Kitty Katcher: A Map-Based App for Discovering and Reviewing Stray Cats

A playful app that lets users explore stray cats through geotagging, user reviews, and real-time location tracking.
COMPANY

Portfolio Piece

ROLE

UI / UX Designer

EXPERTISE

UX / UI Design

YEAR

2024

Project Goal

To design and prototype a playful, map-based mobile app for discovering and reviewing stray cats, serving as an exercise in map UI and light social features within a fun wrapper.

The Challenge

The core challenge was integrating map functionality, user-generated content (locations, reviews), and social features into a simple, intuitive mobile interface without making it feel complex or overwhelming.

The Solution

I designed a map-first mobile app with a simple, intuitive interface. It allows users to easily find cats on a map, leave quick reviews, and navigate to locations. Inspired by patterns from Instagram and Google Maps, the design focused on a "fun, fast, and frictionless" user experience.

My Role & Process

  1. Inspiration: Studied UI patterns from apps like Instagram and Google Maps to inform the core design.

  2. Prototyping: Used mid-fidelity prototypes early to establish layout and color direction.

  3. Feedback Workshops: Gathered feedback from friends on initial concepts and flows.

  4. User Testing: Conducted real-device testing in Figma with users (ages 11-43), iterating based on their feedback to ensure intuitiveness.

Outcome & Impact

The project resulted in a functional and engaging interactive prototype. User testing confirmed the app's intuitiveness and ease of use across a wide age range, demonstrating the effectiveness of the design decisions in creating a simple, enjoyable experience.

Key Takeaways

This project reinforced the value of rapid prototyping and user testing, even for personal projects. I learned to adapt UI patterns from successful apps to a novel concept and the importance of defining project scope, making conscious decisions (like omitting messaging) to maintain a focused and frictionless user experience.

Key Features

  • Interactive Cat Map

  • Simple Cat Reviews & Ratings

  • Favorites Functionality

  • Navigation to Cat Locations

  • Basic "Following" Feature

Design System & Aesthetic

  • Color Palette: "Tuxedo" MVP theme, explored "Oranges" and "Calico" for future customizable themes.

  • Icons: Playful, Cat-themed Iconography.

  • Typography: Fun yet Functional Font Pairings.

Deliverables

  • Interactive Figma Prototype

  • Mid-fidelity Wireframes

  • User Testing Feedback Summary

  • Color Palette & Typography Specs

  • Custom Icon Library


Collaboration

Involved feedback workshops and user testing sessions with individuals aged 11-43. This external input was crucial for validating usability and refining the design.

Challenges Faced

Integrating diverse features (map, content, social) into a simple UI without clutter was a challenge. Another key challenge was defining the project scope, leading to the deliberate decision to omit a messaging system to avoid complexities like moderation and keep the app frictionless.

Measuring Success

Success is measured by the creation of a functional, intuitive prototype and positive feedback from user testing across different age groups. Its value as a portfolio piece showcasing specific design skills is also important.


Testimonials

Sam, age 11

“I just like cats a lot”

“I wish there were more cats to pet on my walk to school! But if there are, I’ll find them and add them, and then we can all pet cats. I can’t wait to show this to (best friend) Tina!”