Chow
Dog treat maker
Fall 2023 | 10 Weeks | Terra Sullivan & Kate Baring ›
Chow empowers dog owners by upcycling food scraps into dog treats, making the benefits of homemade food more accessible and approachable.
Design Brief
Design a sustainable kitchen product that improves the life of a user or group.
Disciplines
Industrial Design
UX / UI Design
3D Visualization
Upcycle food scraps into dog treats with the push of a button.
For dogs with allergies, special vet-prescribed diets, and sensitive stomachs, store bought dog treats can cause serious problems.
Interviews:
Dr. Nancy Yorinks
Veterinarian - Moscow Vet on the Go

“There’s a bazillion [store bought treat varieties], who knows what’s in them.”

“Some dogs with food allergies, inflammatory bowel disease, and pancreatic issues can’t digest certain things, and some dogs just have sensitive stomachs… The easiest solution in these cases is using kibble.”
Sophia and Myca

“I have made my own dog treats with salmon scraps, as a way to use the scraps that I’m not going to do anything else with.”

“These days though I usually just buy treats, because it is easy and I have found ones that Myca really likes.”

“I see her as more than just a pet.
Jack and Chai

“Chai had recurring ear infections and skin issues, so I had 24 allergens tested. It came back positive for multiple food allergies.

“I use her kibble as treats. Because of her allergies it's hard to find safe treats and the options are pretty expensive.

“Ever since her allergy diagnosis, my kids miss the excitement of feeding her fun new treats.
There are several drawbacks and limitations of store bought treats. Oftentimes, homemade treats can solve these issues. But the process is messy, time consuming, and expensive.
How can the process of homemade dog treats become more approachable and accessible?
Design Criteria:
Hands Off
Must not be time consuming from the user perspective: “set it and forget it.”
Easy to Clean
Must not create messes that require extensive clean up: dishwasher safe and easy to take apart.
Cost Efficient
Must cut costs and extend value of food: repurpose food scraps.
Food scraps as a source for homemade dog treats
Repurposing food scraps into dog treats could help increase cost efficiency and sustainability.
Processing food scraps into dog treats:
1. Collected food scraps
2. Pureed food scraps (boiled, blended)
3. Dehydrated treats (oats mixed in)
Housing mechanical processes into one container:
Finalized mechanics:
Testing mechanics with prototype:
1. Boiled food scraps.
2. Macerate.
4. Bake.
3. Bake.
5. Treats.
4. Treats.
Form ideation:
I
Forming plates
Nonstick properties of pressure-cast ceramic makes removing treats quick and allows for easy cleaning.
Nutrient Supplement Pucks
Additional nutrient supplement pucks can be added at the start of each batch and provide extra nutrients, minerals, vitamins, and supplements based on individual dogs needs.
Accompanying app helps dog owners stay informed. Users can check if certain scraps are safe, find community recipes, and purchase supplemental nutrition pucks.
Accompanying app helps dog owners stay informed. Users can check if certain scraps are safe, find community recipes, and purchase supplemental nutrition pucks.
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