Möwbox

Thinking Inside the Box

PROJECT BRIEF

Create a housewares product that meets the requirements to be entered in The Inspired Home Show’s 2023 Student Design Competition. The product should meet current consumer needs and fall into one of the outlined categories.

PROBLEM STATEMENT

There are many pets in need of forever homes, and animals who may be considered high maintenance or require extra attention are often overlooked or given up. Cat care is especially lacking in accessible opportunities. The product should bring new solutions to cat maintenance that benefit both the owner and the cat, no matter their physical ability.

Market research shows an upward trend in automation. Many top brand litter boxes are incorporating hands-free or limited involvement care, which in turn is increasing the cost and maintenance complexity should something need repairing.

Many of these high-tech boxes also require special litter or brand loyalty to be fully functional. As a result, many owners buy cheap plastic boxes due to their affordable nature or source convince, despite the low quality or need to replace frequently.

PAIN POINTS

OWNERS

Heavy or clunky box to handle
Litter tracking outside the box
Physical limitations or back pain
Convenient place for box that is easy to clean

CATS

Cramped or uncomfortable box size
Access when cornered by another animal or child
Accessing a box with mobility limitations or medical accessories

CHANCE USERS

Exposure to or potential risk to ingest pet waste
Potential injury from a cornered cat
Lowered relations or increased fighting with other household members

MARKET COMPLAINTS

“I wish there was a puppy proof box that was up higher so I don’t have to be cleaning under a table.”

EARLY EXPLORATIONS

After going through my research, it was easy to say I had a lot of ideas. The market for cat care is severely lacking, unaffordable, falsely advertised or cheaply made, leaving much to be desired. It was difficult to pick what challenges I wanted to tackle when many of my concepts could be combined, but the last thing I wanted to do was over complicate my product. Ultimately, I decided to focus on physical accessibility as the largest pain points indicated the absence or neglect in the current market.

NARROWED CONCEPT REVISIONS

I continued these concepts as they addressed the nonexistent aid for wheels in cat care. Without a working prototype to test, there may very well still be issues to address, but at the very least this is a step in the right direction. My first concept was originally my favorite due to the ability to ensure only intended users can access the box and owners would not need to bend over to access and clean it. Unfortunately, due to the size, this option was limiting to users whose height falls outside the norm or are unable to stand.

Concept 3 is a revision to a more standard box while accounting for wheel access or cats wearing other medical accessories such as cones. While the larger size can be more comfortable for the cat, this does increase the accessibility to all other users, intended or not. For this reason, I decided to follow through with my second concept.

After further thought, I realized this concept was less of a litter box and more so the access to one. The tiered bench design allows for owners to comfortably sit while they access their pet's litter box, while simultaneously ensuring dogs and kids have limited or no access. Additionally, the path to the box is friendly for cats who have limited mobility.

FEATURES

The outer bench provides a comfortable pad for owners to sit on when tending to the litter box. It may also double as a lounging spot for the cat. To account for stray litter, dirt, and cat fur, the seat cover can be removed and cleaned.

Beneath the bench is ample room for cat litter, box liners, trash bags, or any other storage needs. The majority of the product would be made with reclaimed wood to keep up with sustainable efforts.

The top floor provides ample room for whatever litter pan the owner desires. A half wall is included to keep the box in place and prevent the cat from cutting corners that may result in injury.

I would like to improve this design in the future by including a sloped entry pan with the box so that cats with mobility aids or issues can easily enter without the need to climb over a lip.

From the tower entrance, the cat will be met with a gradual spiral ramp to the second floor. This ramp is wide to allow the cat to easily maneuver the box without strain, and can even support a cat who uses some form of mobility aid.

Originally, the ramp was going to be linear, but it required the cat's ability to jump or pull themselves to the second floor. Extending the ramp allows the cat to comfortably walk to the next level.