3D-printed purple slow feeder prototype with radial dividers forming wedge-shaped compartments. The circular design sits on a light speckled surface, showcasing an early output from a parametric modeling process.

Parametric
for Peanut

A parametric design experiment to create a custom slow feeder for my speed-eating dog, Peanut.

3D-printed purple slow feeder prototype with radial dividers forming wedge-shaped compartments. The circular design sits on a light speckled surface, showcasing an early output from a parametric modeling process.

Parametric
for Peanut

A parametric design experiment to create a custom slow feeder for my speed-eating dog, Peanut.

3D-printed purple slow feeder prototype with radial dividers forming wedge-shaped compartments. The circular design sits on a light speckled surface, showcasing an early output from a parametric modeling process.

Parametric
for Peanut

A parametric design experiment to create a custom slow feeder for my speed-eating dog, Peanut.

Why Customize a Bowl?

How might computational design allow for more adaptive, real-world solutions?

How might computational design allow for more adaptive, real-world solutions?

How might computational design allow for more adaptive, real-world solutions?

Slow feeders are everywhere, but very few are designed for dogs as small as Peanut, my 4lb teacup poodle. Most are too large or not restrictive enough to actually slow her down. I began wondering: What if a feeder could be customized based on a dog’s specific size and eating habits?

Slow feeders are everywhere, but very few are designed for dogs as small as Peanut, my 4lb teacup poodle. Most are too large or not restrictive enough to actually slow her down. I began wondering: What if a feeder could be customized based on a dog’s specific size and eating habits?

Slow feeders are everywhere, but very few are designed for dogs as small as Peanut, my 4lb teacup poodle. Most are too large or not restrictive enough to actually slow her down. I began wondering: What if a feeder could be customized based on a dog’s specific size and eating habits?

Small curly-haired dog eating from a store-bought slow feeder bowl filled with soft food. A stainless steel water bowl sits beside it on a two-in-one feeding station, placed on a wood floor near a window.
Small curly-haired dog eating from a store-bought slow feeder bowl filled with soft food. A stainless steel water bowl sits beside it on a two-in-one feeding station, placed on a wood floor near a window.
Small curly-haired dog eating from a store-bought slow feeder bowl filled with soft food. A stainless steel water bowl sits beside it on a two-in-one feeding station, placed on a wood floor near a window.
Small curly-haired dog eating from a store-bought slow feeder bowl filled with soft food. A stainless steel water bowl sits beside it on a two-in-one feeding station, placed on a wood floor near a window.
Small curly-haired dog eating from a store-bought slow feeder bowl filled with soft food. A stainless steel water bowl sits beside it on a two-in-one feeding station, placed on a wood floor near a window.

Peanut, the speed-eating poodle.

Prototyping Parametrics.

Using Rhino and Grasshopper, I developed a parametric model that allowed for customization of bowl width, depth, and ridge intensity. Adjustable sliders controlled the angle, height, and quantity of ridges, enabling the complexity to scale with the dog’s needs. After multiple iterations, I 3D printed a version tailored specifically to Peanut’s body size and speed.

Using Rhino and Grasshopper, I developed a parametric model that allowed for customization of bowl width, depth, and ridge intensity. Adjustable sliders controlled the angle, height, and quantity of ridges, enabling the complexity to scale with the dog’s needs. After multiple iterations, I 3D printed a version tailored specifically to Peanut’s body size and speed.

Using Rhino and Grasshopper, I developed a parametric model that allowed for customization of bowl width, depth, and ridge intensity. Adjustable sliders controlled the angle, height, and quantity of ridges, enabling the complexity to scale with the dog’s needs. After multiple iterations, I 3D printed a version tailored specifically to Peanut’s body size and speed.

Adjustable parameters control the number, angle, and intensity of grooves to personalize feeding difficulty. The base circle is extracted from the bowl geometry and used to create evenly spaced groove vectors.
Adjustable parameters control the number, angle, and intensity of grooves to personalize feeding difficulty. The base circle is extracted from the bowl geometry and used to create evenly spaced groove vectors.
Adjustable parameters control the number, angle, and intensity of grooves to personalize feeding difficulty. The base circle is extracted from the bowl geometry and used to create evenly spaced groove vectors.
Adjustable parameters control the number, angle, and intensity of grooves to personalize feeding difficulty. The base circle is extracted from the bowl geometry and used to create evenly spaced groove vectors.
Adjustable parameters control the number, angle, and intensity of grooves to personalize feeding difficulty. The base circle is extracted from the bowl geometry and used to create evenly spaced groove vectors.
Bowl geometry is fully parametric, allowing quick customization of radius, height, and wall thickness. A solid difference operation is used to generate the final printable shape.
Bowl geometry is fully parametric, allowing quick customization of radius, height, and wall thickness. A solid difference operation is used to generate the final printable shape.
Bowl geometry is fully parametric, allowing quick customization of radius, height, and wall thickness. A solid difference operation is used to generate the final printable shape.
Bowl geometry is fully parametric, allowing quick customization of radius, height, and wall thickness. A solid difference operation is used to generate the final printable shape.
Bowl geometry is fully parametric, allowing quick customization of radius, height, and wall thickness. A solid difference operation is used to generate the final printable shape.

Grasshopper definition for bowl size and slow-feeder intensity.

