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Innovating along side designers

Innovating along side designers Australasian Medical Journal [AMJ 2013, 6, 1, 29-35] Deana McDonagh and Joyce Thomas School of Art + Design, Beckman Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign REVIEW Industrial designers focus on ensuring that both the functional and emotional needs of mainstream users as Please cite this paper as: McDonagh D, Thomas J. Innovating well as technical-expert-users are met. Design research alongside designers. AMJ 2013, 6, 1, 29-35. provides the opportunity to bridge the gap between the http//dx.doi.org/10.4066/AMJ.2013.1586. functional requirements and the less tangible unmet needs of the user by exploring authentic human behaviour. Corresponding Author: Professor Joyce Thomas This paper presents case studies of collaborative, Visiting Scholar interdisciplinary teams employing human-centred design Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and and empathic research strategies (incorporating shared Technology language, collaboration, ethnography, empathy and University of Illinois (Urbana‐Champaign) empathic modelling) to create real solutions that are 405 North Mathews Avenue responding to real needs of real users. Urbana, IL 61801 USA [email protected] Abstract The future is interdisciplinary. The future is bright. Key Words Building alliances with industrial designers offers health Human-centred design, research strategies, emotional innovators a unique pathway to create new modes to serve needs, authentic human behaviour their patients. Cross-pollination of ideas from the earliest stages of development in interdisciplinary research and Introduction: Building alliances with designers development teams including major stakeholders and While engineering concentrates on solving technical and designers can lead to more meaningful and functional problems, industrial design focuses on solving impactful innovations. the physical and emotional human needs surrounding those problems. Industrial design offers a critical bridge A shift in future healthcare from cure to prevention will rely amongst and between diverse disciplines in the problem more heavily upon the individual. The home environment will finding and problem solving processes, and then helping house consumer medical devices that will carry out basic to transform emerging technologies from the laboratory monitoring of the individual. While technologies are currently into real products that benefit users, and decreasing time being developed to support this trend, there is a gulf that from concept development to market introduction. exists between the often-complex interfaces required by the highly specific functionality of products and the emotional Innovating through design needs of the target user. If a target user ‘feels’ a product was Personal health care is emerging as a critical means by designed ‘just for them’ they are more likely to develop an which the individual can manage their physical health and emotional bond with that product. This manifests itself in the wellbeing without totally relying on medical office-based user engaging and interacting with the product. If a product, visits. This attention to health care does not replace the regardless of its high functionality, does not resonate with the medical practitioner but rather places the responsibility of user, this tends to result in product underuse, misuse and basic healthy living upon the individual. Eating a healthy possible abandonment. When those products are related to a diet and exercising regularly are only one part of the course of medical rehabilitation or treatment, these results equation. Using home-based medical technology, people could be translated to ‘more compliant’ and ‘less compliant’ can play an active part in safeguarding their personal and ultimately can impact upon how a person heals. health. This commonly happens with devices that measure temperature, blood pressure, blood oxygen, glucose and heart pacemakers. These devices generally 29 Australasian Medical Journal [AMJ 2013, 6, 1, 29-35] require a person to change their lifestyle to make room/time opportunity for increased compliance of prescribed for the monitoring activities, as well as to make space for the usage by the individual. functionally/medically styled devices that stand out in the home environment. In the future, we hope to devise ways for “Modern technologies are expanding the capabilities of monitoring technology to be merged more ubiquitously into a health care, with the resulting great economic person’s material landscape (e.g. products that people opportunities serving as a driving force for innovation.” surround themselves with). In the US, we see an emerging trend towards integrating Figure 1: Examples of monitoring devices intended for health monitoring into devices whose primary use was related personal use within the home environment to entertainment. The collaborations between Nike and Apple led to the ‘Nike + iPod’ that encourages users to exercise accompanied by their favourite tunes. The ‘Wii Fit’ was an innovative disruption in the video game industry when it introduced a controller that encouraged exercise both for the individual and group activities. Other examples include ‘Fit Bit’ – a discreet device that monitors an individual’s daily travel, exercise and sleep. It also integrates with other user- inputed data including food consumption, heart rate, blood pressure, and glucose to help users understand the impact of their