Page 86 - Jennifer Mooney

REFLECTION
Summary & Reflections
Significance of the Research
The literature review highlighted alarming statistics, with roughly 3,000
dogs in rescue shelters and an increase in surrendered pets post-Covid,
alongside modern societal shifts towards recognising the importance of
pet companionship for mental health and emotional well-being. However,
misconceptions regarding shelter animals and their behaviour and
health still serve as significant barriers to adoption, preventing potential
adopters from making informed decisions. This illustrates a pressing
need for solutions that address both awareness, support services, and
the challenges surrounding the adoption process.
The importance of this research lies in its potential to encourage
systemic changes, and these design solutions aim to bridge the gap
between potential adopters and animal welfare organisations. By
considering both qualitative and quantitative data, the research shows
diverse perspectives, arguing that enhancing understanding around
pet care is not just an individual benefit but a societal necessity. This
addresses the growing trends of people returning adopted pets due
to behavioural issues post-adoption. These findings resonate with
existing literature, indicating that informed pet ownership leads to more
successful adoption outcomes.
Limitations
Some limitations may included unwillingness by professionals to conduct
interviews, as well as the geographical and time limitations to travel to
such animal organisations for in-person interviews. Another limitation
included not being able to find enough participants for interviews who
have adopted from rescue organisations within the time frame provided
to conclude this thesis.
Chapter 7: Reflection
Design Process
Utilising the double-diamond design methodology, the research moved
from discovering the landscape of pet adoption in Ireland through
extensive literature review and stakeholder analysis to defining the
problem and ideating solutions. The research and design process
remained user-centric, heavily focusing on empathising with the diverse
demographic groups including potential adopters, existing pet adopter/
owners, and animal welfare organisations.
By conducting two different surveys, aimed at the every-day users
and the professionals in the industry, this allowed the researcher to
gain a comprehensive understanding of the motivations and barriers
encountered by all involved. This iterative design process emphasised
defining core issues, particularly behavioural concerns surrounding
shelter animals, which were identified as a primary deterrent for
adoption. Conducting surveys with animal shelters can reveal insights
that are not available in existing literature, reinforcing the necessity of
bridging support for prospective adopters before and after adopting
their pets.
The ideation phase brought the researcher to the idea of designing
two distinct but complementary design solutions - a digital application
tailored for pet training and support from both professionals and other
pet owners, and an informative brochure providing essential information
about pet care and rescue pet behaviours. Creating empathy maps and
user personas aided in understanding user needs more deeply and led
to the development of solutions catering to user goals.