BACK

BACK

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GRAPHIC

2026

Symbiont

Symbiont

This project explores the potential of sustainable material design by transforming discarded dog hair into protective footwear that shields dogs' paws from hot urban surfaces.

This project explores the potential of sustainable material design by transforming discarded dog hair into protective footwear that shields dogs' paws from hot urban surfaces.

Client

Client

Personal

Personal

Role

Role

Graphic Designer

Brand

Visual Designer

Completion Date

Completion Date

2026

2026

Project Overview

SYMBIONT is an innovative and empathetic pet-product design project that explores canine foot protection and welfare through biomaterial research and ergonomic reconstruction. Driven by a "more-than-human" design philosophy, the project focuses on reinterpreting the interaction between domestic animals and urban environments. By establishing a sustainable, closed-loop co-production ecosystem, the work creatively transforms discarded resources into functional footwear tailored specifically to canine anatomy and behavioral needs.

Design Challenge

To revolutionize traditional market dog shoes by replacing generic, rigid footwear with a highly adaptive, multi-material system that respects canine movement and physiology. The primary challenge lay in balancing optimal thermal insulation—protecting dogs' paws from extreme urban pavement temperatures (ranging from $40^\circ\text{C}$ to $70^\circ\text{C}$)—with exceptional breathability and structural flexibility. Furthermore, the design had to overcome the inherent fragility of standalone biomaterials to ensure sufficient abrasion resistance, all while utilizing non-toxic, non-aversive elements that dogs naturally accept.

To revolutionize traditional market dog shoes by replacing generic, rigid footwear with a highly adaptive, multi-material system that respects canine movement and physiology. The primary challenge lay in balancing optimal thermal insulation—protecting dogs' paws from extreme urban pavement temperatures (ranging from $40^\circ\text{C}$ to $70^\circ\text{C}$)—with exceptional breathability and structural flexibility. Furthermore, the design had to overcome the inherent fragility of standalone biomaterials to ensure sufficient abrasion resistance, all while utilizing non-toxic, non-aversive elements that dogs naturally accept.

Design Solution

An advanced, multi-layered prototype mock-up was developed by engineering a closed-loop system that combines two distinct waste streams: Human 3D-printing waste (PVA) and Grooming salon waste (Dog Hair Keratin). The final outcome features a high-performance upper created through a smart hydrogel impregnation process, where electrospun nanofiber webs and knitted fabrics are infused with a cross-linked PVA/keratin matrix to provide lightweight, weightless thermal protection. Paired with a generative fly-knit pattern and a flexible, custom-scanned 3D-printed TPU sole, the design maps the exact ground contact zones of sighthounds. This ultimate solution successfully merges canine behavioral affinity with advanced materials science to elevate animal welfare in modern urban spaces.

Skills

Graphic

Binding

Book Design

Material

SHOW CASE