This project was done for an assignment to re-design a product that we hate. Hoof picks are the little gadget that's used to remove rocks and mud from the creases in a horse's foot before riding. I spent two years working on a farm, taking care of people's show horses, and I HATE hoof picks. Because hoof picks are fairly small and tend to get lost, most people buy the cheapest version they can, which is generally one style that was created in the back in the 70s or 80s and has basically gone unchanged since then. While that version is okay for people who only have one horse, the terrible ergonomics become super apparent to horse industry workers who have to pick out 10 horses a day, all four feet, before and after every ride. My goal with this project was to create a design with rounded edges and generally better ergonomics, which would be less likely to create painful calluses or total frustration for the industry professionals that use them day in and day out.
Final rendering.
Initial sketches, which really started to look like a caterpillar's cocoon.
