feeding log felt cluttered and hard to interpret. Many struggled to quickly understand what days their pet had been fed or missed a meal.
Design Change:
Replaced stacked icons with bold, color-coded dots—green for fed, red for missed—allowing users to instantly recognize status on the calendar.
Design Change:
Replaced stacked icons with bold, color-coded dots—green for fed, red for missed—allowing users to instantly recognize status on the calendar.
first version
first version
final version
final version
Result:
Visual comprehension improved significantly.
81% of users completed their feeding review faster, and reported higher confidence managing schedules.
Result:
Visual comprehension improved significantly.
81% of users completed their feeding review faster, and reported higher confidence managing schedules.
Key Takeaways
Key Takeaways
Joyful design only works when it helps users move with confidence.
Slinkie began as a tool-first idea—built to track care, support reptile owners, and fill a functional gap. But early interviews revealed something I didn’t expect: this community is playful, expressive, and deeply bonded with their pets.
That insight shifted the direction. The product needed to feel joyful—not just useful. Visuals became bolder, interactions more fun. But usability testing reminded me of an essential truth: delight can’t come at the expense of clarity. In moments where personality overshadowed legibility, users lost confidence.
Joyful design only works when it helps users move with confidence. The final experience balances utility with expression—supporting what users need, while reflecting who they are.
Slinkie started with a utility-first mindset—aimed at addressing functional gaps in reptile care. But early research uncovered a more nuanced user base: expressive, open to experimentation, and deeply bonded with their pets.
This insight reshaped the design direction toward a more playful, emotionally attuned product. However, usability testing revealed an important lesson—visual personality must never come at the expense of clarity.
Ultimately, this project reinforced a key principle: strong design balances output (what we build) with outcome (what it enables for users). By grounding expressive visuals in intuitive interaction, Slinkie evolved into a product that not only reflects its audience—but also truly supports them.
Iteration 2:
Improve Trust and Clarity in Permission Prompt
Iteration 2:
Improve Trust and Clarity in Permission Prompt
Feedback:
Users said the original screen felt more like a marketing splash than a system prompt—undermining trust and reducing action clarity.
Feedback:
Users said the original screen felt more like a marketing splash than a system prompt—undermining trust and reducing action clarity.
Design Change:
Switched to a standard dialog layout with clear action buttons and a concise explanation of why location access is needed.
Design Change:
Switched to a standard dialog layout with clear action buttons and a concise explanation of why location access is needed.
first version
first version
final version
final version
Result:
+35% increase in permission acceptance during testing. Users felt the prompt was more legitimate and purpose-driven.
Result:
+35% increase in permission acceptance during testing. Users felt the prompt was more legitimate and purpose-driven.
0.3
Slinkie World - A playful space to connect, share, and interact—where can meet community and fun
0.3
Slinkie World - A playful space to connect, share, and interact—where can meet community and fun
1 Habitat Vitals
Monitor temperature and humidity in real time.
1 Habitat Vitals
Monitor temperature and humidity in real time.
2 UV Zone
Adjust UV lighting from your phone with species-specific, nature-based modes
2 UV Zone
Adjust UV lighting from your phone with species-specific, nature-based modes
3 Feeding Hub
A smart, intuitive feeding calendar that lets you review past feedings, set reminders, and plan ahead
3 Feeding Hub
A smart, intuitive feeding calendar that lets you review past feedings, set reminders, and plan ahead
1 Reptile Reads
Access species-specific care guides built by AI from trusted sources to help owner learn faster and care better.
2 Ask Rizzo
An AI assistant trained on trusted reptile care sources to provide users a fast and reliable answers.
1 Pocket Pet
Create a 3D pet, place it in scenic habitats, and snap fun auto-generated poses—like raising a pocket-sized version of your reptile.
1 Pocket Pet
Create a 3D pet, place it in scenic habitats, and snap fun auto-generated poses—like raising a pocket-sized version of your reptile.
2 Geopaw
Find nearby exotic pet owners through the community map and start connecting with people who share your passion.
2 Geopaw
Find nearby exotic pet owners through the community map and start connecting with people who share your passion.
2 Ask Rizzo
An AI assistant trained on trusted reptile care sources to provide users a fast and reliable answers.
3 ReptiVet Live
Easily reach out to exotic vets by choosing your pet and sharing their health details. Consult exotic vets online and get professional advice.
4 Health Hub-Growth Log
Track weight, length, and shedding cycles—get insights and predictions to support healthy growth.
4 Health Hub-Growth Log
Track weight, length, and shedding cycles—get insights and predictions to support healthy growth.
4 Health Hub-Health Support
Get instant AI answers to simple health questions about your pet, and revisit past vet chats
4 Health Hub-Health Support
Get instant AI answers to simple health questions about your pet, and revisit past vet chats
Iterations
Usability Test
first version
final version
0.3
Voices of Reptile Owners
What Reptile Owners
Are Struggling With
What Reptile Owners
Are Looking For
“My lizard gets sick, Google gives me 8 different answers, but I still don’t know what to do.”
“My friends think snake are creepy. I have no one to share stories with.”
Data gathered through surveys.
100%
of surveyed reptile owners reported difficulty accessing qualified exotic pet veterinarians.
said daily medical care and support are difficult to access.
75%
66.7%
lack reliable tools to manage feeding, health tracking, and daily care.
