Animal Rescue App
Animal Rescue is a mobile app concept that helps anyone quickly report an injured, trapped, or distressed animal through a simple, guided experience. I designed the concept for users of all ages and technical abilities, removing the guesswork by collecting only the information rescue teams actually need.
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Why this project?
Animals have always been a big part of my life. Growing up with pets, riding horses, and spending years watching rescue and wildlife programs gave me an appreciation for both the joy animals bring and the difficult situations they sometimes find themselves in.
This project grew from that connection. I wanted to explore how thoughtful UX could help someone who unexpectedly encounters an animal in need, replacing panic and uncertainty with a calm, guided experience.
The goal wasn't to build a tool for rescuers, but to empower everyday people to become the first link in the rescue chain.
Goals & Objectives
Fast emergency reporting
Capture essential details
Prioritize reporter safety
Adapt across animal types
Research and Insights
This project was driven by a personal desire rather than a formal research process, so the early design relied on assumption mapping instead of traditional user research.
To reduce bias, I sought feedback from two different perspectives. A fellow UX designer challenged the interaction logic, helping uncover potential edge cases and influencing decisions around user accountability. I also tested the reporting flow with older adults to ensure the interface remained intuitive for users with varying levels of digital confidence.
Although this provided valuable early validation, it doesn't replace research with rescue organizations or testing under real-world conditions. Those would be the next steps in developing the concept further.
Design Process
The design process centered around reducing stress through clarity. Every visual and interaction decision was made to help users move through the reporting flow with as little friction as possible.
To support this, I developed a simple visual identity using a natural color palette, approachable typography, and an easily recognizable logo. These elements work together to create a calm, accessible experience while allowing important moments, such as safety warnings, to stand out when they matter most.
Designing the Experience
Every screen was designed to reduce uncertainty and cognitive load. The following walkthrough explores the reporting flow through a real-world scenario, explaining not only what users see, but why each interaction was designed the way it was—and how the experience supports both confident and uncertain reporters.
To demonstrate the reporting flow, I'll follow one realistic scenario: someone reporting an injured jackal. Along the way, I'll highlight how the same experience adapts for users who are less certain about what they're seeing.
The First Step
The first step of the report establishes context without expecting users to know the "right" answer. Instead of forcing a precise classification, the flow begins with broad categories—Wild, Pet, Farm, or Unclear—allowing users to continue even if they're uncertain.
To avoid creating dead ends, the selection simply guides the experience rather than restricting it. For example, a user reporting a bird can still find the correct species later in the flow, regardless of which category they initially chose. The goal is to reduce uncertainty.
Search Function
The species grid adapts to the user's context, prioritizing animals based on previous selections and location. In this scenario, the reporter already knows they're looking at a jackal, so they can simply select it from the grid and continue.
The search, however, is designed for uncertainty. Typing "Do" surfaces results like Dog, Dog-like, and Donkey, helping users even when they're unsure of the exact species. The Dog-like option intentionally uses a question mark instead of a photo, avoiding the false confidence that an exact image might create.
Each entry also includes descriptive tags, such as Domestic, Small, or Furry, allowing users to identify an animal by its characteristics rather than its name. The goal is to ensure that uncertainty doesn't become a dead end.
Animal's Condition
As users provide more information, the app evaluates combinations of animal type and condition to determine when a safety warning is appropriate. Wild and certain Farm animals showing signs of injury, entrapment, unusual behavior, or death trigger a warning, while lower-risk situations do not. This prevents unnecessary warnings that users may learn to ignore.
Certain conditions, such as Acting Strangely, are treated as high-risk regardless of species. By prioritizing reporter safety, the interface encourages users to keep their distance whenever the situation could pose a danger.
Animal's Location
Getting an accurate location is essential, but GPS alone isn't always enough. While coordinates can guide rescuers to the general area, they often miss the details that make an animal easy to find, such as a nearby landmark, dirt road, or fence line.
To support different situations, users can either share their current location or manually enter an address or landmark. An optional notes field complements either method, allowing reporters to add contextual details that only someone on-site would know. The goal is to give rescue teams both precise coordinates and practical directions, increasing the chances of a faster response.
User Contact Details
The final screen gives users a chance to review and verify their report before submission. A summary card displays every response in one place, while editable sections make it easy to correct mistakes without repeating the entire process.
Contact information is automatically carried over from the introduction screen, reducing unnecessary input while ensuring rescue teams have a reliable way to reach the reporter if additional information is needed.
In this scenario, the reporter quickly reviews the report, confirms the details, and submits it.
Final Step
The confirmation screen reassures users that their report has been received while providing visibility into what happens next through a simple status tracker.
The tracker intentionally reflects only what the system can confidently confirm, from the report being filed to the rescue team being notified. The design sets realistic expectations while giving users confidence that their report is progressing.
With the report submitted, the reporter's role is complete, and the rescue process can continue with the information they've provided.
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Building a calm visual language
Because users may interact with the app during stressful situations, I wanted the interface to feel reassuring rather than clinical.
Color palette
A natural green palette became the foundation of the design, creating consistency across the reporting flow while subtly reinforcing the connection to animal welfare and the outdoors. Red is intentionally reserved for safety warnings only, giving those moments visual authority without creating unnecessary alarm elsewhere.
Logo and typography
The location-pin logo with a paw print reflects the app's purpose in a single recognizable mark, while Nunito and Nunito Sans provide a balance between warmth, readability, and professionalism.
Nunito - Headings and Subheadings
Nunito Sands - Body and Label Text
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Prototyping & Usability Testing
Building an interactive prototype in Figma was essential for evaluating the experience as a complete flow rather than a collection of individual screens. It allowed me to assess pacing, transitions, and whether the reporting process felt like one continuous conversation instead of a series of disconnected forms.
Testing was intentionally informal. I loosely walked both my parents through the prototype to evaluate the clarity of the language, navigation, and overall flow. Combined with feedback from another UX designer, this helped validate both usability and interaction logic before refining the design.
The biggest limitation was context. My testers completed the flow in a calm environment, whereas the app is intended for moments of stress and uncertainty. Future iterations would benefit from testing with rescue organizations and participants in more realistic, time-sensitive scenarios.
Reflection
As a lifelong animal lover, this project gave me the opportunity to combine something personal with the way I approach UX design.
The biggest was learning how many small design decisions contribute to reducing stress. Every "Not Sure" option, every contextual warning, every pre-filled field, and every opportunity to edit without starting over came from asking the same question: What would make this easier for someone who's already overwhelmed?
Looking ahead, I'd want to replace assumptions with evidence by working directly with wildlife organizations, veterinarians, and rescue volunteers. Their feedback would help refine the information collected and ensure the app supports real rescue workflows as effectively as possible.
