Healthtech
Product / Service Design
System Thinking
Design Process
Diabetes is a common chronic disease, as it progresses, can lead to severe complications including diabetic foot—one of the three major complications. This condition results in serious foot problems like ulcers and infections, which significantly affect quality of life and mobility due to nerve damage.
This project focuses on exploring the causes of diabetic foot and designing a dynamic system integrated into footwear to prevent and manage complications arising from diabetic foot.
This project was inspired by witnessing my grandmother's worsening diabetic foot symptoms over her 35-year battle with type 2 diabetes. This project is dedicated to her and others facing same challenges
Through interviewing four diabetic relatives and friends, including my grandmother, I gained detailed insights into their daily diabetes care and lifestyle habits during 15-minute interviews.
Importance of Early Detection
Feedback and Monitoring
Personalized Care Needs
Importance of Early Detection
The current solutions for treating diabetic foot clearly show that the biggest issue lies in the lack of preventative measures. Currently, people rely only on visual inspection of the skin or must visit a hospital to check the blood flow in their feet.
From the pathogenesis cycle diagram below, it is evident that due to the malfunctioning of pancreatic cells, diabetic foot is caused by prolonged high blood sugar levels and poor blood circulation.
The primary goal of the project is to ensure smooth blood flow in the feet, making temperature a critical factor in the prevention and treatment of foot-related issues.
As designers, we often discuss the principle of "user-centered design," but in reality, there is a difference between the way designers think and the way users think.
In this project I was responsible for system thinking, building the feedback loop and developing the user conceptual model to ensure that design solution effectively addressed the actual problems of users.
Feedback Loop
I utilized classic system models from Professor Hugh Dubberly (founder of Dubberly Design Office) to develop a treatment feedback loop and conceptualize a user model.
Simplify User Conceptual Model
Solution
My solution integrates high-sensitivity temperature sensors and an embedded heating system within the footwear to monitor and regulate foot temperature.
It also includes feedback mechanisms that alert users to potential issues via a connected mobile app.
Product Function Details
Functional Ability Test
How it work?
App Design
Key Learning
Systems thinking has profoundly influenced my approach to design, like the feedback loop used in this project, shifting my focus from isolated features to interconnected systems within a product
By analyzing the purpose, sensors, actions, and significant variables collectively, this model offers a comprehensive understanding and facilitating quicker of a product's functionalities and interactions.
The Critical Role of User Conceptual Models
The user conceptual model proves invaluable when starting a design with no clear direction.
It clarifies the design logic, allowing for structured thinking.
Although the model grows more complex and requires continuous revisions, these iterative processes refine and enhance the design, leading to more effective outcomes.