activity towards healthy living. These products represent an emerging market where technology fits nearly seamlessly into a person’s lifestyle while it monitors their actions and/or health. With the rising cost of health care, an aging population, people living longer, and an increase in people with disabilities, there is growing emphasis on the individual Current medical/health maintenance products in the 1-5 sharing in the responsibility for their health care . Whether it market place are often stigmatising due to the use of is simply a change in eating and exercise habits, or also playing materials, forms and colour. Figure 1 represents a range an active role in the monitoring of the physical health, it is of blood pressure monitors specifically designed for home becoming a social, political and economic necessity for people use (A = wrist blood pressure monitor, B = portable blood to direct their own personal health care. While the areas of pressure monitor, C+D = fully automated blood pressure personal medical devices for use in home environments is machines). forecasted to increase considerably, there are few products available on the market that are actually intuitive to use for Bitterman in reviewing this group of products says: the mainstream user. When medically relevant products “Even a cursory glance at the models reveals the evoke a perception of stigma for the individual (e.g. making problems in their visual display, colour selection, bullet them feel that others will see them as broken or weak), they size and shape, performance complexity, closeness of 6,7 tend to be underused and at worst abandoned . elements, and inconsistency in controls and non-intuitive, non-self-explanatory display.” In too many cases, the use of some equipment (e.g. hearing aids) draws undue attention to the individual as being Human-centred empathic design ensures products are someone ‘in need’ or ‘broken’ rather than that equipment highly functional, intuitive to use and effective in appearing to function simply as an extension of the person or completing tasks. Product design can impact upon 8,9 even a as fashion statement (e.g. eye glasses). Medical whether such devices are used, underused or at worst, devices can be transformed using empathic design techniques abandoned by users. to give these devices a more appropriate design aesthetic that is better suited to the individual’s personal image of himself or Case Study: Interdisciplinarity + Innovation + herself. These products need to fit effortlessly into multiple Creativity public and private environments so that they do not draw Collaboration amongst experts in industrial design, unwanted attention. More intuitive products present the psychology, medicine and bioengineering have enabled the development of a community of researchers and 30 Australasian Medical Journal [AMJ 2013, 6, 1, 29-35] scholars at an American university that employ more holistic and empathic design approaches in educational and research Figure 2: Bioengineering students brainstorming the projects. This programme has already begun to enrich the ‘bathroom of the future’ student experience and generate unique curricula that build on the synergy of faculty and student capital from diverse disciplines. Employing human-centred design and empathic research strategies (e.g. shared language, collaboration, 11,12,13 ethnography, and empathy) in both the classroom and research activities has ensured that functional and emotional needs of users (medical professionals and mainstream users) 14,15 are met . Over the course of the programme a holistic design approach is being applied to a sample of conceptual student and faculty research projects. This integration ensures greater opportunity of technology transfer of discrete These students were encouraged to explore conceptual products developed in scientific laboratories, to 16 ideas through rough sketch modelling techniques. This human-centred, production-ready solutions. form of quick visualisation helps to illustrate product opportunities as well as conceptual flaws at very early This program supports more effective design outcomes for stages, as well as throughout the course of a project. medical and bioengineering research projects, and it enhances Figure 3 shows this rapid form of communication using collaborative opportunities in design, psychology, medical cardboard and other ‘found’ materials to illustrate how informatics, and engineering education. sensors on a toothbrush might measure blood oxygen, blood pressure and pulse, or how a shelf in a toilet could Portfolio of research projects weigh and photograph faecal matter. The authors present a portfolio of unique projects supported by a diverse interdisciplinary team of researchers from Figure 3: Illustrates initial early stage ideas in three- industrial design (the authors), bioengineering (Stephen dimensional sketch models Boppart, Ting Lu), medical informatics (Bruce Schatz) and psychology (Brian Ross). This collaboration has attracted graduate and undergraduates students from various disciplines (e.g. general engineering, biology, bioengineering, industrial design, graphic design and business) as researchers and product developers. All of the student projects presented here employ a similar and iterative design process (e.g. repetition of the process of concept generation, development, refinement, user feedback, and prototype) but vary in duration and depth. Whilst some projects are conceptual, others have more potential for actual production in the near future. Interdisciplinary research projects 1. Bathroom of the future Yearlong Capstone Project for bioengineering undergraduate students. 