Stabilizing harness for dogs with behavior disorders during basic veterinary care
DESIGN: Agnieszka Szmyd
Poland
make me! 2025
2nd place make me! Design Award [ex aequo] and a cash prize of PLN 10.000
The project addresses the challenge of examining dogs that lacked proper early socialization or suffer trauma and anxiety during veterinary procedures. The harness assists caregiver and veterinarian in maintaining proper positioning during diagnostic exams, shortening visit time and reducing stress. It comprises three parts: a collar, main body, and rear section. The yellow color signals dogs needing special handling. Cutouts expose the neck, abdomen, and hindquarters for basic medical access. Adjustable straps with quick-release buckles ensure a secure fit. Handles on the shoulders and back enable controlled repositioning. Gentle, uniform pressure applied by the harness provides deep pressure stimulation to calm the dog and allows comfortable posture changes. Constructed from breathable, easy-to-clean materials, this solution enhances animal welfare and clinical efficiency for behaviorally sensitive patients. Its modular design accommodates various canine body shapes and sizes.
Stabilizing harness for dogs with behavior disorders during basic veterinary care, design: Agnieszka Szmyd / from designer’s archive
Stabilizing harness for dogs with behavior disorders during basic veterinary care, design: Agnieszka Szmyd / from designer’s archive
Stabilizing harness for dogs with behavior disorders during basic veterinary care, design: Agnieszka Szmyd / from designer’s archive
Stabilizing harness for dogs with behavior disorders during basic veterinary care, design: Agnieszka Szmyd / from designer’s archive
Agnieszka Szmyd
Design designer. She began her studies in 2018 at the Academy of Fine Arts in Katowice, and graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdansk, where she defended her master’s project – a veterinary harness – with honors.
She specializes in designing everyday products and public space elements. She has also worked on footwear projects. Privately, she is interested in typography, drawing and canine subjects. For several years she worked as a dog trainer, which influenced the directions in which she developed projects.
She has won prizes from the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage in the Design 32 competition (2024), the finals of the Young Design competition (2021) and Young at the Start (2023). In 2022, her table design was presented at the Salone del Mobile in Milan.