🐶 LAIKA / AI Co-Trainer for Service Dogs
PARTNERS : Parsons School of Design + Microsoft
Laika is a case study that outlines the key insights and outcomes from a project developed in collaboration with service dog trainers, accessibility advocates, and AI researchers. The project addresses the complex challenge of limited access to service dogs by reimagining the training process through systems thinking, stakeholder-driven research, and speculative design. Using AI as a co-training tool, the project explores how emerging technologies can reduce subjectivity and increase success rates in service dog training.
TEAM : Angel L, Anupama K, Tania G
⚡️ IMPACT : Laika expands equitable access to service dogs by reducing training complexity
Problem
Key Role
Outcome
Impact
Despite 61 million Americans living with disabilities that could benefit from a service dog, less than 1% are paired with one. The training process is complex, subjective, and costly—leading to high failure rates and limited access.
Led stakeholder mapping, research, and discovery
Planned and managed project timelines
Synthesized insights into guiding principles
Crafted visual storytelling and curated final video
Mapped ecosystem with 10+ stakeholders
Conducted 6 expert interviews
Tested solution and gathered user feedback
Reduced failure risk in service dog programs
Improved training consistency and accessibility
Empowered trainers and users with AI-driven support
Project Summary
Week 1 - 2
Opportunity Framing
Insight Generation
Generative Research
Ideation
Idea Development
Idea Selection
Tasks
Duration
Concept Co-Development
Concept selection
Concept Prototyping
Evaluative research
Prototype Refinement
Solution implementation
User flows
& Prototyping
Week 8 - 13
Narrative Development
Narrative refinement
Partner Pitch and Feedback
Partner pitch &
Feedback
Week 14 - 15
Phase
Intent Coversation
Brief Exploration
Partner management
Team Building
Project Planning
Problem Definiton
Discovery
and Scoping
Service Dog Exploration
& Ideation
Week 3 - 7
Process Overview
Week 1-2: Discovery & Scoping

Week 3 - 7: Service Dog Exploration & Ideation
Week 8 - 13: User Flows & Prototyping


Week 14 - 15: Partner Pitch & Feedback

Learnings & Reflections: Start, Stop and Continue Retrospective


The Team: Tania, Mrunmayee (Me), Anupama and Angel (From the left)
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