s.pet is a mobile-first adoption app that reimagines how people connect with adoptable pets. Instead of relying on standard filters and search tools, the app takes a more human approach. Users answer a short quiz and take a spontaneous photo, and the app matches them with animals based on personality, lifestyle, and even visual vibe. It’s meant to feel less like shopping and more like meeting someone who just clicks.

Most adoption platforms feel transactional. You scroll through listings, compare traits, and pick a pet like you’re browsing a catalog. I wanted to create something more thoughtful. What if adoption felt more like finding a real connection? is.pet started from that idea. It’s built around the belief that both people and animals deserve an experience that feels personal and emotionally honest.

To bring this idea to life, I focused on creating something simple, expressive, and just a little unexpected.

• Quiz Design: I designed a short quiz that asks about energy level, living space, personality, and values. Each question is visual and easy to answer, using custom illustrations to keep it light and fun.
• Photo-Based Matching: After the quiz, users take a quick photo. The app pulls the main colors from the image and uses those to help match with animals that share a similar visual feel. It’s a subtle way to add personality into the match.
• AI-Assisted Matching with Gemini: I integrated the Google Gemini API to help analyze user photos and personality inputs. It adds another layer of intelligence to the matching logic by generating soft recommendations based on both visual and written traits.
• Petfinder API Integration: I set up a Node.js backend to securely fetch real adoptable animals through the Petfinder API. It handles filtering, caching, and image proxying to keep things smooth across web and mobile.
• Visual Identity: I created a design system that avoids the usual adoption app look. Think bold colors, hand-drawn animals, and playful touches that give the app its own personality.
• Cross-Platform Build: The app was built using React Native and Expo Router, designed to work equally well on phones and in the browser.

The Result

For me, this project has been a space to explore how technology, design, and emotion can work together. It’s not about efficiency or features — it’s about how design can create space for connection.

The project also pushed me to experiment with new technologies, including AI and real-time data handling, in a way that felt meaningful rather than gimmicky. It helped me grow not just as a designer and developer, but as a storyteller. I’m continuing to refine the matching logic, expand the quiz system, and explore ways to highlight the animals’ personalities with more care and creativity.

is.pet isn’t just a design project — it’s a small experiment in what adoption could feel like when it’s built on empathy, curiosity, and joy.