2. Ergonomic crutch handle Yearlong independent study course - industrial design Bioengineering students in their final year of undergraduate undergraduate students study explore means of utilising sensor technologies to ubiquitously monitor personal health data whilst an individual The project objective was to improve the experience and is in their personal (home) bathroom, supported by industrial comfort of using crutches, thus increasing compliance design professional practitioners (the authors). Emphasis in during the healing process. Students used empathic early brainstorming sessions (refer to Figure 2) was placed on modelling (experiencing with your own body the physical problem finding rather than problem solving. situations of others) (refer to Figure 4) to reveal the 31 Australasian Medical Journal [AMJ 2013, 6, 1, 29-35] ‘white space’ (unmet needs, opportunities for product Figure 5: Ethnographic observation of authentic human improvement and innovation) left by currently marketed behaviour: Clinician demonstrating how he uses products. otoscope. Guided by design and engineering professionals, these students are focusing on simple and potentially patentable modifications to auxiliary parts to ‘standard’ crutches available in the USA to improve the user experience. Figure 4: Students conducting empathic modelling in order to gain intimate insight and understanding into the experience of using a crutch. The engineers built a proof of concept model of a high- resolution data imaging laser otoscope in their laboratory from standard off-the-shelf parts. Their focus was on designing and proving the technology, whilst the designer’s challenge was to translate and transform this model into a device that resonates with the final user considering human interaction and engagement (refer to Figure 6). Figure 6: (a) Engineering proof of concept device, (b) ergonomic studies through rapid sketch modeling and (c) form visualisation. 3. Laser otoscope Multiyear research project - industrial design graduate student in collaboration with bioengineering and engineering graduate students and advisers Collaborating with a team of scientists and technologists, an industrial design graduate research assistant is responding to the needs of health care practitioners to gather high- resolution data imaging in their office environments. The student has used ethnographic methods (recording how people interact with products, services and experiences) to observe authentic human experience (what people actually do as opposed to what they say or think they do). The photo in Figure 5 illustrates how one doctor holds an otoscope differently than how it was designed to be held (by the handle). Additionally, the doctor had to adjust his own height in relation to the patient to perform the test (a position that Industrial designers are immersed in considering the would not be sustainable for a longer period). world of tomorrow - how things ‘could’ be, taking highly technical devices (as in Figure 6) and imagining new approaches. Whilst the paradigm of a ‘handle grip’ for this type of device was ‘expected’, the designer explored other conceptual possibilities such wrapping it around the wrist of the health care provider (Figure 7). 32 Australasian Medical Journal [AMJ 2013, 6, 1, 29-35] Figure 7: Concept exploration and visualisation sketch. Using brainstorming techniques, students explored daily tasks of a range of various age groups. Employing empathic modeling techniques (e.g. homelessness, limited mobility, healthy eating), they identified key problems and potential solutions such as:  Methods to help mid-life age people move heavy objects in their home.  Bathroom accessories that have an assistive technology function (e.g. toilet paper holder that helps you lift yourself off the toilet).  Walking stick inspired by the human foot.  Means of motivating university students to eat healthier.  Ways to encourage outdoor exercise (e.g. camping). 4. Human-centred product design  Homelessness (refer to Figure 9). One semester course – industrial design, business, graphic design undergraduate students. One of the students used empathic modelling to Student designers were guided to immerse themselves in the experience ‘homelessness’ by spending 18 hours outside everyday life of real people focusing on the concepts of ‘Aging in cool and damp weather, without money, shelter, in Place’ (people having the opportunity to remain in their sustenance or a mobile phone. His discomfort was own home as their physical and/or cognitive abilities change captured in Figure 9 as he attempted to dry himself in the over time) and ‘Healthy Living’ (maintaining your health sunshine after a rain shower. He reported that this simple through balanced diet, exercise, relaxation, and social and exercise has had a strong and lasting emotional impact on emotional connectedness) to discover problems and unmet him. Being disconnected from family and friends was needs, and then to seek solutions that will satisfy functional disconcerting. Over the course of his modelling, his sense and emotional needs for the user. Figure 8 illustrates a mind of dignity was being eroded as he recognised that people mapping technique used to explore the concept of ‘Aging in crossed the road to avoid him. Place’. First, students explored what this means from their own perspectives as 20 year olds, and then followed this up by Figure 9: Design student warming in the sun as he interviewing their parents (40+ years old). These activities used empathic modelling to explore what it was like to were designed to demonstrate that one’s personal be homeless. perspective could likely be very different from the user group for which they are creating products. Developing an understanding that you as ‘designer’ are not the ‘customer’ exposes the importance of engaging with real users early on in the design and problem solving process. Figure 8: Students created mind maps to illustrate ‘Aging in Place’ from their own perspectives (as 20 year olds). 