Lyft Adopt

A campaign that transforms rides into meaningful connections by raising awareness for disabled pets waiting for adoption, while reinforcing Lyft’s community-driven values.

I participated as a UX/UI designer by shaping the end-to-end user journey and narrative to deliver a meaningful experience aligned with Lyft’s mission and social impact goals.

My Role

UX/UI Designer, Strategist

Duration

2 months

Team

Bona Kim / Art director
Jenny Cho / Motion Designer

Industry

Social Impact, Animal Welfare

Project Overview

Problem

Despite growing awareness about pet adoption, disabled animals face significantly lower adoption rates and wait up to four times longer to find a home. Many potential adopters feel hesitant due to concerns about medical costs and care. Meanwhile, the rise of self-driving taxis is further distancing people from meaningful, human-centered interactions, which contrasts with Lyft’s core values of connection and community.

Outcome

On World Adoption Day (November 9th), Lyft launches Lyft Adopt, a special ride experience where passengers share a longer-than-usual ride with a disabled dog, symbolizing the extended wait these pets face. Riders can choose their furry co-passenger and learn their story before the trip. During the ride, they can engage with the dog through in-car activities such as petting, offering treats, and learning about their background via an interactive tablet. After the ride, passengers receive a personalized email with adoption or donation options, creating a meaningful post-ride connection.

Main features include:

A ride option that takes four times longer to represent the adoption wait for disabled pets
In-car tablet that enables interaction with the dog and provides its personal story
Post-ride digital receipt with donation/adoption options and a personal letter from the dog

Final Design

User Research

The rise of AI and self-driving taxis, like Tesla's Robotaxi, has amazed many. It's undoubtedly innovative but lacks a human connection. While some embrace this technology, it can feel like it's dehumanizing our sense of connection and community.

In contrast, Lyft stands for human interaction and community building.

Every quarter, shelters receive an overwhelming number of animals, making it difficult to provide proper care, especially for those that are sick or have disabilities. These vulnerable animals are often passed over by adopters and fall to the end of the adoption line. Eventually, many of them face euthanasia not because they are unloved but because they go unnoticed.

Pets with disabilities have much lower adoption rates compared to healthy pets. According to survey, it takes at least 4 times longer for pets with disabilities to be adopted, with some waiting up to 2 years.

Problem Statement

There is a growing need to create an environment where pets with illnesses or disabilities are given more attention, equal opportunities, and a real chance at finding a loving home. For Lyft, a brand that stands for empathy and community, this is an opportunity to highlight its values while addressing a meaningful social problem.

Ideation

On World Adoption Day, Lyft Adopt introduces an immersive ride experience where passengers share their journey with a disabled dog. By choosing a longer ride that symbolizes the pet’s extended adoption wait, passengers can directly engage with the animal, learn its story, and form an emotional bond. This simple yet powerful interaction turns a typical Lyft ride into a catalyst for empathy, driving awareness and encouraging adoption or support for disabled pets.