Scent Chimes

Scent chimes is an accessory built for blind dogs and their human caretakers. Being a parent is a 24/7 role for most pet-owners, the design is considerate of this and offers caretakers an intimate accessory that can be easily worn for long periods of time. The bracelet gives off scent and chimes subtly allowing dogs to follow their parent indoors, and on walks without assistive accessory hindering their playful nature.  

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The bracelet consists of a band in soft leather with magnetic enclosures and various sizes of metal and non-glazed ceramic charms. Dogs that become blind later in life can often adapt to their home surroundings with heightened hearing and sense of smell, forgetting they are blind. However, in the process of adjustment, caretakers often give their dogs assistive accessories in the form of metal halos and long whiskers to prevent the dogs from bumping into objects. Outdoors, caretakers deal with distractions that can overwhelm their dogs by strapping large bells to themselves for their pets to follow. Having to adapt to the new challenge, the obtrusive accessories have been sited to add to highlight the loss of their pet's sight, affecting the pet parent’s mental health. The minimalist design of Scent Chimes serves as a counter to the large accessories as a solution that can provide functionality while being out of sight.

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The porous quality of non-glazed clay allows pet-owners to refill the beads with essential oils such as lavender that give off smells distinct to a dog's olfactory sense. The locket design allows for longer-lasting scents as multiple beads can be stored and chime inside. The project was made possible with the help and guidance from John-Michael Ekeblad at Pratt Institute, who also offered me many insights as a passionate dog parent.