Vetrail
Creating the connective tissue between vets and their clients.
Role
Co-founder
Product designer
Timeline
3 months (ongoing)
Tools
Figma
FigJam
Adobe Illustrator
Team
Arin Jain (PM)
Andrew Choi (Dev)
Jesse Tzo (Dev)
BACKGROUND
I co-founded Vetrail, a platform aimed at streamlining communication and client management for veterinary clinics. The idea was developed as part of USC's LavaLab, a startup incubator that brings together student entrepreneurs to build innovative products. Over several months, I led the design process while collaborating with a team of one product manager and two developers.
PROBLEM
Research & User Interviews
To design a product that truly addressed the needs of veterinary clinics and pet owners, our team conducted extensive user research. This included interviews with over 20 veterinary professionals — vets, vet techs, and receptionists — to identify the most pressing challenges they faced in day-to-day operations. Here are the main pain points that we discovered:
The vet clinics we interviewed had an average of over 150 phone calls per day with 3 receptionists working simultaneously. It was clear that something had to change.
SOLUTION
AI-summarized test results
Vets can upload test result documents, in which users (pet owners) can quickly access. Once the user clicks in, AI will analyze and summarize the results.
Easy uploads
Veterinary clinics can quickly upload and securely store documents like doctor's notes and lab results, streamlining document management and improving workflow efficiency.
Scheduling
The scheduling feature lets clinics manage appointments, customize availability, and send automated reminders, reducing no-shows and simplifying bookings.
Messaging
Direct messaging lets pet owners easily communicate with their clinic for questions, updates, and reminders, ensuring quick, secure exchanges without phone calls.
ITERATIONS
RESULTS
Since launching our MVP, we’ve successfully onboarded three design partners for Vetrail: one in Cincinnati, one in San Jose, and one in Davis. These partnerships have allowed us to further refine the platform based on feedback. We are continuing to grow Vetrail as a startup, expanding our reach and iterating on the product to meet the evolving needs of veterinary clinics.
PITCH DECKS
Our team participated in a pitch competition where we pitched in front of 3 VCs. These are the slide decks that I designed for Vetrail. (Click above to view)
TAKEAWAYS
Importance of user interviews: One of the biggest lessons I learned was the importance of continuous user feedback. Building a product with the user at the center of every decision made the difference in creating something truly valuable. For Vetrail, iterating based on real feedback from veterinary professionals and pet owners ensured that the features we designed were both practical and impactful.
Iterate quickly, fail fast: The fast-paced nature of LavaLab taught me how crucial it is to move quickly through iterations, even if it means failing along the way. Each iteration of Vetrail revealed new insights, and those lessons helped us refine our approach and improve the product.
Collaboration and communication: Collaborating with the developers taught me how crucial it is to design with the development process in mind. I learned to focus on clear, implementable design guidelines, ensuring that the transition from design to development was smooth and that the product could be built efficiently.
Understanding the business side of design: As a co-founder, I didn’t just focus on product design, but also on how to build a business. Learning about market fit, user acquisition, and product scalability gave me a more holistic view of design as it relates to the success of a product.
And finally... a HUGE shoutout to my amazing team - Arin, Andrew, and Jesse - for their unwavering support and hard work throughout this journey! Couldn't have asked for a better team.
Demo night & pitch competition
Our team & Pepperoni :)