41.7%
feel socially isolated, with limited chances to connect and share their exotic pet experience.
streamlined access to
EXPERT VET advice
smart tool to
TRACK DAILY CARE
accurate, real-time
HABITAT INSIGHTS
a trusted, like-minded
COMMUNITY of fellow owners
Only 10% of U.S. veterinarians specialize in exotic pets, while 90% are trained primarily for cats and dogs.
94%
6%
1
Vet Availability
by Pet Type
Exotic Pets
Mainstream Pets
90%
10%
View Source
Fewer than 5% of the top 100 pet care apps are designed for exotic pets. 70% of the top 10 “reptile pet” apps haven’t been updated in over a year
94%
6%
2
Digital
Support Gap
Exotic Pets
Mainstream Pets
95%
5%
Reptile ownership is rising—
but tools and care options still lag far behind.
0.2
Market Insight Overview
3
U.S. Reptile Ownership Growth
Millions
4.9
4.7
4.5
5.7
6
2016
2018
2020
2022
2024
Based on 2016–2024 U.S. pet ownership data from APPA.
Over 6 million households in the U.S. now own reptiles—a steady increase driven largely by Gen Z.
Unlike cats and dogs, reptile owners are often left out of the digital pet care conversation. The tools that do exist are either poorly designed, painfully limited, or simply uninviting. Meanwhile, exotic pet owners face real challenges: finding reliable care, accessing accurate information, and feeling understood in a world where their pets are often misunderstood.
Cats & Dogs Are
Surrounded by Support
But Reptiles Are
Surrounded by Glass
0.1
Challenges Facing
the Exotic Pet Community
UX Research
about the project
Where reptile care meets real connection
—built for an overlooked community
about the project
I’m not (yet) an exotic pet owner, but I’ve always been drawn to reptiles—especially Crested Geckos and Snakes. When I began seriously considering keeping one, I did what most curious people would do: I started researching. I downloaded apps, browsed forums, asked AI, and even spoke to reptile-owning friends. The result? A mix of disappointment and realization.
Through dozens of conversations, I heard the same frustrations—difficulty finding vets, isolation from community, uncertainty around daily care. But I also saw potential: the rise of AI, the growing popularity of exotic pets, and a user group that genuinely needs better tools.
That’s how Slinkie was born—a playful, smart, and community-minded platform built not just for pet health, but for human connection too. Because exotic pets deserve better. And so do the people who love them.
A Fun-Sized World for Pets
Who Don’t Bark or Meow
Reptile care meets human connection—
for a community that’s long been overlooked
about the project
Iteration 1:
Improve Feeding Calendar Clarity with Visual Status Dots
Feedback:
Over 65% of users reported that the icon-based feeding log felt cluttered and hard to interpret. Many struggled to quickly understand what days their pet had been fed or missed a meal.
Result:
Visual comprehension improved significantly. 81% of users completed their feeding review faster, and reported higher confidence managing schedules.
Design Change:
Replaced stacked icons with bold, color-coded dots—green for fed, red for missed—allowing users to instantly recognize status on the calendar.
Iteration 2:
Improve Trust and Clarity in Permission Prompt
Feedback:
Users said the original screen felt more like a marketing splash than a system prompt—undermining trust and reducing action clarity.
Result:
+35% increase in permission acceptance during testing. Users felt the prompt was more legitimate and purpose-driven.
Design Change:
Switched to a standard dialog layout with clear action buttons and a concise explanation of why location access is needed.
Key Takeaways
Joyful design only works when it helps users move with confidence.
Slinkie started with a utility-first mindset—aimed at addressing functional gaps in reptile care. But early research uncovered a more nuanced user base: expressive, open to experimentation, and deeply bonded with their pets.
This insight reshaped the design direction toward a more playful, emotionally attuned product. However, usability testing revealed an important lesson—visual personality must never come at the expense of clarity.
Ultimately, this project reinforced a key principle: strong design balances output (what we build) with outcome (what it enables for users). By grounding expressive visuals in intuitive interaction, Slinkie evolved into a product that not only reflects its audience—but also truly supports them.
first version
final version
UX Design
0.1
Dashboard
Stay informed with live habitat data. See what your pet sees. Feel what they feel.
Habitat Vitals
Monitor temperature and humidity in real time.
UV Zone
Adjust UV lighting from your phone with species-specific, nature-based modes
Feeding Hub
A smart, intuitive feeding calendar that lets you review past feedings, set reminders, and plan ahead
Health Hub - Growth Log
Track weight, length, and shedding cycles—get insights and predictions to support healthy growth.
Health Hub - Health Support
Get instant AI answers to simple health questions about your pet, and revisit past vet chats
0.2
Reptile Help
Explore trusted info and get help when it matters.
Reptile Reads
Access species-specific care guides built by AI from trusted sources to help owner learn faster and care better.
ReptiVet Live
Easily reach out to exotic vets by choosing your pet and sharing their health details. Consult exotic vets online and get professional advice.
Ask Rizzo
An AI assistant trained on trusted reptile care sources to provide users a fast and reliable answers.
0.3
Slinkie World
A playful space to connect, share, and interact—where can meet community and fun
Geopaw
Find nearby exotic pet owners through the community map and start connecting with people who share your passion.
Pocket Pet
Create a 3D pet, place it in scenic habitats, and snap fun auto-generated poses—like raising a pocket-sized version of your reptile.
