PROJECT
Redesign the Hide Pet Bed for 4 Cats & Dogs Home Furnishings Inc.
MY Role
Product design and development.
The Goal
Simplify the form to enable scalable production and improve fabric water resistance. Redesign the shape to be compatible with standard crate sizes.
The Outcome
Delivered improved manufacturability, water resistance, and crate compatibility, with a ~4% increase in material cost per square inch.
Original Product (Hide Pet Bed)
Redesigned Product (Pixie Pad)
Design Considerations & Opportunities
Through conversations with the sales team and a review of customer feedback, a few consistent issues with the original hide pet bed design became clear.
The curved form led to material waste during foam and fabric cutting, and added complexity in production. Curved seams required more time and precision in sewing, which slowed down manufacturing.
The 500g faux fur increased cost and bulk without a noticeable improvement in the customer experience, suggesting an opportunity to use a lighter material.
Customers also noted that the internal water-resistant layer was not performing well enough in real-world use.
Finally, the product was not a top-performing SKU, pointing to an opportunity to improve its value through more practical features, such as compatibility with standard crate sizes.
Key Design Changes
These were the key changes implemented in the Pixie Pad redesign to improve manufacturability, performance, and usability.
Form:
The curved form was replaced with a rectangular geometry to reduce material waste and simplify production.
The curved form was replaced with a rectangular geometry to reduce material waste and simplify production.
Material:
Faux fur weight was reduced from 500g to 380g to optimize cost and bulk without affecting the overall look and feel of the product.
Faux fur weight was reduced from 500g to 380g to optimize cost and bulk without affecting the overall look and feel of the product.
Construction:
The internal polyester water-resistant layer was improved by changing the backing material from polyurethane (PU) to thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU).
The internal polyester water-resistant layer was improved by changing the backing material from polyurethane (PU) to thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU).
Function:
The design was aligned with standard crate dimensions to improve usability and expand practical application. The size range was increased from two sizes to three to improve compatibility with a wider range of crates.
The design was aligned with standard crate dimensions to improve usability and expand practical application. The size range was increased from two sizes to three to improve compatibility with a wider range of crates.