Great digital products don’t start with code — they start with a question. For GuessTheBreed.org, that question was: What if you could turn a fun guessing game into a meaningful way to learn about dog breeds, while also raising awareness and funding for rescue dogs and shelters?
That question sparked the concept. What followed was a creative, technical, and strategic journey that transformed a simple idea into a fully functioning interactive website. Here’s how the GuessTheBreed.org project came to life — from rough sketches to custom code and, finally, to its first visitors.
It All Starts with a Sketch: Brainstorming and Ideation
The earliest stages of GuessTheBreed.org were refreshingly low-tech — just pencils, paints, paper, and an open mind. The team kicked things off with a collaborative brainstorming session, tossing around ideas for features, content, and visual style. The goal: create a fun, educational experience that would work on desktop and mobile, and be accessible for all ages.
Initial sketches featured concepts like:
- A “Guess the Breed” photo quiz
- Instant feedback with breed facts
- A leaderboard or scoring system
- Call-to-actions encouraging users to adopt or learn more about the featured dogs
From these sketches, a rough idea of the site layout began to emerge: a homepage that invites users to start the game, followed by a series of breed-guessing challenges with quick results and shareable links.
From Concepts to Clickable Mockups: Wireframing & UX Testing
Once the sketches were finalized, it was time to turn the vision into something digital. Using tools like Figma and Adobe XD, the team created wireframes — skeletal layouts showing where elements like buttons, images, and text would live.
Two distinct mockups were developed:
- Mockup A: A minimalist layout with a strong focus on large images and simple buttons
- Mockup B: A more playful, card-based design with rounded corners and bright accents
Before choosing one, both designs underwent usability testing. Test users interacted with each prototype while tools like Hotjar and Google Optimize tracked clicks, scroll depth, time-on-page, and drop-off points. The A/B test results were revealing:
- Mockup A had better engagement on mobile and faster task completion times.
- Mockup B received higher visual appeal ratings but slightly more user confusion.
In the end, Mockup A was selected for its clarity, ease of use, and strong performance in usability analysis.
Bringing the Vision to Life: WordPress, Custom Code & CSS Magic
With the structure approved and user flows tested, the site moved into development. GuessTheBreed.org was built on WordPress to enable easy content management and scalability — but don’t mistake it for a cookie-cutter theme.
The front-end was heavily customized using bespoke CSS to ensure a unique visual style that matched the brand’s personality: modern, playful, and inclusive. Buttons, animations, transitions, and responsive layouts were all crafted with care.
Behind the scenes, custom PHP powered the game mechanics:
- A logic engine randomized dog images and verified breed guesses
- Scoring was calculated in real-time
- Breed facts were dynamically loaded using a structured data API
The integration of WordPress with tailored backend functionality allowed GuessTheBreed.org to maintain both flexibility and functionality — a site that was easy to manage, but powerful under the hood.
Prepping for Launch: Marketing Materials & Promotion
As development wrapped up, the focus shifted to launch readiness. A strong product needs a strong debut — and that means building excitement before the official release.
The marketing team created a package of promotional materials:
- Social media teaser graphics (formatted for Instagram, Facebook, and X)
- Short explainer videos showcasing how the game works
- GIFs and memes designed to encourage sharing
To build buzz and gather early feedback, the team planned a soft launch strategy:
- Select influencers and dog-related groups were invited to try the site early
- A small paid social media campaign targeted dog lovers and pet adoption communities
- A newsletter sign-up was added to collect early user emails and feedback
This phase was all about learning, refining, and optimizing before opening the site to a broader audience.
Final Thoughts: Digital Experiences that Delight
What began as a simple idea — a fun game about dog breeds — became a carefully designed digital experience with real purpose. From hand-drawn sketches to A/B-tested wireframes, and from custom PHP development to pixel-perfect CSS, every step of the GuessTheBreed.org journey was grounded in intention, creativity, and user-centered design.
As the site continues to evolve, so too will the experience. New features, more dog breeds, and deeper integration with shelters are on the roadmap — but the core mission remains the same: to engage, educate, and inspire through a uniquely interactive digital journey.
Whether you’re building a quiz app, an eCommerce site, or a brand-new platform, remember: the most powerful websites start with empathy, curiosity, and a clear vision. Design with heart, build with purpose — and you’ll transform ideas into digital experiences that truly connect.