Description

The task for this project was to prototype the ultimate pet-grooming appliance that overshadows all other devices of the sort. The minimum requirements are that it needed to have a brush to brush out loose fur, a comb to pick out ticks and more fine grooming, a massager, a nail filer that rotates like a dremel, and a way for it to play soothing noises to calm your pet as you groom them.

Ideation

To start off my process, I created sketches to ideate on how I will design the prototype. I experimented with designs that had detachable parts and designs that combined everything into one solid piece. I ended up liking the solid piece designs because you wouldn’t have to keep track of various parts and would always have what you needed. I also liked the idea of having a touch screen so you can upload as many songs as you want, as well as having speed control with the nail file dremel and the massager.

Description of Device

The device has several features. To start off, there is a screen on the front where you are able to control things such as what sounds you want to play and the speed of nail filer and massager. The problem I envision with the screen is that there may be accidental touches when you are grooming your pet, but to solve this, it could be possible to deactivate the screen when your hand is covering it, just as an iPhone does when you are on a call and the screen turns off when you hold it up to your ear.

The rectangle that sticks out from the brush represents the brush to brush the pet, and the comb is placed on the back. The nail file dremel is located on the top, and to comply with the maximum length, it would extend from the top when the dremel is in use. The massager is located on the bottom of the brush, represented by the white foam-ball halves.

User Test

For the user test, I had the user explore the prototype and tell me what he thinks each part represents. After he had a grasp of the functionality of the prototype, I had him test all the functions on the stuffed animal husky while speaking aloud on his thought process. The main things that came from the user test were that the handle was a little too small for his hands and that the massager was hitting into his wrist as he used the product. The screen also confused him, but in future iterations of the prototype could emphasize the screen’s UI and functionality.

Conclusion

If I were to iterate on the prototype, I would add smoother edges to the massager and to the brush to make it more comfortable to hold in the hand. I would also experiment with the location of the massager, as it may make more sense to locate it on the long side of the tool instead of at the bottom. I also think increasing the constraint of 8 inches to 9 inches, it would provide more room to make a longer handle to make it more comfortable to hold.

Bea Wagner-Wilkins

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