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A student project in the Department of Mechanical Engineering has developed a practical solution to a specific but impactful challenge: how to safely carry an assistance cat during travel.

The team comprised of Mary Sowter, Eugene Law, Kit Choe and Chloe Cheung explored human-centred design through emotional support and assistance animals. The project took shape after a chance meeting in Brompton Cemetery between Mary and the cat ‘s owner, Tiffany Hedman.  

Designing for a real-world need

Tiffany lives with a health condition that can cause her lung to collapse without warning. Venti, a rescue ragdoll cat with only three legs, is Tiffany’s support animal, as he can alert her to impending episodes. Day to day, Venti helps Tiffany manage physical and mental health challenges.

Despite carrying official documentation, Tiffany often faces scepticism when traveling with Venti and has found existing pet transport options inadequate. “There wasn’t on the market a safe way to carry him”, she said. “Products for cats like this don’t really exist.”

From concept to “Vesti”

Working closely with Tiffany, the team created a vest-style carrier, the “Vesti for Venti,” designed for both function and credibility. Features include adjustable Velcro fastenings, a sleeveless adaptable design, a lead attachment ring and an ID holder with QR-linked documentation, as well as an embedded GPS tracker.

The team iterated and refined the product using Hackspace facilities and user feedback. “Our first prototype was a rough idea”, Eugene explains. “We went back and made some changes, adding reflective strips, going back to Venti and making sure that everything fits well”.

The final design integrates both functional and aesthetic elements, as required by the project brief. “We had to balance what looked good with what worked,” said Chloe.

Impact beyond the project

The project was exhibited at the annual Design, Art and Creativity (DAC) exhibition, held in the concourse from 12–19 March. The exhibition featured fourth-year student work spanning art, graphics and human-centred design.

Tiffany now uses the Vesti when travelling, including internationally:  “This is helping not just the pet, but the owner surviving with a rare condition,” she notes. Is the idea scalable for a wider market? Not in its current, highly customised form, but the need exists. “It is a small niche, but you do see people going on walks with cats!” Mary says.

The ”Vesti” demonstrates the value of user-led design in addressing overlooked needs. “It felt meaningful,” the student team reflected. “We were actually helping someone with something concrete.”