Behind the Colours: Designing Nova Zeal's Cool and Warm Enrichment Collections

Enrichment toys are often thought of purely as functional tools for dogs. While function is important, design also shapes how a product feels, looks, and fits into everyday life.

As the founder of Nova Zeal and someone with a background in contemporary textiles, colour and material choices are always part of the process when creating new enrichment products.

At Nova Zeal, enrichment toys are approached through a design lens, where colour, texture and play all work together in the finished product.

Over the past few months I have been working on two new colour collections. These are the Cool Collection and the Warm Collection, designed to bring thoughtful colour palettes into enrichment toys while still keeping the focus on play, exploration and discovery.

Why Colour Matters in Enrichment Toys

Colour may not affect how dogs find treats, but it plays an important role in the way enrichment toys look and feel once they are finished.

Dogs experience the world differently to us, but colour can still influence how a toy looks and how it fits into a home.

When designing enrichment toys I consider:

• how colours interact once the fleece strips are tied and layered
• how the palette creates depth and texture in the finished mat or ball
• how the finished product looks in everyday homes

Because fleece suppliers often offer limited shades, creating a cohesive palette involves working with what is available and finding combinations that feel balanced once the product is assembled.

While enrichment toys like snuffle mats are most commonly used with dogs, they can also be enjoyed by other animals who benefit from foraging enrichment. 

Translating Colour Palettes into Fleece

Translating colour palettes from screen to fabric is not always straightforward.

Digital colour palettes rarely translate perfectly into fabric. What looks soft or subtle on screen can feel flat when turned into a textured textile product.

During the design process I often lay fleece swatches together to test how colours interact before they are translated into a finished enrichment toy. What matters most is how the colours behave once the fleece layers build up and the texture of the finished enrichment toy starts to form.

Sometimes softer shades need to be paired with slightly brighter tones to create depth and contrast. The goal is always to keep the palette cohesive while making sure the finished enrichment toy still looks lively and interesting.

Each Nova Zeal enrichment toy is assembled by hand, with hundreds of fleece strips tied individually to create the finished texture and depth.

Introducing the Cool Collection

The Cool Collection takes inspiration from the movement and freshness of the ocean, with waves rolling in across the shoreline. Like the sea, enrichment play has its own rhythm, with dogs naturally moving, sniffing and exploring as they search through the layers.

These shades work beautifully together in snuffle mats and snuffle balls, creating a balanced palette with plenty of visual interest once the fleece strips are tied and layered. 

Blue and softer cool tones create a palette that feels calm, bright and refreshing once translated into fleece, echoing the shifting tones of sea and sky.

Together, the Cool and Warm collections reflect two sides of the natural landscape, from the calm movement of the sea to the richness and warmth of forested hills.

Introducing the Warm Collection

Warm fleece tones layered into snuffle balls inspired by forests, autumn colours and Highland Landscapes.

The Warm Collection takes inspiration from forests and earthy Highland tones that feel cosy and grounding. The palette draws on colours found across the Scottish landscape, from deep greens and rich berry tones to warmer shades reminiscent of autumn foliage and heather-covered hills.

When translated into fleece, these tones layer together to create warmth and depth within the finished enrichment toys, forming a palette that feels natural, cosy and connected to the outdoors. 

These warmer tones naturally create contrast within the fleece layers, helping the textures stand out while keeping the overall design cohesive.

Designed for Play, Exploration and Discovery

At the heart of every Nova Zeal product is enrichment. 

At home, Archie and Remi are usually the first to test new designs as they come off the worktable.

Snuffle mats and snuffle balls encourage dogs to use their natural foraging instincts. Hiding treats within the fleece strips encourages sniffing, problem solving and calm engagement.

Colour may shape the visual identity of each collection, but the purpose remains the same. 

To create toys that help animals:

• explore
• forage
• thrive

Coming Soon

Both the Cool Collection and Warm Collection will be launching soon on the Nova Zeal website.

Each collection will include handcrafted enrichment toys that bring thoughtful colour palettes together with practical enrichment for dogs. 

If you would like to be the first to know when the collections launch, you can join the Nova Zeal email list for early updates and new product announcements.