Explanatory render MIA.O: final product, with different variations in terms of servings, type and content.

The July 14, 2016 were discussed thesis reports for the course of the industrial product design at the Department of Architecture of the University of Ferrara. The thesis, having in common the topic food, led a variety of equally interesting topics. Specifically, the thesis of graduate student Giulia Saltari was the theme of pet food, or food for pets, especially developed for the feline world. The latter was taken as a reference because the cats are animals, from a food point of view, very similar to us humans, since it does not necessarily end up what you have on your plate. The cats, like many other pets, have become an added value to the person or family that takes care of them: they bring well-being, physical and mental health, as well as a positive contribution to the slowdown in old age and how pet therapy. So that they can aspire to do all this, however, they also need care and attention. Especially their nutrition is a very important aspect of health and well-being, from the way he presents the food to where it is up to what they can eat and how that experience could be lived to the fullest.

Explanatory render packaging, developed on the basis of the animal's daily requirement.

The theme was developed with a singular study, designed to meet this time the cat food at the same time make it nice and inform the user and owner, which is also a fundamental part of the process. It is indeed a major problem its misinformation or lack of information, due to the many forums and tips that can be found in various modes, see even before veterinarian or experts, but even worse is the lack of a real method user education from the source of the problem, namely by the product.

Explanatory render portion, designed in-house forms, on the basis of the facial characteristics of the feline and because the food always arrives at the center; externally, thanks to a particular cut, to lever the better the food without exit.

For this, through this double reference user, needs thereunder, studies and analyzes carried out on the field with internships, lectures, and finally the use of the tools learned of the Laboratory of Final Synthesis A, has arrived to the design of a product that serves himself from the food system for the daily needs of the feline and education of the owner. The system starts from the first composition of the product: it was decided to present a package of petfood via a special doses union portion and content. The package will be divided by age of the cat, Young, made up of three portions of food, specifically two 30 grams of dried and 50 grams of wet (as it is important the union of the two types) and Adult, comprising two portions of 50 grams to 40 grams of wet and dry. The food contained within the product will be of type monoproteico, important and often recommended by veterinarians for the variety of types, with the exception of diet that proposes and product quality. The packages with these specific compositions, constitute the daily needs of the feline, raising the owner from worries about quantity and doses.

• Details: inner rib portion for packaging; designed to form an ergonomic grip.
• Details: inner rib portion for packaging; designed to form an ergonomic grip.
• Details: inner rib portion for packaging; designed to form an ergonomic grip.
• Details: inner rib portion for packaging; designed to form an ergonomic grip.

Another feature will be in the structure of each portion: and their polypropylene structure was in fact designed for an ergonomic grip, an intelligent packaging (which starts from the same portions through a particular inner rib) and to act not only as packaging, but also from the same bowl of the food, thereby avoiding cleaning, dirt and problems for the user; the base of the structure, composed of a thin silicona rubber layer, will serve instead to give adhesion to various surfaces, so as to block the product during use and so that it is usable not only in the home but also outside. Graphics, consisting of the tape that wraps the entire package and the one located in the label portion, will allow the user to be informed about the values, specifications and product type, visible in many different languages.

• Mode QR code to the use of an app useful to the user.
• Mode QR code to the use of an app useful to the user.

Finally, via QR code, you have the ability to access an app, with the sole function of additional help and support of the system, without the presence of spam, selling or advertising, which will enable owners, already aware of the care and well-being your animal (as they have purchased that product), to know the product, evaluate it, to be in contact with the other owners, united in this community, with experts and veterinarians and last but not least, the possibility of using photo leisure, selfies , likes and comments in the community. This project thus aims to resolve the misinformation and malnutrition feline, with the aim of improving the lifestyle of both.

MIA.O // Cat's smart food packaging.
Product design and system for proper food interaction between feline and user in the home.

Author: Giulia Saltari
Rapporteur: Giuseppe Mincolelli
Discussed on: 14/07/2016
At: University of Ferrara