33 Australasian Medical Journal [AMJ 2013, 6, 1, 29-35] http://www.newmobility.com/articleView.cfm?id=118 The future is bright 35&srch=Multiple%20Sclerosis (accessed 21 Emerging as a recognised field of professional practice in the November 2011). early 1900s, industrial design was viewed for many years as the final step in product development - a means to refine the 6. Kelly T, Littman J. The Ten Faces of Innovation. New appearance of the engineered product to reflect consumer York, NY. Doubleday; 2005 tastes and trends. 7. Visocky O’Grady J, Visocky O’Grady K. A Designer’s Research Manual: Succeed in Design by Knowing Your The paradigm of design being a last stage in the product Clients and What They Really Need. 1st ed. Beverly th development process has shifted. In the late 20 century, MA. Rockport; 2009 manufacturers and product developers recognised that 8. Hansen N, Philo C. The normality of doing things collaboration between design, engineering, business, and differently: bodies, spaces and disability geography. marketing at the earliest, conceptual stages of development is Tijdschrift voor Economische en Sociale Geografie. critical to the success of new and existing initiatives. 2007; 98(4): 493-506. Uncovering connections between products, users and the environment is key to delivering products, interfaces, and 9. Lutz BJ, Bowers BJ. Disability in everyday life. Qual services that satisfy user needs from both functional and Health Res. 2005 Oct;15(8):1037-54. emotional perspectives. 10. Clarkson J, Coleman R, Keates S, Lebbon C. Inclusive Design: Design for the whole population. London. When tools from the designer’s toolkit – user research, Springer; 2003. empathic modeling, comparative product research, sketching, 11. McDonagh D, Thomas J. (editorial) Design + empathy model making, prototyping and usability testing are = intuitive design outcomes. The Design Journal. 2011; incorporated by the development team in iterative and 14(3): 147-150. generally non-linear pathways from the fuzzy front end to the final solution, the results are more robust, more intuitive, and 12. McDonagh D, Thomas J, Strickfaden M. Empathic meet the needs of real people. design research: towards a new mode of industrial design education. Design Principles & Practices: An The collection of projects discussed in this case study International Journal. 2011; 5(4): 301-314. represents ways in which designers are building meaningful 13. McDonagh D, Thomas J. Rethinking design thinking: alliances with scientists, researchers, bio-engineers, medical empathy supporting innovation. Australas Med J 2010; informatics, and health care providers at an American 3(8): 458-464. University. This collaboration is developing a unique shared vision and language between diverse disciplines, and is 14. Laurel B. Design Research: Methods And advancing research while it enhances quality of life for Perspectives. Cambridge, MA. MIT Press; 2003 individuals who will be impacted by the outcomes. 15. Koskinen I, Zimmerman J, Binder T, Redstrom J, Wensveen S. Design Practice Through Practice: From References the Lab, Field and Showroom. Waltham, MA. Morgan 1. Bitterman N. Design of medical devices – a home Kaufmann; 2001 perspective. Eur J Intern Med. 2011 Feb;22(1):39-42. 16. Pink D. A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will 2. Bates DW, Bitton A. The future of health information Rule The Future. New York. Riverhead; 2006 technology: in the patient-centred medical home. Health Aff (Millwood). 2010 Apr;29(4):614-21. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 3. Kvedar JC, Nesbitt T, Kvedar JG, Darkins A. E-patient We would like to thank the following colleagues and connectivity and the near team future. J Gen Intern Med. students who have helped make our research 2010; 26 (Suppl. 2): 636-638. collaboration possible: Jennifer Amos, Stephen Boppart, 4. Liang BA, Mackey T. Quality and safety in medical care: Eric Chaney, Michelle Kwak, William Gavin, what does the future hold? Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2011 Frank Delgado, Matthew Entler, Christine Lekas, Ting Lu, Nov;135(11):1425-31 Brian Ross, Lana Rottler, Bruce Schatz and Shuo (Janus) Yuan. 5. McGowen HH. Sensibilities, self-esteem & shoes. New Mobility: Magazine for active wheelchair users (March). PEER REVIEW Available from: Not commissioned. Externally peer reviewed. 34 Australasian Medical Journal [AMJ 2013, 6, 1, 29-35] CONFLICTS OF INTEREST [The authors declare that they have no competing interests.] FUNDING University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Office of Vice Chancellor for Research Interdisciplinary Innovation Initiative National Institutes Of Health Grant Number: 1R01EB013723-01 Principal Investigator: Stephen A Boppart, MD Project Title: Partnership For Primary Care Imaging http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Australasian Medical Journal Unpaywall

Innovating along side designers

