Chavel

Design solution for shelter dogs

Overview

Chavel helps bridge the gap between constant environment changes for shelter dogs by providing stress release agents. Moreover, shelter dogs are overeating whenever they get food, Chavel trains them to eat in portions. Lastly, due to lack of staff at shelter Chavel is able to keep the dogs busy and playful in order to help them with their mental growth.

Challenge

How might you help shelter dogs in stimulating their mental growth and keeping them engaged without being dependant on the staff in shelters?

Role

Researching, storyboarding, usability testing, prototyping, 3d modelling

Tools

Fusion 360, Auto CAD, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator

Project Collaborators

Ankara University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

Year

2019

Chavel is a a self-motivated, engaging activity for mental growth of shelter dogs.

Desk Research Outcomes

Mental Health

Constant change in setting affects mental health of dogs

Bridge the gap!

Adoption

Healthier, happier and calm dogs have higher chances of adoption

Attention to dogs mental and physical health.

Trauma

Shelter dogs are in a state of trauma due to the way they are brought into the shelters

Provide stress release for shelter dogs.

Shelter Visits

Understanding mental state of shelter dogs

Current shelter conditions

Positioning introduction of design solution

Design Objectives

Design a self motivated and engaging product that bridges the gap between sudden changes for shelter dogs and helps in their mental growth.

Engaging

Stress release

Easy to clean

Durable

Self motivated

User Testing

Design iterations based on testing feedbacks, from cardboard prototypes, depending on success of different product features and functionality.

Storyboard

Human assistance required purposely in setting up. Helps in overcoming their emotional trauma through human interaction.

Activity is initiated through sense of smell and sight. Dog sniffs Level 1 and begins to eat one meal of food divided into two portions to avoid eating fast.

Dog begins engagement with Level 2 The rubber ball is removed from the top of the level and food is unlocked. The ball releases lavender scent to help release stress.

Dog can now only smell the food and to solve Level 3 it must remove the rubber cap by chewing and unlock the food. Chewing is a brain fit activity for dogs.

The rubber ball and cap to Level 3 are used as toys to keep the engagement with the product effective even after the food is finished.

Shelter dogs have no activities to keep them occupied hence increasing the effect of the trauma. Chavel helps in engaging them throughout the day by using different activities and toys.