Tamara Ayganova – Heriot Watt University

Tamara Ayganova

Communication Design

DogzWatching

Integrating Dogs Into the Digital World

Design Statement: Design creates meaningful connections between people, emotions, and everyday experiences. My interest lies in how digital design can support emotional wellbeing through systems that feel intuitive, supportive, and human-centered. This approach combines visual storytelling, interface design, and research-driven thinking to create experiences that are both functional and emotionally engaging. Inspired by calm minimal aesthetics, behavioral psychology, and human-technology interaction, the focus is on designing for real needs rather than aesthetics alone. Through this lens, design becomes more than visual communication; it becomes a tool for empathy, comfort, and meaningful interaction in everyday life

Project Overview: DogzWatching is a behaviour-focused digital platform designed to support dogs experiencing
separation-related stress while their owners are away. The project explores how adaptive media, behavioral monitoring, and responsive interaction design can create a calmer and more supportive home environment for pets. Unlike traditional pet-monitoring systems that primarily focus on surveillance, DogzWatching aims to actively respond to behavioral patterns through personalized audiovisual content delivered via connected devices. The project combines behavioral research, emotional design, and interface development to investigate how technology can function as a supportive companion rather than simply a monitoring tool. The outcome includes a connected ecosystem consisting of a mobile application, smart TV interface, behavioral analytics system, and adaptive content experience.