Thomas, Joyce
Australasian Medical Journal – Jan 30, 2013
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Australasian Medical Journal [AMJ 2013, 6, 1, 29-35] Deana McDonagh and Joyce Thomas School of Art + Design, Beckman Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign REVIEW Industrial designers focus on ensuring that both the functional and emotional needs of mainstream users as Please cite this paper as: McDonagh D, Thomas J. Innovating well as technical-expert-users are met. Design research alongside designers. AMJ 2013, 6, 1, 29-35. provides the opportunity to bridge the gap between the http//dx.doi.org/10.4066/AMJ.2013.1586. functional requirements and the less tangible unmet needs of the user by exploring authentic human behaviour. Corresponding Author: Professor Joyce Thomas This paper presents case studies of collaborative, Visiting Scholar interdisciplinary teams employing human-centred design Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and and empathic research strategies (incorporating shared Technology language, collaboration, ethnography, empathy and University of Illinois (Urbana‐Champaign) empathic modelling) to create real solutions that are 405 North Mathews Avenue responding to real needs of real users. Urbana, IL 61801 USA [email protected] Abstract The future is interdisciplinary. The future is bright. Key Words Building alliances with industrial designers offers health Human-centred design, research strategies, emotional innovators a unique pathway to create new modes to serve needs, authentic human behaviour their patients. Cross-pollination of ideas from the earliest stages of development in interdisciplinary research and Introduction: Building alliances with designers development teams including major stakeholders and While engineering concentrates on solving technical and designers can lead to more meaningful and functional problems, industrial design focuses on solving impactful innovations. the physical and emotional human needs surrounding those problems. Industrial design offers a critical bridge A shift in future healthcare from cure to prevention will rely amongst and between diverse disciplines in the problem more heavily upon the individual. The home environment will finding and problem solving processes, and then helping house consumer medical devices that will carry out basic to transform emerging technologies from the laboratory monitoring of the individual. While technologies are currently into real products that benefit users, and decreasing time being developed to support this trend, there is a gulf that from concept development to market introduction. exists between the often-complex interfaces required by the highly specific functionality of products and the emotional Innovating through design needs of the target user. If a target user ‘feels’ a product was Personal health care is emerging as a critical means by designed ‘just for them’ they are more likely to develop an which the individual can manage their physical health and emotional bond with that product. This manifests itself in the wellbeing without totally relying on medical office-based user engaging and interacting with the product. If a product, visits. This attention to health care does not replace the regardless of its high functionality, does not resonate with the medical practitioner but rather places the responsibility of user, this tends to result in product underuse, misuse and basic healthy living upon the individual. Eating a healthy possible abandonment. When those products are related to a diet and exercising regularly are only one part of the course of medical rehabilitation or treatment, these results equation. Using home-based medical technology, people could be translated to ‘more compliant’ and ‘less compliant’ can play an active part in safeguarding their personal and ultimately can impact upon how a person heals. health. This commonly happens with devices that measure temperature, blood pressure, blood oxygen, glucose and heart pacemakers. These devices generally 29 Australasian Medical Journal [AMJ 2013, 6, 1, 29-35] require a person to change their lifestyle to make room/time opportunity for increased compliance of prescribed for the monitoring activities, as well as to make space for the usage by the individual. functionally/medically styled devices that stand out in the home environment. In the future, we hope to devise ways for “Modern technologies are expanding the capabilities of monitoring technology to be merged more ubiquitously into a health care, with the resulting great economic person’s material landscape (e.g. products that people opportunities serving as a driving force for innovation.” surround themselves with). In the US, we see an emerging trend towards integrating Figure 1: Examples of monitoring devices intended for health monitoring into devices whose primary use was related personal use within the home environment to entertainment. The collaborations between Nike and Apple led to the ‘Nike + iPod’ that encourages users to exercise accompanied by their favourite tunes. The ‘Wii Fit’ was an innovative disruption in the video game industry when it introduced a controller that encouraged exercise both for the individual and group activities. Other examples include ‘Fit Bit’ – a discreet device that monitors an individual’s daily travel, exercise and sleep. It also integrates with other user- inputed data including food consumption, heart rate, blood pressure, and glucose to help users understand the impact of their activity