Meowspace

A Home for Every Cat Post

January 2024

4 months

Role: Lead Designer

CONTEXT

No clutter, just cats

Meowspace is a social media platform made for cat lovers to share photos, connect with fellow enthusiasts, and celebrate their feline friends without the clutter of traditional platforms. As Lead Designer, I focused on creating a seamless and delightful experience centered around community and easy sharing.

RESEARCH

Identifying the gap

Unlike broader platforms like Facebook or Instagram, Meowspace focuses solely on cat content, making it easier for users to engage with a like-minded community. I began my design process with research, utilizing perceptual mapping and user flows to better understand user needs.

To better understand the needs of MeowSpace users, I created three personas representing different types of cat lovers. Each persona highlights unique motivations, frustrations, and goals, helping to guide the design decisions toward a more tailored and community-focused platform.

Needs

• Dedicated space for cat content without distractions
• A way to connect with other cat lovers and pet influencers
• Features that make sharing and discovering cat content easy

Needs

A dedicated space for cat content without distractions, a way to connect with other cat lovers, and features that make sharing and discovering cat content easy.

Wants

• Engagement tools such as likes, comments, and share for content
• Opportunities for monetization and collaboration for businesses
• User-friendly interface that is seamless and intuitive

Engagement tools such as likes, comments, and share for content, opportunities for monetization and collaboration for businesses, and user-friendly interface that is seamless and intuitive

Frustrations

• Lack of content focus on traditional social media apps
• Unpredictable algorithm affecting feed, reach, and engagement
• Fragmented experience, juggling multiple apps

Lack of content focus on traditional social media apps, unpredictable algorithm affecting feed, reach, and engagement, and fragmented experience due to juggling apps.

I created user flows for uploading, purchasing, and sharing content to ensure a smooth, intuitive experience. This visual representation helps ensure that users can easily navigate the app, enhancing both functionality and engagement. By mapping these processes, I can refine the app’s design to meet user needs while streamlining their interactions.

DEVELOPMENT

Approach and solution

My design approach for Meowspace centered around creating a focused, community-driven space for cat lovers. Through research, I identified key frustrations users faced with traditional social media platforms — mainly cluttered feeds and fragmented experiences. With this in mind, I first started with a moodboard to help visualize and take inspiration from.

I wanted to blend proven designs with fresh ideas inspired by my moodboard. Rather than focusing solely on app interfaces, I drew inspiration from fashion studios and avant-garde stores, which are uniquely designed with bold colors, lines, and shapes.

Logo development

My sketches experimented with different ways to integrate cat-related imagery—such as paws, ears, and tails—directly into the typography. Some concepts emphasized simplicity, using bold linework and minimal shapes, while others were hand-drawn cats and playful curves. Throughout this exploration, I focused on balancing a sense of fun with a clean, approachable feel that would appeal to a wide audience of cat enthusiasts.

Color

Meowspace is designed to be a welcoming and playful social platform for cat enthusiasts, so the visual style balances simplicity, warmth, and fun. The soft pastel color palette, clean typography, and intuitive UI elements create a friendly and engaging experience without overwhelming users.

Typography

I chose VW Head as the typeface for both headings and body copy to create a consistent and cohesive visual identity. I established a clear typescale, across headings 1–6, body text, and subtext to create a clear hierarchy and guide users’ attention through each screen. This structured typescale ensures readability and clarity, helping users quickly find and understand content without feeling overwhelmed.

I chose VW Head as the typeface for both headings and body copy to create a consistent and cohesive visual identity. I established a clear typescale, across headings 1–6, body text, and subtext to create a clear hierarchy and guide users through each screen. This structured typescale ensures readability and clarity, helping users quickly find and understand content without feeling overwhelmed.

Wireframes

I started Meowspace’s design with a mobile-first approach, focusing on the key screens users would interact with most. Initially, I used an 8-column grid, but after testing and feedback, I found it made elements too small and cramped. I revised the layout to a simpler 4-column grid, creating a more open and touch-friendly design.

FINAL DESIGN

Interface elements

For Meowspace’s UI elements, I focused on creating a clean and approachable system that supports easy interaction. Textboxes, buttons, dropdowns, and icons were designed with a soft color palette and clear states for actions like hovering, focusing, and errors. I used rounded shapes and gentle color transitions to make the interface feel welcoming and intuitive.

Low fidelity prototype

In the low-fidelity stage, I focused on establishing the core layout, navigation flow, and basic structure of Meowspace. I kept the design minimal, using a monochromatic color scheme and simple shapes to avoid distractions and keep the focus on usability. This prototype allowed me to quickly test and validate the user journey, making sure the main features—such as posting, browsing, and messaging—were intuitive and accessible before moving into higher-fidelity designs.

TESTING

Prototyping and usability

After establishing the core designs for Meowspace, I moved into prototyping and early usability testing to evaluate the app’s functionality, accessibility, and overall user experience. Through this phase, I identified key strengths that supported my design goals, while also recognizing areas for potential growth and future refinement.

A consistent color palette and soft typography creates a welcoming, cohesive atmosphere within the app.

A near-black neutral text color, clear hierarchy, and well-spaced UI elements ensure strong readability and accessibility for all users.

Buttons, dropdowns, and forms are designed for clarity, following modern UX best practices to keep the interface minimal, intuitive, and functional.

Usability testing was focused on qualitative data due to time constraints, leaving potential quantitative issues to be uncovered in future testing.

Advanced features like social interactions (grouping, tagging) and AI cat emojis were not implemented but could be added later to boost engagement.

Advanced features like social interactions (grouping, tagging) and AI cat emojis were not implemented but could be added in feature iterations to boost engagement.

The app was built mobile-first, with plans for a seamless experience across devices. Future development will include incorporate responsive design for screens of all sizes.

LOOKING AHEAD

Final notes

This project highlighted the crucial role of user-centered design and branding consistency in crafting a focused and engaging social media experience. Thoughtful choices in grid scaling, color palettes, and typography significantly influence user perception. Moving forward, earlier user testing, data-driven decision-making, and iterative refinement will be essential in delivering the best possible experience.