TriPawd Dog Wheelchair by Dosun Shin is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2021 Silver A' Design Award in Pet Care, Toys, Supplies and Products for Animals Design Competition Category.

SilverPet Care· 2021

TriPawd Dog Wheelchair

by Dosun Shin

Client: Arizona State University

Silver A' Design Award Winner in Pet Care Category

31,882

Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #118819

View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

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The Design

About TriPawd Dog Wheelchair

TriPawd is a dog wheelchair designed for dogs that have lost a front leg. Two large rear wheels improve the stability and the mobility of the device. A small front wheel on the bent metal tube frame supports a fiberglass chest cup. The bent frame leaves enough space for the dog to walk without interference from the remaining legs. The support pole is height-adjustable for dogs of different sizes. No strapping is used, so the dog can step on and off the device and can sit and lie down without help from the owner.

The Recognition

About the Silver A' Design Award

TriPawd Dog Wheelchair is a Silver A' Design Award winner, an extraordinarily prestigious recognition granted to top-of-the-line, gorgeous, and impressive designs. Silver winners are tremendously brilliant and exceedingly creative works that illustrate the outstanding expertise, talent, and acuity of their designers. TriPawd Dog Wheelchair is expected to be a wonderful, showpiece work that is remarkably professional and profoundly innovative. This Silver A' Design Award-winning design is a highly notable, admired invention that benefits and advances the boundaries of art, science, design, and technology. TriPawd Dog Wheelchair is a vastly envied creation that evokes desires, introduces positive feelings, and sparks amazement and wonderment.

Image Analysis

Color Temperature: NeutralSymmetry: Both DirectionsBackground: Left and Right

Where to Get It

Innovative Assistive Product Design Services

We specialize in human-centered design for medical and assistive devices, transforming complex challenges into elegant solutions. Our award-winning expertise focuses on creating products that enhance quality of life for overlooked users, with proven success in mobility aids, healthcare innovations, and accessible technology.

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Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: This project was to design an assistive device that will help 3 legs-handicapped dogs walk and stand on their own. Two large rear wheels were used to improve both the stability and mobility of the device, while a front small wheel on the metal tube frame connecting the two wheels provided strong support for the chest cup. The bent metal frame provided just enough space for the dog to walk without any interference of his legs. The pole is height-adjustable for different sizes of dogs.
Dimensions & Packaging: 685 mm x 630 mm x 550 mm
Tags: Handicapped dog, dog wheelchair, animal assistive device, product design, product innovation
Production Technology: Bent metal frame, fiberglass chest cup
Design Challenge: One key aspect while collecting measurements of the dog is that dogs don’t understand what is happening in the same way human subjects would understand. Another challenging factor was that animals are not able to communicate and provide the same level of feedback as a human, regarding comfortability and overall effectiveness of the device. Since it was such a huge challenge to measure the accurate size and shape of the dog’s upper body, the designer produced a series of different-sized chest cups, followed by the repetition of measurements.
Research: This project introduces the design and development of a new assistive wheeled product for handicapped dogs. The device is specifically targeted for a 5-year-old mastiff who lost one of his front legs due to a gunshot accident in California, U.S. This study involves research, design, and usability testing with a series of working prototypes on the dog.
Inspiration: Sadly, the dog had no bone structure left due to his left front leg being completely removed from surgery. Because of this, the design direction was focused on a wheeled type of mobility device called a dog wheelchair due to its similar functionality to a human wheelchair. This device allows the dog to jump on and off easily without any strapping mechanisms on his body. This will also allow the dog to sit and lie down freely without his owner’s assistance.
Project Duration: The project started in July 2019 in Tempe, Arizona, U.S, and finished in December 2020.
Operation Flow: This device helps 3 legs-handicapped dogs walk and stand on their own for longer periods of time without any assistance from the owners.
Image Credits: Image #1: Creator, Dosun Shin, 2020.
Optional Image #1: Creator, Dosun Shin, 2020.
Optional Image #2: Creator, Dosun Shin, 2020.
Optional Image #3: Photographer, Dosun Shin, 2020.
Optional Image #4: Photographer, Dosun Shin, 2020.