Abstract

The initial inspiration for BARK came from the issues my friend Lauren encountered as a dog owner in NYC. Many city dog owners are encountering similar issues, with research showing that there are roughly 600,000 dogs in the city. That amounts to about one pet in every three homes. Despite this large number of dogs and owners, navigating through the city as dog owners is still not an easy thing. It’s frustrating sometimes as there are lots of places you cannot bring your pets into. It takes a lot of time to find local dog-friendly places and nice dog-walking routes. This raises the question: How might we foster a mutually beneficial community that enables NYC dog owners to share dog-friendly resources? BARK serves as a creative solution to these initial problems by building a community for city dog owners. The platform allows users to share and discover dog-friendly resources in the city, including places to visit and walking routes. Since navigating the city as a dog owner is so challenging, BARK strives to make it easier by providing a comprehensive database of dog-friendly resources and custom walking routes based on user preferences. Additionally, BARK offers social media and messaging features to connect city dog owners and foster a supportive community.

Research

The need for BARK arose from the experiences of city dog owners, such as my friend Lauren, who owns a lovely poodle named Marcy in NYC. As a dog owner, Lauren encountered specific issues navigating the city, such as finding dog-friendly places and routes. These experiences inspired me to research how city dog owners could better connect with dog-related resources in the city. After conducting interviews and surveys, I identified the need for a community that enables NYC dog owners to share dog-friendly resources. This led to the development of BARK, which provides access to a database of dog-friendly places and custom walking routes, along with social media and messaging features for community engagement.

Technical Details

BARK utilizes AI to generate custom dog-friendly walking routes based on user input and provides access to a comprehensive database of dog-friendly places on a map. The platform also offers social media and messaging features to connect city dog owners and foster a supportive community. With BARK, city dog owners can easily discover new dog-friendly resources and connect with other dog owners to share experiences and enhance the overall well-being of both dog and owner. Tools: UX/UI Design: Figma, Illustrator Visual Design: Figma, Illustrator, Procreate, Photoshop, Premiere Prototype: Figma