A Dog's Life

When we started SY Design close to year ago we never imagined that we'd be designing products to be sold on the shelves of Petco, Petsmart, and other dog boutiques! We're having so much fun now, in the first stages of our newest design project for "Outward Hound", that we thought you'd like to see some of our design process and "user based R & D" for a different type of "consumer", the friendly four legged kind.

Last week we began when a box of samples arrived in the office with all three of the dog's here to give them a good "looking over". It felt a little bit like romper room with squeaking toys everywhere, and dog's running back and forth like they were in heaven. Here's a shot of Iggy, the ball destroyer giving one of the toys a good testing.



One of the projects includes re-designing a rain coat for pooches, here are a couple shots of us "testing them out"


Another part of the project includes coming up with some new and improved ideas for dog life jacket's, which of course required some user testing out at Sauvie Island last week in order to better understand how to approach this "new subject".


We're feeling like we're off to a good start, and having a lot of fun with this new project, next...squeaky toys and treat bags!

We've also added some links to some of our favorite sites, check them out. Until next time, back to "work" for us.

Design Public

Some sites are so good that you want to make sure all your friends know about them too. Design Public is one of them. A great resource for FRESH, NEW, DESIGN, in furniture, bedding, accessories, pets, kids, etc.

Also noteworthy is the design public blog, "Hatch", so if you are looking for some new inspiration or...just some great shopping add this site to your list.

Check it out....APAK Artshow!

This past Friday, while we were out shopping the town for the latest and greatest, we found this fun artshow by APAK, at Grass Hut on 811 East Burnside, across the street from the nearly infamous Doug Fir. These pieces are fun, whimsical, and unique, definitely worth a peek. We were lucky enough to get there just before it officially opened so we were able to get the "picks of the litter" so to speak. Check out the rest of the exhibit here

Dude, I don't think we're in Portland anymore...

What's the best part about working in a fun freelance design firm? Getting to spend a week "working" at a summer camp for 4-H kids for a week. We packed our bags and headed for Kim's hometown of Dayton, WA. Where is Dayton you ask? Well let's just say that it's not the end of the world, but you can see it from there. It's actually a beautiful part of Washington, lots of great hiking, camping and fly fishing.

We were charged with no small task during our foray as camp counselors...Teaching arts and crafts to 120 impatient kids on a week-long sugar high from the camp's endless supply of kool-aid and popsicles. They came in droves (okay, 35 at a time) to learn how to make hemp necklaces and bracelets, and to decorate picture frames to take home with a special camp photo inside. The kids were great, most loved arts and crafts and many stayed to make more crafty creations during free time.

Here are some kids working on their hemp string masterpieces


Some of the cute frames the kids made, the aftermath of glitter and glue at the craft area was insane!


Of course what camp would be complete without some fun and games around the campfire? This is a little taste of life at Camp Wooten...This night the kids played 'Wheel of Fortune', complete with homeade wheel and bedsheet-clad Meghan as the lovely Vanna White!