Sit, Stay, Work: Central Bark Redefines Inclusive Office Design

Some furry friends are more than just our loveable pets; they are true superheroes working as service animals. As office spaces become more inclusive of our diverse needs as humans, the design of our spaces must come along too—in many creative ways! Designed by Chrissy Fehan and Maison Fee, DARRAN’s Central Bark is a beautifully created retreat where service animals can curl up in comfort while their humans work.

According to a statement from DARRAN, “Central Bark isn’t just a pet bed; it is a thoughtful extension of your office furniture, designed to blend perfectly into your workspace and enhance your culture, while providing a dedicated haven for your canine companion.”

It looks like a sleek piece of office furniture (seamlessly matching DARRAN’s Central Park line), but it includes a "shelter" cutout equipped with a soft bed, warm lighting, and sound-dampening upholstery to keep things peaceful for your pet. The bed can pull out and expand for larger animals, and the unit includes storage drawers with integrated food and water bowls. The fabrics are PFAS-free and machine washable, because life happens. It even earns sustainability points because it’s manufactured in High Point, North Carolina, using water-based finishes and locally sourced materials.

For people who rely on service animals—for physical, neurodivergent, or emotional support—Central Bark makes inclusion clear from the blueprint stage. Jurors who reviewed this product for 2025 Best of NeoCon Competition praised the collection for “putting neurodiversity at the forefront” and bestowed DARRAN with an Innovation Award.

Central Bark proves that function and aesthetics don’t have to be in competition. You can design for real needs and real environments. You can support serious work without sacrificing style. And you can treat service animals like the professionals they are. It’s a sophisticated solution that proves inclusivity and high design can sit (and stay) together.

—Louis Noha