NYC-based dog owners Jeremy Canade and Sophie Bakalar are the founders of Fable, a pet products company. Pet crates are an essential piece of kit for many urban pet owners, and the duo wondered: Why are they always so ugly?

Canade and Bakalar worked with industrial design firm Doris Dev to create a pet crate that would better blend into one's home. "The goal of the project was to provide pet owners with a beautifully designed and functional dog crate that doubles as an end table, adding aesthetic value to the home," explains Doris Dev.

ID Foundation

In the initial stages of the industrial design process, a thorough analysis was conducted to gain insight into the brand voice and pet crate market. Research showed that traditional dog crates often lack aesthetic appeal and quality, and the common swinging door design can occupy valuable space when opened.

Design Development

Crafted with meticulous attention to detail, the Fable Pet Crate features a premium bent plywood construction and features options for metal or acrylic doors. Designed to blend effortlessly into your home decor, it can serve as a stylish side table. Its innovative sliding gate allows for easy access and can be closed or opened as needed, and stored discreetly within the crate for a seamless look.

Engineering

The Doris Dev Engineering Team brought the Fable Pet Crate design to fruition using a methodical approach of CAD design and prototype fabrication. Critical engineering obstacles included the refinement of the latch mechanism for a seamless user experience and engineering the solid plywood crate to be flat-packed for shipping. The result of their efforts is a finely crafted engineering solution, ready for large-scale production and delivery.

Manufacturing

The sourcing team collaborated closely with Fable and the engineering teams to guarantee all processes were executed with precision and quality. An extensive selection process was conducted, evaluating numerous suppliers before the program was ultimately awarded to the one that met the desired quality, cost, and program goals.

During production, the team faced several unique challenges, but their expertise and dedication to quality ensured the successful manufacture of the crate. A key obstacle lay in matching wood grain across neighboring panels (part of the flat-packable design) which the team was able to overcome through creative manufacturing process controls.

The Results

The Fable Pet Crate launched to rave reviews. Pet owners love its stylish look, sturdy materials and secure confinement.

You can see more of Doris Dev's work here.