MEAU
MY ROLE
UX/UI Designer
TIMELINE
3 months
SERVICES
UX Research, Criação de Persona, Mapa de Empatia, Wireframe, UI Design, Design System
PROBLEM
Pet owners often struggle to book vet appointments and keep track of their pets’ medical history. Without a centralized platform to store important information — like treatments, medications, and prescriptions — it’s easy to feel disorganized and uncertain. The challenge was to design a solution that simplifies these processes, offering a digital experience that’s accessible, functional, and trustworth.
GOAL
The goal of the project was to develop an app that makes it easier for pet owners to schedule veterinary appointments and keep track of past visits, treatments, and prescribed medications. The idea was to centralize all this information in one place, providing convenience, organization, and greater peace of mind when it comes to caring for their pets’ health.
UNCOVERING REAL OPPORTUNITIES
The project started with an intense discovery phase, where I interviewed pet owners from different backgrounds — from people living alone with a single pet to families with multiple animals at home. The goal was to understand how they managed their pets’ health, what tools they used, and where they faced difficulties.
I also analyzed similar apps and services to identify existing solutions, their strengths, and where they fell short. This research revealed a clear gap: there was no simple, free, and reliable digital tool in Brazil that centralized pets’ medical history, appointment scheduling, and medication tracking — all in one place.
Desk Research
Brazil has around 140 million pets and is already the second-largest pet market in the world.
Source: Instituto Pet Brasil
Reached 154.9 thousand in November 2020 — an increase of 35.9 thousand professionals.
Source: Sistema CFMV/CRMVs, censo 2020
Brazil also ranks 3rd in the world for the largest total pet population.
Source: ABINPET
There are 54.2 million dogs and 23.9 million cats in Brazil.
Source: Instituto Pet Brasil
“Dog mom”
Goals:
To have a positive experience with digital appointment apps
To avoid crowded vet clinics during her pet’s appointments
Rotina:
Works from home
Goes out with friends on weekends
Background:
She’s been using social media and technology since childhood.
She volunteers at an animal rescue NGO.
Frustrations:
She struggles to book vet appointments online.
She always loses her pet’s vaccination card.
DEFININDO O PÚBLICO E CRIAÇÃO DA PERSONA
USER RESEARCH: WHAT DO PET OWNERS REALLY NEED?
Among the most relevant insights, I highlighted:
Most pet owners didn’t keep track of vaccination dates, follow-up appointments, or recurring medications.
Many relied on phone reminders or scattered notes, which often led to forgotten tasks or repeated information.
In emergencies, they felt lost because they couldn’t quickly access their pets’ medical history and treatments.
There was a lack of trust in apps that didn’t clearly show where pet data was going or had confusing navigation.
These insights were essential in defining the key features and guiding the product’s design.
BUILDING THE EXPERIENCE: JOURNEY & FUNCTIONALITY
BUILDING MEAU'S VISUAL IDENTITY
The main color palette is made up of soft shades of orange, pink, and green — all chosen to keep the look friendly and welcoming, while creating a strong emotional connection. Each color represents a key aspect of the relationship between pet owners and their pets:
Orange was chosen to convey energy, warmth, and encouragement. It invites action — perfect for interactive elements like appointment buttons or medication alerts. Orange also reflects the joy and liveliness of pets, helping create a positive emotional bond.
Pink represents care, affection, and emotional connection. As a sensitive and nurturing color, it reinforces the idea that MEAU is more than just a tool — it’s a safe, comforting space for pet owners to care for their animals.
Green is tied to health, balance, and calm. This tone was used especially in areas related to medical history and pet health status, as it inspires trust and conveys stability — both essential for medical information.
Together, these colors create an empathetic and functional atmosphere. None of them are harsh on the eyes or conflict with accessibility — contrast levels were carefully adjusted to ensure readability and visual comfort across different screens and environments.
Beyond color, MEAU’s identity also includes rounded typefaces that convey softness and friendliness, along with illustrative icons that add a playful tone to the app without compromising usability.
INTERACTIVE PROTOTYPE
RESULTS & LESSONS LEARNED
Although this project didn’t go through testing with real users, it brought me meaningful learning throughout the entire process. From the first interviews to delivering the prototype, every step helped me sharpen my perspective as a designer and make more intentional decisions.
The main outcome was the creation of a functional, empathetic solution centered on the real needs of pet owners — backed by insights from interviews, competitor analysis, and UX best practice benchmarks. With each discovery, I adjusted the course of the project to make sure MEAU addressed real pain points, like lack of organization, forgetting important care routines, and the absence of trustworthy tools.
During the development of the app, I learned to:
Translate user pain points into concrete features, prioritizing those that would have the most immediate impact;
Balance practicality and emotional warmth in the interface, respecting the deep bond between pets and their owners;
Design clear, intuitive flows even without formal validation, by relying on empathy and observed behavior patterns;
Build a visual identity that aligns with the emotional purpose of the product, without compromising accessibility.
This project reinforced something I truly believe in: even without a dev team, a testing budget, or analytics, it’s possible to make thoughtful, consistent design decisions by listening to users, studying best practices, and designing with intention.
MEAU hasn’t launched yet, but it’s ready to grow. In future phases, I plan to conduct user testing, validate flows and features in real-world contexts, and add new layers like gamification and integration with vet clinics.