towards healthy living. These products represent an emerging market where technology fits nearly seamlessly into a person’s lifestyle while it monitors their actions and/or health. With the rising cost of health care, an aging population, people living longer, and an increase in people with disabilities, there is growing emphasis on the individual Current medical/health maintenance products in the 1-5 sharing in the responsibility for their health care . Whether it market place are often stigmatising due to the use of is simply a change in eating and exercise habits, or also playing materials, forms and colour. Figure 1 represents a range an active role in the monitoring of the physical health, it is of blood pressure monitors specifically designed for home becoming a social, political and economic necessity for people use (A = wrist blood pressure monitor, B = portable blood to direct their own personal health care. While the areas of pressure monitor, C+D = fully automated blood pressure personal medical devices for use in home environments is machines). forecasted to increase considerably, there are few products available on the market that are actually intuitive to use for Bitterman in reviewing this group of products says: the mainstream user. When medically relevant products “Even a cursory glance at the models reveals the evoke a perception of stigma for the individual (e.g. making problems in their visual display, colour selection, bullet them feel that others will see them as broken or weak), they size and shape, performance complexity, closeness of 6,7 tend to be underused and at worst abandoned . elements, and inconsistency in controls and non-intuitive, non-self-explanatory display.” In too many cases, the use of some equipment (e.g. hearing aids) draws undue attention to the individual as being Human-centred empathic design ensures products are someone ‘in need’ or ‘broken’ rather than that equipment highly functional, intuitive to use and effective in appearing to function simply as an extension of the person or completing tasks. Product design can impact upon 8,9 even a as fashion statement (e.g. eye glasses). Medical whether such devices are used, underused or at worst, devices can be transformed using empathic design techniques abandoned by users. to give these devices a more appropriate design aesthetic that is better suited to the individual’s personal image of himself or Case Study: Interdisciplinarity + Innovation + herself. These products need to fit effortlessly into multiple Creativity public and private environments so that they do not draw Collaboration amongst experts in industrial design, unwanted attention. More intuitive products present the psychology, medicine and bioengineering have enabled the development of a community of researchers and 30 Australasian Medical Journal [AMJ 2013, 6, 1, 29-35] scholars at an American university that employ more holistic and empathic design approaches in educational and research Figure 2: Bioengineering students brainstorming the projects. This programme has already begun to enrich the ‘bathroom of the future’ student experience and generate unique curricula that build on the synergy of faculty and student capital from diverse disciplines. Employing human-centred design and empathic research strategies (e.g. shared language, collaboration, 11,12,13 ethnography, and empathy) in both the classroom and research activities has ensured that functional and emotional needs of users (medical professionals and mainstream users) 14,15 are met . Over the course of the programme a holistic design approach is being applied to a sample of conceptual student and faculty research projects. This integration ensures greater opportunity of technology transfer of discrete These students were encouraged to explore conceptual products developed in scientific laboratories, to 16 ideas through rough sketch modelling techniques. This human-centred, production-ready solutions. form of quick visualisation helps to illustrate product opportunities as well as conceptual flaws at very early This program supports more effective design outcomes for stages, as well as throughout the course of a project. medical and bioengineering research projects, and it enhances Figure 3 shows this rapid form of communication using collaborative opportunities in design, psychology, medical cardboard and other ‘found’ materials to illustrate how informatics, and engineering education. sensors on a toothbrush might measure blood oxygen, blood pressure and pulse, or how a shelf in a toilet could Portfolio of research projects weigh and photograph faecal matter. The authors present a portfolio of unique projects supported by a diverse interdisciplinary team of researchers from Figure 3: Illustrates initial early stage ideas in three- industrial design (the authors), bioengineering (Stephen dimensional sketch models Boppart, Ting Lu), medical informatics (Bruce Schatz) and psychology (Brian Ross). This collaboration has attracted graduate and undergraduates students from various disciplines (e.g. general engineering, biology, bioengineering, industrial design, graphic design and business) as researchers and product developers. All of the student projects presented here employ a similar and iterative design process (e.g. repetition of the process of concept generation, development, refinement, user feedback, and prototype) but vary in duration and depth. Whilst some projects are conceptual, others have more potential for actual production in the near future. Interdisciplinary research projects 1. Bathroom of the future Yearlong Capstone Project for bioengineering undergraduate students. 