Sketching
Prototypes
Co-Design and Testing
Situation
As the founder of the Mindings team, I was satisfied that we'd created a digital telecare solution that could successfully run on iPads. However, i realised that to truly serve our users - particularly older adults and those with cognitive impairments - we needed to go beyond software. I saw an opportunity to revolutionise telecare by creating a dedicated device that would be more than just functional; it would be a welcome addition to our users' homes and lives.
Task
Our challenge was to design a dedicated Mindings device that would:
1. Break away from the cold, clinical aesthetics of traditional telecare equipment.
2. Become a cherished piece of furniture or decoration that users would proudly display.
3. Seamlessly integrate into daily life with additional practical functions.
4. Maintain the core functionality of our telecare solution.
5. Embody our ethos of promoting independence, dignity, and social connection.
2. Become a cherished piece of furniture or decoration that users would proudly display.
3. Seamlessly integrate into daily life with additional practical functions.
4. Maintain the core functionality of our telecare solution.
5. Embody our ethos of promoting independence, dignity, and social connection.
Action
Together with my partner and CTO Ian Pleasance, we embarked on a collaborative and inspiring design journey:
Partnership with Design Experts: We joined forces with Instrument, an integrated industrial and engineering design studio, to breathe life into our vision of telecare as beautiful, functional furniture.
Removable device and knob.
Attached remote control.
Carry handle and storage.
Heart-Centred Design Process: We initiated co-design sessions in a sheltered housing scheme where we were testing Mindings. These warm, engaging interactions allowed us to see how our users lived with technology and gather priceless insights for our design.
Innovative Form Exploration: Inspired by our users' feedback, we pushed our thinking beyond traditional picture frames. We explored multi-functional designs that could seamlessly fit into daily life. One of our prototypes, for instance, included thoughtful spaces for keys, glasses, and appointment cards.
Designer Nick from Instrument.
Sketch of prototype.
Physical prototype.
Dual-Purpose Design: A pivotal moment came when we observed a user whose family had cleverly placed Mindings next to the kettle. This sparked the idea of creating a device with an additional daily purpose, ensuring our users would naturally interact with Mindings as part of their routine.
Iterative Prototyping with a Personal Touch: The Instrument team crafted multiple physical prototypes from wood and foamboard, each featuring an iPad interface and various analogue switches. These tangible models helped us test different ideas about size, placement, and interaction methods.
Embracing Physical Interactions: Recognising that many of our older users found comfort in tactile interactions, we explored physical controls. We incorporated large, satisfying switches and dials into our prototypes, making them intuitive, and even fun, to use.
Beauty in Design: Throughout our process, we kept reminding ourselves that we were creating something our users would want to show off. We explored various styles and materials that could complement different home décors, moving far away from the sterile look of traditional telecare equipment.
Engaging User Testing: We organised fun testing sessions in our sheltered housing scheme. Watching users interact with our prototypes and hearing their thoughts was both heartening and invaluable, providing crucial feedback on design preferences and placement within the home.
Balancing Innovation and Care: When considering features like medication storage, we had thoughtful discussions about where to draw the line between helpful features and medical device classification, always keeping our users' best interests at heart.
Mindings tester Glen.
User testing prototypes.
RESULT
Although Mindings didn't continue as a product, our journey yielded insightful outcomes and learnings that continue to inspire us:
A New Vision for Telecare: We successfully challenged the notion that telecare equipment must look clinical and impersonal. Our prototypes showed that telecare devices could be designed as cherished home furnishings, something users would be proud to have in their homes.
Deepened User Connections: The exploration of additional daily-use functions, like key storage, showed immense promise in naturally increasing user interaction with the device. This approach had the potential to make our core telecare features more effective and meaningful.
The Power of Placement: Our process highlighted the critical importance of where the device lives in the home. Users favoured locations they frequently visited, like near the kettle, which greatly informed our design decisions.
Surprising User Preferences: We were touched to discover how popular physical switches and multi-functional designs were with our target users, especially those less comfortable with touchscreens. It reminded us of the importance of familiar, tactile interactions.
Designing for Joy: We validated the concept that telecare solutions could be designed for desire rather than necessity. This approach has the potential to increase adoption and regular use, ultimately improving the lives of our users.
A Turning Point: This design process became a significant source of inspiration for our "Kind Telecare Manifesto". It made us realise we had a wonderful opportunity to create something truly novel that would set us apart from cold, impersonal medical equipment. We could create something beautiful, practical, and genuinely welcome in someone's home.
Innovation with Heart: Our approach of designing a device that users would "want to show off, not hide away" pointed towards more desirable and effective solutions in the telecare industry, always keeping the user's dignity and joy at the forefront.
This project showcased our team's ability to lead an innovative, empathetic design process that reimagined telecare equipment as a cherished home companion. It demonstrated our skills in user-centric design, creative problem-solving, and pushing the boundaries of traditional product categories. The insights gained from this heartwarming journey continue to inspire future product development in the assistive technology space, particularly in creating solutions that seamlessly and joyfully integrate into users' lives and living spaces.
End