Cat+Human Collection

BRIEF

The self-directed objective of this project was to create a collection of hand-crafted, space-saving, sustainably-made furniture that is functional for both humans and cats..

CRITERIA

The following is a list of self-directed criteria for this project.

The collection must:

• fulfill both the needs of a cat and its owner

• allow cat and owner to be close

• have unifying details between pieces

• exemplify extreme simplicity

• be geometric

The collection should:

• be long-lasting

• be capable of being produced repeatedly for sale

• minimize waste throughout production process

• be made of renewable materials

The collection could:

• incorporate circular economy

• have knockdown components

• make use of reclaimed materials

INTENT

Among my various interests, some of them include cats, minimalism, craftsmanship, and sustainability. I love cats because they are adorable, affectionate, a pleasure to interact with, quiet, and easy to care for. I have an affinity for minimalist design because of its calming visual simplicity. I appreciate craftsmanship because I value the skill and dedication required to make something by hand. And I strive to use renewable materials, like wood, because material sustainability helps to ensure the well-being of the environment. My capstone combines these interests in a collection of simple, hand-crafted wooden furniture for hybrid cat-human use.

The ideas behind my research of cat-human furniture were based on its efficacy of fulfilling cat behaviour, supply and demand, potential to maximize small living spaces, and my ability to create something aesthetically unique yet functional for humans to appreciate. It is well-known to cat owners that behaviours like scratching and hanging out in enclosed spaces (such as cardboard boxes and baskets) are normal for cats. And allowing cats to behave naturally can help their mental and physical needs to be met. There are very few examples of well-crafted, sustainably made, and aesthetic cat-human furniture on the market. And in many countries, cats are more popular than dogs. So I believe there is a potential clientele for my concept. I theorized that my furniture could also help to maximize the use of increasingly small living spaces, by merging the functionalities of cat-centric products with human furniture. Additionally, within the under-explored area of hybrid cat-human furniture, I believed this could be an opportunity for me to create unique and interesting forms that are driven by functionality.