Challenge
Diagnostic devices are often designed for lab technicians, not everyday users. Our challenge was to design a device and interface that made diagnostics simple, accurate, and stress-free for non-experts.
Discovery
From Zero to Clarity in One Workshop
With no existing product, we needed to quickly identify core functions and success criteria. We brought together researchers, engineers, and decision-makers to define the most urgent user needs.
Who are we designing for?
What problem are we solving?
What are the user’s biggest pain points?
Which functions are core vs. nice-to-have?
What does success look like?
The Answers We Landed On
The Answers We Landed On
Empathy
The user flow from start to finish
Researchers work under pressure and rely on clarity. Unclear feedback during key steps, like analysis or troubleshooting, created friction and uncertainty.
Ideation
Think, Sketch, Validate
Time was tight. We skipped polished wireframes and hand-sketched key workflows and features for rapid feedback. Simple, scrappy, and effective.
Interaction
Bringing Ideas to Life
To bridge the gap, we built a life-size foam model with paper buttons and feature blocks. Each rearrangement brought us closer to intuitive interactions and a comfortable design.
What We Learned
During feedback, we realized sketches alone didn’t communicate the device's physical interaction. Users and stakeholders struggled to imagine how they'd navigate and interact with the interface.
What We Learned
More accurate feedback on interface placement, button placement, and workflow clarity.
Click, Test, Repeat
We translated our paper mockups into the first digital prototype. This was our chance to simulate real interactions and observe how users interacted with the product.
What We Learned
Our biggest learning was that users wanted more immediate feedback, especially around the test results. They expected to see clear progress and real-time updates during the analysis.
What We Changed
Added a feedback screen to confirm when the samples were inserted, providing users with reassurance that the process had started.
Replaced the generic loading icon with a progress indicator for heating, showing users the exact stage of the heating process.
Implemented real-time data display of the analysis, so users could track the results as they progressed rather than just seeing a progress bar.
We took it to the next level
We created a 360° LED light string that delivers clear feedback in every direction, ensuring users always stay informed no matter their position. By combining intuitive user feedback with a distinctive visual design, the product not only improves usability but also sets itself apart from the competition, reinforcing brand recognition and uniqueness in the market.
Our biggest learning was that users wanted more immediate feedback, especially around the test results. They expected to see clear progress and real-time updates during the analysis.
What We Changed
Added a feedback screen to confirm when the samples were inserted, providing users with reassurance that the process had started.
Replaced the generic loading icon with a progress indicator for heating, showing users the exact stage of the heating process.
Implemented real-time data display of the analysis, so users could track the results as they progressed rather than just seeing a progress bar.
