June 29, 2005 | Back
Design for the Customer - Be They Human or Animal
Filed under category: Gizmos
Design Edge wins the 2005 Gold Industrial Design Excellence Award (IDEA) bestowed by the Industrial Design Society of America (IDSA) for a dog toy developed for their in-house company, Wetnoz International LLC.
If the secret to great design is serving the customer, then how do you determine what the customer wants? The most effective route to customer insight is to walk a mile in their shoes (like Nike), or clean a house with their brooms (like Proctor & Gamble). But how do you design when your customers do not even wear shoes, much less talk? Design Edge met the challenges of their pet demographic through research, interviews, and the easiest part -- being attentive pet owners.
The recent award focuses on Wetnoz's 'Spring Roll,' an 'Interactive Fetch Toy,' whose very name suggests that owners should play more with their dogs, rather than hand them a chew toy. The Spring Roll's hour glass shape is a modern interpretation of a bone, which opportunely conforms to the anatomy of a dog's mouth for easy pick-up and retrieval. Made of natural rubber, the Spring Roll inherently appeals to the senses of any dog and is non-toxic to their system. When thrown, the variable wall thickness creates a soft impact and an unpredictable bounce and roll pattern that keeps dogs guessing. The interior tunnel can hold treats for training or reward purposes.
> Source: Design Edge
> Estimated price: $10 - $15
> Date released/expected: N/A
Posted on June 29, 2005 10:19 AM
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