Top-down view of a 3D parametric bowl model with six evenly spaced straight dividers radiating from the center.
Top-down view of a 3D parametric bowl model with six evenly spaced straight dividers radiating from the center.
Top-down view of a 3D parametric bowl model with six evenly spaced straight dividers radiating from the center.
Top-down view of a 3D parametric bowl model with six evenly spaced straight dividers radiating from the center.
Top-down view of a 3D parametric bowl model with six evenly spaced straight dividers radiating from the center.
Angled view of the same 3D bowl model showing six thick, green straight dividers inside a pink bowl.
Angled view of the same 3D bowl model showing six thick, green straight dividers inside a pink bowl.
Angled view of the same 3D bowl model showing six thick, green straight dividers inside a pink bowl.
Angled view of the same 3D bowl model showing six thick, green straight dividers inside a pink bowl.
Angled view of the same 3D bowl model showing six thick, green straight dividers inside a pink bowl.
Top-down view of a parametric bowl with denser, more angled dividers forming a spiral-like pattern.
Top-down view of a parametric bowl with denser, more angled dividers forming a spiral-like pattern.
Top-down view of a parametric bowl with denser, more angled dividers forming a spiral-like pattern.
Top-down view of a parametric bowl with denser, more angled dividers forming a spiral-like pattern.
Top-down view of a parametric bowl with denser, more angled dividers forming a spiral-like pattern.
Angled 3D view of a parametric bowl with transparent green spiral dividers inside a pink outer shell, illustrating increased groove intensity and angle.
Angled 3D view of a parametric bowl with transparent green spiral dividers inside a pink outer shell, illustrating increased groove intensity and angle.
Angled 3D view of a parametric bowl with transparent green spiral dividers inside a pink outer shell, illustrating increased groove intensity and angle.
Angled 3D view of a parametric bowl with transparent green spiral dividers inside a pink outer shell, illustrating increased groove intensity and angle.
Angled 3D view of a parametric bowl with transparent green spiral dividers inside a pink outer shell, illustrating increased groove intensity and angle.

Parametric 3D models of low and high-intensity slow feeders, generated using Grasshopper.

Close-up of a 3D printer mid-print, creating a blue circular object with internal radial dividers. A small robot decal is visible on the wall of the printer enclosure.
Close-up of a 3D printer mid-print, creating a blue circular object with internal radial dividers. A small robot decal is visible on the wall of the printer enclosure.
Close-up of a 3D printer mid-print, creating a blue circular object with internal radial dividers. A small robot decal is visible on the wall of the printer enclosure.
Close-up of a 3D printer mid-print, creating a blue circular object with internal radial dividers. A small robot decal is visible on the wall of the printer enclosure.
Close-up of a 3D printer mid-print, creating a blue circular object with internal radial dividers. A small robot decal is visible on the wall of the printer enclosure.
Side view of a blue circular 3D-printed object on the print bed of an Ultimaker printer. The part appears nearly complete, with smooth layer lines and a visible brim for adhesion.
Side view of a blue circular 3D-printed object on the print bed of an Ultimaker printer. The part appears nearly complete, with smooth layer lines and a visible brim for adhesion.
Side view of a blue circular 3D-printed object on the print bed of an Ultimaker printer. The part appears nearly complete, with smooth layer lines and a visible brim for adhesion.
Side view of a blue circular 3D-printed object on the print bed of an Ultimaker printer. The part appears nearly complete, with smooth layer lines and a visible brim for adhesion.
Side view of a blue circular 3D-printed object on the print bed of an Ultimaker printer. The part appears nearly complete, with smooth layer lines and a visible brim for adhesion.

Slow feeder mid-print.

Reflection & Future Use.

The final prototype was a fully 3D-printed slow feeder in PLA, customized for Peanut’s size and eating behavior. By adjusting the ridge layout, I could increase or reduce the challenge. I didn’t test this one due to concerns about food-safe printing materials, but it opened up questions I’d like to explore further: How can computational tools create more personalized, real-world designs for humans and non-humans?

The final prototype was a fully 3D-printed slow feeder in PLA, customized for Peanut’s size and eating behavior. By adjusting the ridge layout, I could increase or reduce the challenge. I didn’t test this one due to concerns about food-safe printing materials, but it opened up questions I’d like to explore further: How can computational tools create more personalized, real-world designs for humans and non-humans?

The final prototype was a fully 3D-printed slow feeder in PLA, customized for Peanut’s size and eating behavior. By adjusting the ridge layout, I could increase or reduce the challenge. I didn’t test this one due to concerns about food-safe printing materials, but it opened up questions I’d like to explore further: How can computational tools create more personalized, real-world designs for humans and non-humans?

Hand holding a freshly 3D-printed blue slow feeder bowl with triangular internal dividers. The object has visible layer lines and a brim around the base. A tiled backsplash and stovetop are visible in the background.
Hand holding a freshly 3D-printed blue slow feeder bowl with triangular internal dividers. The object has visible layer lines and a brim around the base. A tiled backsplash and stovetop are visible in the background.
Hand holding a freshly 3D-printed blue slow feeder bowl with triangular internal dividers. The object has visible layer lines and a brim around the base. A tiled backsplash and stovetop are visible in the background.
Hand holding a freshly 3D-printed blue slow feeder bowl with triangular internal dividers. The object has visible layer lines and a brim around the base. A tiled backsplash and stovetop are visible in the background.
Hand holding a freshly 3D-printed blue slow feeder bowl with triangular internal dividers. The object has visible layer lines and a brim around the base. A tiled backsplash and stovetop are visible in the background.

A custom slow feeder for my little pup!

MADE WITH

Rhino, Grasshopper, 3D printing, pet-centered prototyping

TEAM

Shameemah Fuseini-Codjoe
(And Peanut!)

A fluid, evolving little corner of the internet, designed by Shameemah in Spline and Framer. © 2025