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OVERVIEW

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BUSINESS GOAL

The core values of the business is to bring accessible and innovative care to patients receiving hemodialysis.

Outset Medical↗

THE PROBLEM

Consumables have been a challenge to solve for and a case study for learning to work differently for globalization.

1. 10 months to get compatible concentrates in UAE
2. Limited specs complicate global expansion opportunities
3. Compatible concentrates are not confirmed in AUS
4. Tablo is the only machine with such tight specs

POTENTIAL BENEFITS

1. Free up internal resources
2. Scalable and more cost effective in the long run
3. Opens up most OUS markets
4. No longer dependent on outside organizations(to supply or manufacture to spec)

THE SOLUTION

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DESIGN PROCESS

PROBLEM 1(DEFINE)

For the first few meetings and email communications, it felt like the team was just circling around on what we are really trying to solve. As we were talking and discussing we found out that the term 'profile' was giving the confusion. So we had to set up a meeting to clarify the confusion and define what 'profile' really is. For me and Joe, profile meant 'a collection of information associated with a particular user'. For Emma, she meant 'acid concentrate specs'.

Another issue was whether concentrate unit, type, bicarb, and size had to be set every time the engineers wanted to create a new profile. After another meeting, it was confirmed that each dialysis site will have their own settings that won't be changed once set. So we only needed to design a prototype for setting up those settings just once.

PROBLEM 2(SOLVING UI)

One of the requirement for the UI was to design a field for free text to enter numbers and also up and down buttons to choose a number. Our design system currently did not have a UI dedicated with both these functions so I had to come up with a new UI but not too different from the UIs in the design system.

I looked at other famous design systems like material design, human interface or spectrum. The final decision was from the material design since the app runs on android device.

Another problem was that for Na+, it needed two fields to enter numbers since some profiles had either 'acid only' or 'final sodium'. Essentially, the user would only be needed to choose one of them and input the numbers. Initially, I had put just two fields vertical of each other but thought it wasn't aesthetically pleasing. So, I came up with a toggle idea so that the user only sees one of the fields. This was also a new UI but could not follow up with the development team to discuss whether it was possible.

Another problem I faced was when I was designing a list of concentrates for the end users.

There were three different scenarios where a new concentrate profile can be created. It was crucial for the list items to show the difference of each concentrate profile since some profiles could have very minor difference but could be a big difference for the patient.

This was the initial design for the lists but I had to think, 'what if B BRAUN SW 806A had two different modifications?' I immediately went over to the material design guide and looked at the list items.

I really loved the idea of overline and the supporting line so I designed this.

I came up with 4 options and I brought it up to the team and asked for feedback and everyone was able to agree on the 2nd option to be designed on the final prototype.

FINAL THOUGHT

I had an amazing opportunity to work at an innovative healthcare company that is changing lives of ESRD patients. Through this internship, I had a chance to work at a fast paced agile environment, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams like software engineers, technicians, human factors, designers, healthcare professionals and stakeholders. While this project is not the only project that I got to work on, I am most proud of this project since I got to lead and work on many things like design systems, UI, wireframing, and prototyping. I have also learned the importance of asking questions, so that everyone is on the same page, receiving feedback and applying those feedback, which can lead to better design. Lastly, one of the things I regret is not archiving all the prototypes and wireframes that I created along the way. I think by archiving my work, I can always go back to the idea I had at the time for inspiration, and show others of all the work I've done.