Designing a Visual Solution for a Medical Device Amidst Technical and Pandemic Constraints

Role: UX Research, UX Design, A/B Testing, and Design Handoff

Client: Lookeetech
Tools: Figma, FigJam, UserTesting, and Dovetail
Year: Apr-2020 to Jul-2020

Overview

LOOKEE® develops innovative health tech solutions, specializing in improving sleep quality and addressing sleep apnea with alternatives to traditional treatments like CPAP machines.

My Tasks

Create Wireframes: Develop wireframes for the device despite budget constraints and limited participant availability.
Collaborate with Biomedical Engineers: Align with biomedical engineers to secure approval for the design and screen, overcoming challenges related to inaccessible details.
Remote A/B Testing: Deliver the design and conduct A/B testing remotely with hospital staff to gather feedback and ensure usability.
Manage Manufacturing Transitions: Address delays caused by the shift in LCD technology manufacturing between companies to facilitate a smooth handoff.
Design Library: Create a design system document in Figma to support future design teams in upcoming releases.

The Problem

During the development of a beta medical oximeter device, I was tasked with delivering a visual design under significant constraints. Early feedback excluded key users—nurses and doctors—resulting in overlooked accessibility issues like color contrast. Mid-production, a manufacturer change introduced new challenges with display size, pixel density, and resolution.

Initial Constraints:
- Lack of User Involvement: Early feedback phases did not include nurses and doctors, resulting in missed insights on user needs like accessibility and color contrast.
Technical Constraints:
- Manufacturer Change: Mid-production switch in manufacturers impacted display specifications (e.g., size, pixel density, and resolution), posing additional challenges.
Design Considerations:
- Accessibility: Critical needs like color contrast had to be addressed to ensure usability, particularly for medical professionals in fast-paced environments.
External Constraints:
- COVID-19 Guidelines: The pandemic restricted in-person collaboration and testing, requiring adaptation to remote work processes and virtual feedback mechanisms.

Research

Ad-Hoc and Guerrilla Research Strategies

Doctors found the beta oximeter too small, leading to a redesign focused on battery life, screen size, and contrast. With no research budget, we got creative by reaching out to nurse stations for insights, which became the foundation for our design adjustments. We then conducted paper prototype sessions to test readability and developed a usability questionnaire, covering key phases from introductions to task completion and follow-up.

Create a Usability Script for the Remote Interviews

Creating a usability script questionnaire was crucial for capturing the unique needs of users with disabilities in our research. Simple as it was, it allowed allowed us to gather structured feedback, ensuring inclusivity and guiding conversations during remote sessions.

Why we needed it?

Inclusivity: To understand the specific challenges faced by users with disabilities.
Structured Feedback: To cover all relevant topics and facilitate open dialogue.
Identifying Barriers: To pinpoint usability issues and inform design improvements.

Design Process

“Webcam Doodles: Innovating Under COVID Constraints!”

In response to COVID-19 restrictions, we creatively adapted our design process by introducing paper sketching over a webcam. This approach allowed us to collaborate effectively while maintaining social distancing. Surprisingly, it worked out incredibly well, enabling us to visually communicate ideas and iterate designs in real-time.

We made paper sketching over a webcam a thing, and it not only kept the team connected but also enhanced our creativity and collaboration during challenging times.

Doctors and staff can channel their inner artists too!

It’s a simple process! After gathering substantial feedback, the staff kicked off sketching sessions to share their product vision. Leveraging their ongoing discussions, we held multiple ideation sessions over webcam. This made it much easier to grasp their ideas without the back-and-forth of email screenshots.

Testing

“Adapting to the New Normal: Remote Paper Prototyping!”

Amid COVID-19 restrictions, we found a creative way to adapt our paper prototyping sessions for a remote setup. Teaming up with a nurse as our usability tester, we designed a handy stencil that could be easily printed in any office for real-world testing. To help clarify user preferences,I created a sizing chart that defined what “smaller” and “bigger” meant to them.

This friendly approach made our remote sessions not only effective but also enjoyable! The invaluable feedback we gathered provided critical insights into user needs, helping us make informed design decisions despite the challenges of distance.

Key Steps in our process:

Remote Collaboration: Worked closely with a nurse as our usability tester.
Innovative Stencil Design: Created a stencil for easy office printing, facilitating hands-on testing.
Sizing Chart Development: Designed a chart to define size preferences, clarifying user terminology.
Effective Testing Sessions: Conducted remote sessions to gather user feedback.
Valuable Insights: Collected essential feedback that informed our design decisions.

Good Findings after the Prototyping Testing Sessions

In developing the product strategy, I crafted an empathy map to uncover user needs and frustrations, which helped shape the site’s information architecture. Leveraging research insights, I identified key features for the MVP, prioritizing them through an impact vs. effort analysis. This foundational work set the stage for future wireframing and content strategy.

Small Scale Brand Guidelines

Though our initial focus was on concept and research, we decided to advance by prioritizing delivery and adapting the science system to suit industrial manufacturing needs. This approach ensures error-free, seamless delivery and fosters collaboration for the upcoming project team.

Outcome

The project was a success and deepened my appreciation for the design process. I initially focused on groundbreaking ideas but now recognize the value of research, even in simple concepts, regardless of perceived inefficiency.

Collaborating with candidates and subject matter experts showed that what seems simple can lead to major challenges in medical manufacturing, often turning straightforward tasks into headaches. Ultimately, enhancing user experience remains crucial, as even basic ideas can yield significant insights within familiar app frameworks.