Nova Zeal x Barklove: Enrichment Kits and Exclusive Event Products

We are so excited to share our latest collaboration with Barklove, a dog-friendly festival bringing together independent brands, experiences and a fun day out for dogs and their humans. Created especially for the event, the Nova Zeal x Barklove collection includes limited small travel snuffle mat kits and a range of exclusive snuffle mats and snuffle balls that will only be available at Barklove on 05.07.26.

Thoughtful, interactive and full of personality, this collaboration has been designed to celebrate dogs through colour, enrichment and creativity.

What is Barklove?

Barklove is a dog-focused event designed to bring together independent brands, dog lovers and plenty of fun along the way. It is the kind of event that feels playful, welcoming and full of personality, which made it a very natural fit for Nova Zeal.

If you are planning to come along, you can explore the event on the Barklove website and book tickets here.

Why Barklove?

At Nova Zeal, I have always believed enrichment can be both practical and visually joyful. Barklove felt like the perfect fit because it celebrates dogs in a way that feels creative, exciting and full of energy.

For this collaboration, I wanted to create something that reflected that same spirit. Rather than simply producing another enrichment product, the aim was to design an experience that felt playful and memorable while still staying true to the sniff-led benefits enrichment can offer dogs.

It is a collaboration rooted in shared values: creativity, canine wellbeing and thoughtful design.

Designed in Barklove Colours

One of the most exciting parts of this collaboration has been developing the colour palette.

Designed around Barklove’s signature colours, the final palette brings together softness, contrast and playful energy to create a look that feels fresh, cheerful and festival-inspired. The result is a collection that feels instantly linked to Barklove while still carrying the recognisable Nova Zeal approach to colour and design.

As with all Nova Zeal creations, this was never just about choosing colours that looked good on their own. It was about considering how they would work together once assembled, how they would feel in real life, and how to create something that felt cohesive, creative and full of character.

The Barklove Snuffle Mat Kits

As part of the collaboration, I have created a limited number of small snuffle mat kits that will be handed out to some of the first entrants on the day.

Each kit includes everything needed to create a travel-friendly snuffle mat using the collaboration colour palette, giving attendees the chance to take home something interactive, practical and a little different. Designed to be compact and travel-friendly, these mats are ideal for enrichment on the go, whether attached to a bag, used out and about, or tucked into a crate.

To make the activity feel even more open-ended and creative, each kit includes extra fleece strips beyond the number needed to complete the mat. This gives a little more flexibility with colour placement and means every finished mat can look slightly different.

Barklove-Exclusive Products

Alongside the kits, I will also be bringing a special collection of fully made Barklove products, all created in the same collaboration colour palette.

This exclusive event collection will include snuffle mats in all sizes as well as snuffle balls, making Barklove the only place to shop the full range in these colours. It means visitors can enjoy the hands-on side of the collaboration through the kits, while also having the chance to shop the finished designs on the day.

These products will be available only at Barklove on 05.07.26, making them a special one-day release created just for the event.

A Few Ways to Make It Your Own

One of the things I love most about this collaboration is that no two finished mats will look exactly the same.

Although every kit is built from the same Barklove-inspired palette, the placement of colour, the balance of shades and the way each person chooses to assemble their mat means each finished design will have its own character. That playful variation fits perfectly with both the Barklove atmosphere and Nova Zeal’s love of handmade enrichment that feels personal and considered.

 

More Than a Product

What I love most about this collaboration is that it goes beyond simply launching a product.

This is about introducing people to enrichment in a way that feels accessible, joyful and visually engaging. It is about showing how colour and design can shape the feel of an experience. And it is about creating something that celebrates dogs not only through play, but through creativity too.

For Nova Zeal, collaborations like this are a chance to bring together my background in design with my passion for sniff-led enrichment, creating products and experiences that feel both useful and meaningful.

Coming to Barklove on 05.07.26

If you are coming along to Barklove on 05.07.26, keep an eye out for the limited Barklove snuffle mat kits and the exclusive fully made Barklove mats and snuffle balls, all created especially for the event. You can find more event details on the Barklove website and book tickets here.

This has been such a fun collaboration to work on, and I am so excited to finally see it all come together.

Follow @novazealstudio and @barklovefestival for behind-the-scenes previews, launch updates and event content.

When thoughtful design and playful enrichment come together, something very special can happen.