Lev — Map
Duration: 3 months
Tools: Figma | Jira | Mixpanel
Context
Lev is an app created to help dog owners find new pet-friendly spots, connect with fellow dog owners, earn rewards, and use 'bones' currency in the Lev marketplace.
Challenge
As dog ownership continues to rise, so does the demand for pet owners to easily find dog-friendly spaces.
Dog owners looking to explore their neighborhoods with their dogs need an app that provides access to spaces that are approved by fellow dog owners.
Our Approach
Lev's improved map feature enhances the user experience by simplifying location submission and exploration. While Uber and Google Maps share similar capabilities, they differ in how they guide users toward their goals. For instance, Uber's map marker stays centered for easy pin drops, while Google’s marker follows the user’s location, allowing for free exploration. By evaluating these UI elements, we started to map out an approach to create the most effective and user-friendly journey for our users.
User Research: Key Takeaways
Adding New Locations
The previous design made adding a location to the map unintuitive, relying on the assumption that users would tap and hold.
In our redesign, we added map tools to make features like location filtering, redirecting to the user's current location, hiding profile visibility, and adding new locations more explicit.
Verifying Locations
The validity of locations was in question, so we introduced a verification process for all newly added locations. This ensures that every spot on the map is dog-friendly and approved by dog owners.
Discovering New Users Through The Map
The previous design did not encourage users to connect with other dog owners, which was a key aspect of discovery.
To motivate users to interact and discover other dog-owners in their area, we created profiles for dogs and owners, allowing them to add each other as friends.
Results
Data collected from March 2024 to January 2025 reveals an average 60% monthly increase in location additions. Although some locations still need verification, the redesign has successfully boosted user activity.
What’s Next?
We discovered two distinct use cases - sharing posts to the Lev feed and discovering new locations through the map. To bridge this gap, we developed location tags for posts, allowing users to share updates to the feed when visiting specific locations, which will then contribute to location profiles.