Roscoe Pet: Creating a high-quality, low-cost pet carrier
My Role
As a Product Design Engineer at 511 Capital, I was responsible for creating the first product line and launching the brand for Roscoe Pet.
The Challenge
How can we create a soft-sided pet carrier with a great design at a low cost?
Skills
Product Development | User Research | Manufacturing | Product Design | Adobe CC
User Research
Exploring the needs and wants of pet owners
I dove into this project by exploring the needs of pet owners. I looked to understand:
What situations do people use pet carriers?
What difficulties do pet owners face when using pet carriers?
What is the step-by-step process for getting a pet into a pet carrier?
What are essential features for a pet carrier?
Image description: Picture of a white dog with hair on top of their head in a ponytail and head on edge of a suitcase. Dog sitting in half a suitcase and clothes in other half.
My research included:
Re-engineering: Understand how popular products are constructed
Market Research: Product reviews, market trends, regulations
Interviews: Pet owners of all ages and backgrounds
Observations: Adoption events, train, at home, veterinarian offices
Image description: Woman having difficulty carrying a pet carrier up stairs.
Insights
Current pet carrier products are not ergonomic
My research led me to understand the pain points of current soft-sided carriers and the most common uses of the product. The largest research takeaways were that the product would primarily be used by cat owners to transport their pet to the vet, and that current carriers are not ergonomically friendly to those with arthritis or muscular weakness. Additionally, pets associate the carriers with negative experiences of going to the vet, making them resistant to using the carrier.
Image description: Person slightly tilting the hard-sided carrier to see inside and lure cat out of the box.
“Top loaders,” carrying cases with a top opening, are preferable although difficult for users with muscle weakness. Image description: Row of cages on top of tables and top loader carrying cases below.
A work around to prevent the hard-sided cases from slipping open. Image description: Close-up view of the latch of a top loader carrying case with zip tie to secure closer.
Soft-sided carriers for cats with top openings are difficult to close before the cat escapes due to the wrap around zipper. Image description: Cats in cages on tables and soft-sided pet carriers below.
Ideating + Prototyping
Iterating through Sketching + mockups
I began ideating with sketches of different potential designs that incorporated the research findings. I discussed my ideas and vision with the industrial designer to co-create the first prototype plan.
Image description: Drawings with different views of a new pet carrier
Initial sketches were turned into 3D mockups using paper, cardboard, and foam. This helped to quickly see how the product would work.
Image description: Small mockup with cardboard base, foam interior and paper creating covering above
Image description: Small mockup with cardboard base, foam interior and paper creating covering above open to show interior.
Prototyping internationally
My design was sent to our team in China to produce a prototype based on my specifications. The prototype was tested against design and technical specifications to assure it met our product needs. The prototyping process was repeated until a final design was created.
Technical specifications internal before creating a final draft for our team in Shenzhen. Image description: Digital drawings of a pet carrier marked up with written changes.
Image description: First prototype sewn in China with black exterior and furry interior. Prototype sitting on table with other prototyping materials including duck tape, notebook, and materials.
Final Product
Introducing the Roscoe Pet carrier
Image description: Final version of pet carrier with purple exterior.
The product was mass produced in our factory in Shenzhen, China and was for sale in small and large sizes and black, brown, and purple colors on Amazon.
Removable travel bed to help pet adjust and become more comfortable with the carrier
With both a large front opening and quick-close top opening your pet can simply get in and out of the carrier
Large zippers and hardware to allow ease of use for pet owners