More-Than-Human Design in Practice. How We Designed the Equihero Inhalation Mask at 2s.design
How do you design specialized medical equipment for a user you cannot talk to? This was the challenge we faced as the 2s.design studio while working on the Equihero project—an anatomical inhalation (nebulization) mask for horses.
The idea for the product was born from a real need of the brand’s founders. While battling their own horse’s respiratory disease, they encountered a gap in the market. Until now, horse caretakers had a tough nut to crack: either astronomically expensive veterinary systems or cheap, amateur solutions that only amplified the animal’s stress and the human’s frustration. Equihero changes the rules of the game. It is an affordable mask, compatible with standard pharmacy inhalers, designed with a complete understanding of equine anatomy and psychology.
Striking a Balance Between Technology and Nature
Designing for animals required us to step outside conventional frameworks. We based the entire process on the philosophy of More-Than-Human Design, prioritizing the horse’s physiology, comfort, and well-being above all else.
Our goal was to create a form that does not impose itself on the animal but harmonizes with the natural rhythm of its breath. Clean lines with dynamic side embossing emphasize the sporty yet medical character of the product. Meanwhile, the color palette—inspired by shades of sand, peat, clay, and coal—gives the device an organic expression, firmly rooting it in the natural environment of horses.
Starting Point: A Clear Goal and Technological Constraints
The Equihero team came to our Warsaw studio with very strong foundations. They had a working proof of concept prototype and knew exactly what kind of product they wanted to offer the market.
Crucially from an industrial designer’s perspective, the production technology was strictly defined from the very beginning. For a designer, this is an ideal scenario—clear technological boundaries allowed us to focus 100% on optimizing ergonomics, refining details, and perfecting an aesthetic that facilitates mass production right from day one.
Empathy in Practice, or Design Straight from the Stable
Good design isn’t born solely from behind a desk. To genuinely address the needs of horses and their caretakers, we had to experience this world firsthand. Monika Grzesik (wife of one of the 2s.design founders) proved to be an invaluable support. As a veterinarian, horse enthusiast, and owner of her own mount, she helped us understand the equestrian world from the inside out. Thanks to her, we were able to verify the flaws of existing devices on the market, confronting our initial assumptions directly in the stable rather than in the design studio.
From a Digital Phantom to Four Concepts
We began our design work in a virtual environment. Our first ergonomics tester was a digital phantom of a horse’s head, which allowed us to precisely account for the complex anatomy and geometry of the animal’s skull.
An intensive phase of sketching and 3D modeling resulted in the development of four distinct stylistic and functional pathways:
Flow: A gentle, organic line directly associated with waves and the free flow of air.
Rounded: A shape based on soft arcs—a simple form with a highly prominent space for branding.
Futuristic: A monolithic, geometric solid communicating robustness and advanced technology.
Simplicity: Clean, raw minimalism characteristic of professional laboratory and medical equipment.
Iterations on a Living Organism
Choosing the final direction opened the most difficult phase of the project. The Equihero mask essentially has two vastly different users. On one side, we have the horse—a strong, sensitive, and skittish patient who doesn’t understand the purpose of the procedure. On the other side is the caretaker or veterinarian, who must put the equipment on quickly, efficiently, and without generating additional stress.
We entered a phase of agile, empirical testing:
Dimensions and ergonomics (3D Prints): Quick prototypes from the 3D printer allowed us to instantly check the overall dimensions and fit of the mask directly on horses’ muzzles.
Insight into the process (Transparent Casts): To go a step further, we created trial casts using a technology close to the final one, but utilizing fully transparent resins. This was a breakthrough. Thanks to the transparency, we gained literal insight into what was happening inside the mask during breathing. We could monitor the seal pressure, the movement of the nostrils, and ensure that the plastic didn’t cause the slightest pinching.
The mask evolved from iteration to iteration—it was shortened, lengthened, and widened in search of a universal anatomical line that, thanks to interchangeable attachments, could accommodate different head sizes.
Once the main body was ready, we zoomed in to the level of micro-ergonomics. We tested the optimal routing of the straps (so they wouldn’t irritate the sensitive poll) and the fastening systems. Every catch and clip had to prove itself in edge-case scenarios—from smooth, everyday one-handed fastening to safety in the event of the animal suddenly jerking away (hence the decision to use emergency magnetic clasps).
Finale: Stress-Free Treatment
Thanks to dozens of trials, tests, and rigorous adjustments, the final Equihero mask has become a product thought out down to the smallest detail. The device safeguards the horse’s health in a completely natural way for the animal, while giving the caretaker the confidence that the inhalation process will go smoothly and without fighting the animal.
We are an industrial design studio based in Warsaw. Every new project is a unique challenge for us, requiring a deep dive into the user’s perspective. Whether we are designing equipment for humans or sensitive animals, the key to success for us is physically testing ideas in their target environment. We design, research on living organisms, and iterate until we succeed—as long as it takes for the product to be 100% safe, intuitive, and ready for market launch.
