KUBLE: COFFEE TABLE
DESIGN WITHIN REACH
"Where Comfort Meets Purrfection for You and Your Cat."
RESEARCH | BRANDING | IDEATION | 3D MODELING RENDERING | PROTOTYPING | CMF DESIGN
Product Design 4 | SU23 | ArtCenter College of Design
Instructor: Jeffery Johns | 14 Weeks Project
INTRODUCTION
This project aimed to explore new directions for the brand Design Within Reach, introducing Kuble as a venture into pet-friendly furniture.
Kuble offers a new potential space in the living room where cats can play, rest, and interact with their owners, all while showcasing Design Within Reach aesthetics to blend seamlessly into versatile home environments.
BACKGROUND
With the growing trend of pet ownership worldwide, there is a significant opportunity in the pet product market. I started market research to identify common issues with existing pet products and selected three key problems for my product to address: vulnerability, difficulty in cleaning, and lack of aesthetic appeal.
IDEATION
After brainstorming, I envisioned integrating a cat home into furniture—specifically, a coffee table. The coffee table combines the premium feel of design within reach with its role as a central piece in the living room, offering potential to foster a shared, relaxing atmosphere for both pets and their owners.
FORM DEVELOPMENT
After finalizing the concept, I began form development to create a design that embodies a "design within reach" aesthetic while ensuring feasibility for real-world use. I conducted ongoing research on ergonomic and scale data, continually refining form details and exploring additional functionalities, such as integrating a cat tree and a cat scratcher.
DETAIL REFINEMENT
In the final phase, I delved into refining the finer details of the design, such as edge finishes, contour angles, and CMF selections. This meticulous process ensured the product not only maintained its aesthetic appeal but also met functional requirements. Every aspect was carefully aligned with the vision of a seamless, user-friendly, and visually cohesive design.
FINAL FORM
Kuble features an integrated cat home system—complete with a mattress, cat tree, and scratcher—that meld seamlessly into modern living spaces, fostering a highly interactive and relaxing environment for both cats and their owners.
It appropriately showcases the Design Within Reach aesthetic while blending seamlessly into different living room scenarios.
SCALE
Designed to match the standard size of market coffee tables, this piece features a cat home system tailored for small to medium-sized cats.
EASY-CLEAN
The coffee table is designed for easy disassembly, with cushions that attach magnetically to the main body and cat tree components that screw into threaded holes. This design ensures convenience for cleaning and helps maintain a fresh and hygienic environment.
MATERIAL
The table top features polished oak for a smooth feel, while the cushions are crafted from breathable nylon fabric, ensuring superior odor control and durability for repeated use.
The outer shell is made from highly recyclable foam, offering protection against cat damage and enhancing structural support.
COLORWAYS
PROTOTYPE
