Working on medical devices like Spirohome Personal and Oruflow has taught me valuable lessons about designing for healthcare contexts where accuracy and accessibility must coexist.
The Challenge
Medical devices present a unique design challenge: they must be clinically accurate and reliable while remaining accessible to patients who may have varying levels of technical comfort and health literacy.
Key Insights
1. Empathy is Everything
Understanding the patient's emotional state is crucial. Medical procedures can be intimidating, so the design must reduce anxiety while maintaining the seriousness required for health applications.
2. Clarity Over Cleverness
In healthcare, there's no room for ambiguous interfaces. Every interaction must be crystal clear, with multiple confirmation steps for critical actions.
3. Accessibility is Non-Negotiable
Medical devices must work for users with various abilities and limitations. This includes visual, motor, and cognitive accessibility considerations.
Lessons Learned
The most successful healthcare designs I've worked on prioritize:
- Progressive disclosure of complex information
- Clear visual hierarchy that guides users through processes
- Multiple feedback mechanisms to confirm actions
- Comprehensive error handling with helpful recovery paths
Impact
These principles have influenced my approach to all design work, reminding me that good design should always serve the user's needs first, especially when the stakes are high.
