Ball Dispenser Dog Toys
Client: iFetch
Studio: Propulsion
Industrial Design Prototyping | Crowd-Funding campaign support | Branding | Packaging Design
Overview
With products for dogs both big and small, the iFetch line provides your energetic pooch hours of self-driven entertainment. No more handling slobbery balls or trying to outlast the energy of your furry friend; dogs can learn to operate iFetch toys all by themselves.
iFetch Too!
Prototype testing showed that a launch angle of 35° results in the greatest ball launch distance. We added multiple launch distances of 10, 25, or 40 feet, by varying the speed of the unit’s motor. The user can set the iFetch Too! to those distances, or to make playtime even more exciting, there’s a fourth setting to randomly launch the ball randomly, switching between those distances.
The iFetch Too! was introduced through a Kickstarter campaign, leveraging the passionate community that had grown around the original iFetch. The campaign was a solid success, raising over $100,000.
iFetch Original
The top “bowl” where the dog drops the ball and the “spout” where it shoots out create a visual explanation of functionality while simultaneously giving the iFetch its iconic look. It’s cute, fun, and approachable.
The design of the iFetch centers around functionality and playfulness. We wanted to create something that was not only visually intuitive, but also a product with character that fits well in a home with pets and active toys.
iFetch Frenzy
No Batteries Needed. Frenzy uses no motors or batteries, and instead uses gravity to launch the ball across the floor. The top of Frenzy has a single hole that splits into three chutes that exit on each side of the base. The shape of these chutes ensures that the ball has an equal chance of falling in each direction, and the height of the unit gives the ball room to accelerate before ramping out one of the three exits.
Branding
The brand development for iFetch focused on celebrating the playful experiences the products build for dogs and humans. A high-energy blue is used selectively on predominantly clean, white surfaces, relating to the simple yet playful character of the products.
Retail Package Design
While iFetch started online with Kickstarter direct-to-customer sales, they quickly moved onto retail shelves. Our packaging solutions for this space focus on clearly communicating product value and unique functionality through bold graphics and impactful photography. Extra fetch ball packages feature an open window to let customers feel the material quality without needing to unpack the product in store.
Recognitions
The original iFetch dog ball thrower raised 441% of its funding goal in its Kickstarter launch, and went on to win several awards at trade shows, such as “Best New Product” and “Best in Show” at SuperZoo.
