SNIF (Social Networking In Fur) Labs is a social networking site targeted towards urban dog owners. The entire experience centers around the SNIF Tag, a small, unobtrusive, high-tech device that clips to a dog's collar. With the SNIF Tag and its charging station, a user can track their dog's activity levels throughout the day and see which other SNIF Tag-equipped dogs their dog interacts with.
Data collected by the SNIF Tag feeds in a social networking site. Here, standard social networking practices (messaging, photo galleries, etc.) are made available, as well as a sophisticated tools that help to quantify, track, and compare the dog's behavior. The initial social networks, or "petworks," are primarily built around local, real-world activity groups, allowing users to get the most out of the service right out of the box.
Produced while employed as an Interactive Designer at mediumbold.
Responsibilities included Visual/Interactive Design.
Upon login, a welcome page gives the SNIF Tag owner a quick overview of all pertinent pet activity, as well as providing access to user and site-centric functions such as privacy controls, personal preferences, photo management, and profile information.
A high-level summary of the user's pet's activity can be viewed and interactions/relationships with other dogs can be quickly managed. Recent alerts and messages are fed through a Message Center, and group activity collected and broken down into a 12-hour activity cycle.
Powerful Flash-driven modules allow the user to quickly contextualize a large amount of information about their pets' activity. Simplified activity icons and simple, color-coded interaction events show the user their dog's behavior patterns and daily encounters.
On-demand requests for activity allow users to keep tabs on their pet's status. A stored history of activity and encounters allows users to view, compare, and contrast behavior trends, broken down into hourly, daily, and monthly segments.
Users are able to interact with other SNIF Tag owners and their pets, and shared friends highlight common connections.
Users may also upload photos of their pets, as well as caption, share, tag, and comment om them.
Comprehensive privacy preferences have been built into the social networking portion of the site, allowing users to disclose as much or as little information as they want. Relationships are organized into three categories: Strangers, Acquaintances, and Friends, and users may freely promote and demote as needed.
The three relationship categories are applicable to both human and dog connections, allowing a user the greatest degree of control over their network. Alerts may also be configured, allowing a user to receive as much or as little information as they want about their pet's activity.
A robust messaging system has been built into the site. Friend invites, user messages, alerts, and announcements all feed into one centralized location for quick and easy management.
Messages are "tagged," enabling the SNIF Tag owner to quickly differentiate between the different types of communication.