2. Ergonomic crutch handle Yearlong independent study course - industrial design Bioengineering students in their final year of undergraduate undergraduate students study explore means of utilising sensor technologies to ubiquitously monitor personal health data whilst an individual The project objective was to improve the experience and is in their personal (home) bathroom, supported by industrial comfort of using crutches, thus increasing compliance design professional practitioners (the authors). Emphasis in during the healing process. Students used empathic early brainstorming sessions (refer to Figure 2) was placed on modelling (experiencing with your own body the physical problem finding rather than problem solving. situations of others) (refer to Figure 4) to reveal the 31 Australasian Medical Journal [AMJ 2013, 6, 1, 29-35] ‘white space’ (unmet needs, opportunities for product Figure 5: Ethnographic observation of authentic human improvement and innovation) left by currently marketed behaviour: Clinician demonstrating how he uses products. otoscope. Guided by design and engineering professionals, these students are focusing on simple and potentially patentable modifications to auxiliary parts to ‘standard’ crutches available in the USA to improve the user experience. Figure 4: Students conducting empathic modelling in order to gain intimate insight and understanding into the experience of using a crutch. The engineers built a proof of concept model of a high- resolution data imaging laser otoscope in their laboratory from standard off-the-shelf parts. Their focus was on designing and proving the technology, whilst the designer’s challenge was to translate and transform this model into a device that resonates with the final user considering human interaction and engagement (refer to Figure 6). Figure 6: (a) Engineering proof of concept device, (b) ergonomic studies through rapid sketch modeling and (c) form visualisation. 3. Laser otoscope Multiyear research project - industrial design graduate student in collaboration with bioengineering and engineering graduate students and advisers Collaborating with a team of scientists and technologists, an industrial design graduate research assistant is responding to the needs of health care practitioners to gather high- resolution data imaging in their office environments. The student has used ethnographic methods (recording how people interact with products, services and experiences) to observe authentic human experience (what people actually do as opposed to what they say or think they do). The photo in Figure 5 illustrates how one doctor holds an otoscope differently than how it was designed to be held (by the handle). Additionally, the doctor had to adjust his own height in relation to the patient to perform the test (a position that Industrial designers are immersed in considering the would not be sustainable for a longer period). world of tomorrow - how things ‘could’ be, taking highly technical devices (as in Figure 6) and imagining new approaches. Whilst the paradigm of a ‘handle grip’ for this type of device was ‘expected’, the designer explored other conceptual possibilities such wrapping it around the wrist of the health care provider (Figure 7). 32 Australasian Medical Journal [AMJ 2013, 6, 1, 29-35] Figure 7: Concept exploration and visualisation sketch. Using brainstorming techniques, students explored daily tasks of a range of various age groups. Employing empathic modeling techniques (e.g. homelessness, limited mobility, healthy eating), they identified key problems and potential solutions such as:  Methods to help mid-life age people move heavy objects in their home.  Bathroom accessories that have an assistive technology function (e.g. toilet paper holder that helps you lift yourself off the toilet).  Walking stick inspired by the human foot.  Means of motivating university students to eat healthier.  Ways to encourage outdoor exercise (e.g. camping). 4. Human-centred product design  Homelessness (refer to Figure 9). One semester course – industrial design, business, graphic design undergraduate students. One of the students used empathic modelling to Student designers were guided to immerse themselves in the experience ‘homelessness’ by spending 18 hours outside everyday life of real people focusing on the concepts of ‘Aging in cool and damp weather, without money, shelter, in Place’ (people having the opportunity to remain in their sustenance or a mobile phone. His discomfort was own home as their physical and/or cognitive abilities change captured in Figure 9 as he attempted to dry himself in the over time) and ‘Healthy Living’ (maintaining your health sunshine after a rain shower. He reported that this simple through balanced diet, exercise, relaxation, and social and exercise has had a strong and lasting emotional impact on emotional connectedness) to discover problems and unmet him. Being disconnected from family and friends was needs, and then to seek solutions that will satisfy functional disconcerting. Over the course of his modelling, his sense and emotional needs for the user. Figure 8 illustrates a mind of dignity was being eroded as he recognised that people mapping technique used to explore the concept of ‘Aging in crossed the road to avoid him. Place’. First, students explored what this means from their own perspectives as 20 year olds, and then followed this up by Figure 9: Design student warming in the sun as he interviewing their parents (40+ years old). These activities used empathic modelling to explore what it was like to were designed to demonstrate that one’s personal be homeless. perspective could likely be very different from the user group for which they are creating products. Developing an understanding that you as ‘designer’ are not the ‘customer’ exposes the importance of engaging with real users early on in the design and problem solving process. Figure 8: Students created mind maps to illustrate ‘Aging in Place’ from their own perspectives (as 20 year olds). 