Illuminate Pressure
Illuminate Pressure was created for the Bio-Design Challenge 2020 - placing in the top 6 as runner up. The design aims to improve prevention and detection of bedsores through the utilization of the bioluminescent bacteria found within the bobtail squid.
Project Overview
Our design brief for this challenge was extremely flexible: we had to create a solution for a problem that integrated biology in a way that was necessary to the solution. Although this gave us a lot of flexibility, it meant that we had to simultaneously come up with a problem, and a potential biological solution.
Team:
6 Design Students
2 Medical Science Students
1 Architecture Student
Isaiah Joshua Balot, Kaitlyn Briden, Savvena Christoforou, Mehak Dhiman, Amalie Judd, Madison Nguyen, Chi Chi Pau, Bridget Scott & Andrew Xing
Time Frame:
12 weeks
My Responsibilities:
Team organization and delegation
User Research and Analysis
Background Research
Ideation and Iteration
Supporting team members through partial contribution to their responsibilities
Exploration
In contrast to the usual design process in which you begin with a problem space, we begun ours with potential solutions. We individually researched aspects of biology that could potentially be applied in design and then later presented our findings to the group. For my presentation I decided to look into the bioluminescent bacteria found in the bobtail squid - aliivibrio fischeri. A bacteria that would only light up when densly populated.
The Problem Space
We then began to explore different problems that had the potential to integrate the various aspects of biology we had researched.
Through brainstorming different problems and potential solutions, we eventually narrowed it down the area of bedsores.
Once we had a clear idea of our problem area, we began our user research.
User Research
Our user-research included literature reviews and conducting surveys, semi-structured interviews and co-design workshops. These methods were done with doctors, nurses, and family members of patients to obtain a holistic view of the situation that considered all perspectives. This was followed by thematically analyzing the data with an affinity diagram to extract our user’s interests, needs, issues, and motivations. In order to understand our user journey, we additionally created a user journey map to understand the problem holistically.
The themes that helped us to define our problem were:
Current prevention strategies include physical movement and visual assessment
Pressure sores rarely increase in severity but it does happen
Variance in nurse ability can frustrate co-workers and lessen the quality of care
There are current solutions but they could be better
Affinity Diagram for interview data
Problem Statement
“Pressure ulcers are difficult for nurses and doctors to identify, prevent, and manage due to the fast paced nature of their profession and environment.”
Ideation
Using Miro, an online collaborative whiteboarding tool, we began with brainwriting. Our brainwriting session differed slightly from a conventional session, due to us having a larger group of people and having to complete the session online because of COVID-19 restrictions.
Although none of these ideas were specifically used, it gave us a basis to draw upon when we split up for our own ideation.
Brainwriting 6-3-5 for Ideation
The Breakthrough
After we split up for our own ideation I was inspired by the idea of a pressure sensing matress, and considered my previous work on aliivibrio fischeri - the bioluminescent bacteria that lit up at certain population densities.
I considered that there may be a way to control population density through exerting pressure on a bacteria filled cell - but was unsure of how to control the population within the matress. I then looked into the possibilites of nano-filtration, and found that we would be able to create a filter that would allow water to flow freely throughout the cells without the bacteria leaving the cells.
After consultation with the rest of the group, we decided this would be the solution we would go ahead with.
Initial sketch of bio-luminescent pressure sensing matress
The Science
Once we had our idea, we wanted to confirm it was feasable, and our medical science students were on it! After researching further into the properties of aliivibrio fischeri and nano-filteration it was decided that this idea was absolutely possible. This research also allowed us to have a much more in depth explanation for our idea.
Affinity Diagram for interview data
Prototyping
In the prototype phase, we were restricted in our ability to create a physical prototype due to Covid 19 restrictions. We were, however, able to move forward with the creation of 3D models, unity scenes and user interface mockups of the product.
The Final Design
To explain how our design improved the experience, I created a user journey map: