Pet Design

Course

Design environments and products to enhance the well-being of pets; foster their correct inclusion in the urban landscape through design; improve the quality of the relationship with humans: the Executive Course in Pet Design provides the tools and philosophical framework for a design practice that mitigates the anthropocentric approach to design. Below are the educational objectives of the program.

• Acquire basic knowledge and sensitivity in the design of pet-related products, furniture, and spaces within built environments.
• Learn methods, tools, and guidelines for ethically correct design of environments and products.
• Gain foundational knowledge in relational ethology and zoo-anthropology as design bases.

The course is the first in Italy and Europe to lay the conceptual foundations for creating more inclusive environments by combining the care, comfort, and well-being of the hetero-specific system within built contexts. The curriculum is divided into the following disciplinary areas: design, veterinary medicine, zoo-anthropology, followed by a design-focused section. Lessons and exercises are held on days and times that allow attendance for those already working. Below are some of the topics covered.

• Design according to the principles of zoo-anthropology and holistic design.
• Design in accordance with the AAES Environment and Hetero-Specific Furniture approach©™.
• Perception and physiology of dogs and cats, pet needs.
• Introduction to Ethology and case studies on the relationship between environment and animal behavior.
• Case studies on designing according to the needs of pets.

For organizations, it is possible to define a tailor-made pathway structured around their specific needs.

Some numbers

Testimonials

Didactics

Attendance

Attendance at the course is 80% mandatory.

Training objectives

• Acquire basic knowledge of the principles of designing products, furniture, and spaces for pets.
• Learn advanced scientific knowledge to take advantage of the opportunities and career prospects offered by the sector.
• Refine a design approach that is not anthropocentric but ethologically correct, based on the principles of animal welfare and cognitive zoo anthropology.
• Acquire basic knowledge of the AAES Method (Hetero-Specific Environments and Furniture© ™) and design thinking applied to the “relation centered” project.

Didactic Plan

The course includes 2- or 4-hours teaching units for a total of 7 days.

Units are divided into theoretical frontal teaching and practical activities.

The lessons will be held in face-to-face or remote modality, according to the calendar.

In order to allow working people to attend, it has been decided to organise lectures and practical activities on Friday afternoon or Saturday.

Practice will be based on real case studies and will involve companies and professional who will be able to orient participants towards a context as closed as possible to the professional and working world.

Didactic Modules

The course consists of theoretical lectures and exercises for a total of 40 hours. In order to allow attendance also by people who are already working, teaching is provided on Friday afternoons or Saturdays.

The course is held in presence, with the possibility of attending it also via streaming. In this case, attendance is strongly recommended for the project modules and it is specified that in the case of online attendance there are no recordings nor activities/materials in asynchronous mode.

The exercises are based on real cases with the involvement of companies and professionals who are able to define a context as close as possible to the working and professional reality.

Module 1 | Hours: 1
Course Presentation.
Designing according to the principles of zoo anthropology.

Module 2 | Hours: 3
Stories and projects for multi-species inhabitants

Module 3 | Hours: 1
CASE STUDY: The HAD Human Animal Design

Module 4 | Hours: 2
The AAES Project

Module 5 | Hours: 1
Company CASE STUDY

Module 6 | Hours: 1
Company CASE STUDY

Module 7 | Hours: 2
Perception and physiology of the dog and cat

Module 8 | Hours: 2
Designing dog living through the dimensions of relationship

Module 9 | Hours: 2
Dog and cat needs and living

Module 10 | Hours: 2
Designing cat dwelling through the dimensions of relationship

Module 11 | Hours: 1
CASE STUDY: UNITED PETS
The world of the pet meets the design

Module 12 | Hours: 2
The housing design of cats

Module 13 | Hours:1
Design Strategies for Veterinary Architecture Hospital

Module 14 | Hours: 2
Launch Workshop+1 h debriefing

Module 15 | Hours: 1
Condomicio – visit

Module 16 | Hours: 2
Understanding the dog with the breed motivations

Module 17 | Hours: 2
Mid-term Revision

Module 18 | Hours: 1
The game in the dog

Module 19 and 20 | Hours: 7
Workshop and course closing

Title Released

For professionals in the sector or those wishing to work in the sector, the course provides basic knowledge and awareness of pet living design (products, furniture, spaces) within designed environments.

At the end of the Course participants will receive the open badge for the Pet Design Course from POLI.design

Admission

Requirements

The course is open to professionals in Product and Interior Design; Ethology and Animal well-being, R&D Pet Industry and Animal-Care businesses.

Admission to the course is subject to prior selection.

Applicants need to send the selection documents via the following link:

• Application for admission
• Copy of ID and fiscal code
• CV including brief description of professional profile

Deadline to send your application: April 9, 2025

Price

The total cost of the Course is € 1,300 + VAT 22 % for each student. This sum will be paid with a single payment upon signing the contract.

PROMO

EARLY BIRD -10%
The promotion for those who have clear ideas, know which educational path can enrich their future, and can’t wait to get back to the classroom.

Application deadline: March 18, 2025.
Deadline for sending the signed contract and the payment of the participation fee: no later than March 21, 2025.

FAMILY SUPPORT: -50%
A chance to gift your siblings the encouragement they need to invest in their future.

FRIEND TO FRIEND: -20%
An opportunity to gift to a friend to make education the foundation of their growth.

POLI.NETWORK: -50%
A promotion designed to strengthen the bond and identity among members of the Politecnico di Milano community.

BACK TO SCHOOL: -30% on Executive Courses
The discount for those who have already trusted POLI.design and Polimi, and wish to return to study and build their future

MORE THAN ONE: -15%
A discount for those who want to perfect their skills, for those who continually invest in education, not just once but multiple times.

BUSINESS BOOST
The discount designed for companies that recognize training as a crucial factor for growth.

The “Business Boost” discount provides a variable reduction on the participation fee for two or more employees in catalog courses. Specifically, the discount amounts to:

• 15% on the participation fee for the second employee’s enrollment
• 20% on the participation fee for the third employee’s enrollment
• 25% on the participation fee from the fourth employee’s enrollment onwards

Furthermore, companies that purchase more than one Course for two or more employees in the same calendar year can access an additional 10% discount on the total.

Faculty

• Prof. Roberto Marchesini
• Dr.ssa Simona Cao, MVC Medico Veterinario esperto in comportamento
• Dr. Luca Cantini, MVC Medico Veterinario esperto in comportamento
• Dr.ssa Virginia Raboso, etologa
• Arch. Antonella Dedini, architetto e designer
• Cristina Rivolta, Owner United Pets srl
• Massimo Persichino, Il Condomicio
• Mario Colombo,  Frida’s Friends Onlus
• Dott.ssa Caterina Del Bo, responsabile Coadiutori Frida’s Friends Onlus
• Simone Dalla Valle, istruttore cinofilo, autore
• Amelia Valletta, Director, Founder and Chief Officer The HAD Human Animal Design®

Partners

Current edition

Partner Tecnici

Patrocinanti

Media Partner

Past editions