33 Australasian Medical Journal [AMJ 2013, 6, 1, 29-35] http://www.newmobility.com/articleView.cfm?id=118 The future is bright 35&srch=Multiple%20Sclerosis (accessed 21 Emerging as a recognised field of professional practice in the November 2011). early 1900s, industrial design was viewed for many years as the final step in product development - a means to refine the 6. Kelly T, Littman J. The Ten Faces of Innovation. New appearance of the engineered product to reflect consumer York, NY. Doubleday; 2005 tastes and trends. 7. Visocky O’Grady J, Visocky O’Grady K. A Designer’s Research Manual: Succeed in Design by Knowing Your The paradigm of design being a last stage in the product Clients and What They Really Need. 1st ed. Beverly th development process has shifted. In the late 20 century, MA. Rockport; 2009 manufacturers and product developers recognised that 8. Hansen N, Philo C. The normality of doing things collaboration between design, engineering, business, and differently: bodies, spaces and disability geography. marketing at the earliest, conceptual stages of development is Tijdschrift voor Economische en Sociale Geografie. critical to the success of new and existing initiatives. 2007; 98(4): 493-506. Uncovering connections between products, users and the environment is key to delivering products, interfaces, and 9. Lutz BJ, Bowers BJ. Disability in everyday life. Qual services that satisfy user needs from both functional and Health Res. 2005 Oct;15(8):1037-54. emotional perspectives. 10. Clarkson J, Coleman R, Keates S, Lebbon C. Inclusive Design: Design for the whole population. London. When tools from the designer’s toolkit – user research, Springer; 2003. empathic modeling, comparative product research, sketching, 11. McDonagh D, Thomas J. (editorial) Design + empathy model making, prototyping and usability testing are = intuitive design outcomes. The Design Journal. 2011; incorporated by the development team in iterative and 14(3): 147-150. generally non-linear pathways from the fuzzy front end to the final solution, the results are more robust, more intuitive, and 12. McDonagh D, Thomas J, Strickfaden M. Empathic meet the needs of real people. design research: towards a new mode of industrial design education. Design Principles & Practices: An The collection of projects discussed in this case study International Journal. 2011; 5(4): 301-314. represents ways in which designers are building meaningful 13. McDonagh D, Thomas J. Rethinking design thinking: alliances with scientists, researchers, bio-engineers, medical empathy supporting innovation. Australas Med J 2010; informatics, and health care providers at an American 3(8): 458-464. University. This collaboration is developing a unique shared vision and language between diverse disciplines, and is 14. Laurel B. Design Research: Methods And advancing research while it enhances quality of life for Perspectives. Cambridge, MA. MIT Press; 2003 individuals who will be impacted by the outcomes. 15. Koskinen I, Zimmerman J, Binder T, Redstrom J, Wensveen S. Design Practice Through Practice: From References the Lab, Field and Showroom. Waltham, MA. Morgan 1. Bitterman N. Design of medical devices – a home Kaufmann; 2001 perspective. Eur J Intern Med. 2011 Feb;22(1):39-42. 16. Pink D. A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will 2. Bates DW, Bitton A. The future of health information Rule The Future. New York. Riverhead; 2006 technology: in the patient-centred medical home. Health Aff (Millwood). 2010 Apr;29(4):614-21. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 3. Kvedar JC, Nesbitt T, Kvedar JG, Darkins A. E-patient We would like to thank the following colleagues and connectivity and the near team future. J Gen Intern Med. students who have helped make our research 2010; 26 (Suppl. 2): 636-638. collaboration possible: Jennifer Amos, Stephen Boppart, 4. Liang BA, Mackey T. Quality and safety in medical care: Eric Chaney, Michelle Kwak, William Gavin, what does the future hold? Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2011 Frank Delgado, Matthew Entler, Christine Lekas, Ting Lu, Nov;135(11):1425-31 Brian Ross, Lana Rottler, Bruce Schatz and Shuo (Janus) Yuan. 5. McGowen HH. Sensibilities, self-esteem & shoes. New Mobility: Magazine for active wheelchair users (March). PEER REVIEW Available from: Not commissioned. Externally peer reviewed. 34 Australasian Medical Journal [AMJ 2013, 6, 1, 29-35] CONFLICTS OF INTEREST [The authors declare that they have no competing interests.] FUNDING University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Office of Vice Chancellor for Research Interdisciplinary Innovation Initiative National Institutes Of Health Grant Number: 1R01EB013723-01 Principal Investigator: Stephen A Boppart, MD Project Title: Partnership For Primary Care Imaging

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Published: Jan 30, 2013

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