Ostomy Intelligence
Ostomy Intelligence
Ostomy Intelligence
I turned the tide of this project by reframing how the team created new products and services, resulting in a bold new vision for intelligent ostomy care, culminating in a groundbreaking device designed to improve patient outcomes.
The Problem
Colostomy patients felt abandoned after their surgery, overwhelmed when managing their supplies, and limited by their condition.
The Problem
Colostomy patients felt abandoned after their surgery, overwhelmed when managing their supplies, and limited by their condition.
The Solution
A Product vision for an intelligent Colostomy bag and digital experience that empowered patients to live beyond their condition.
The Solution
A Product vision for an intelligent Colostomy bag and digital experience that empowered patients to live beyond their condition.
The Impact
Increased differentiation and positive health outcomes through a world-first intelligent colostomy bag and a unified vision for the future of Colostomy care.
The Impact
Increased differentiation and positive health outcomes through a world-first intelligent colostomy bag and a unified vision for the future of Colostomy care.
MY ROLE(S)
UX Design Lead
TEAM STRUCTURE
Design VP
4x Industrial Designers
3x UX Designers
2x Design Engineers
SKILLS DEMONSTRATED
Service Design
UX Research
Product Strategy
UX Leadership
Interviewing patients, and wearing an Ostomy bag myself, helped me identify the key challenges with the existing devices.
Interviewing patients, and wearing an Ostomy bag myself, helped me identify the key challenges with the existing devices.
Interviewing patients, and wearing an Ostomy bag myself, helped me identify the key challenges with the existing devices.
From the first meeting with our client, the whole design team attached an Ostomy bag on ourselves (something the client’s engineers had never done, which still surprises me).
We slept with them, emptied them, changed them, and went about our days documented our experiences of wearing the product.
Obviously, this was no real substitute for the patient experience, so I created a discussion guide and interviewed patients across the country to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges faced.
From the first meeting with our client, the whole design team attached an Ostomy bag on ourselves (something the client’s engineers had never done, which still surprises me).
We slept with them, emptied them, changed them, and went about our days documented our experiences of wearing the product.
Obviously, this was no real substitute for the patient experience, so I created a discussion guide and interviewed patients across the country to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges faced.
To make things real for our team, I mapped the daily lives of our patients, highlighting where the biggest improvements to their care could be achieved.
To make things real for our team, I mapped the daily lives of our patients, highlighting where the biggest improvements to their care could be achieved.
To make things real for our team, I mapped the daily lives of our patients, highlighting where the biggest improvements to their care could be achieved.
After synthesizing our research, and creating our Anxiety Framework (that mapped out the biggest fears for patients) I created a current day journey.
It was key to map the journey for 4 different patient profiles so we were creating solutions for those who felt restricted by their condition, and those who didn’t want to be.
I highlighted how different patients changed their bags, and where fails occurred, as these were the two biggest concerns for them.
After synthesizing our research, and creating our Anxiety Framework (that mapped out the biggest fears for patients) I created a current day journey.
It was key to map the journey for 4 different patient profiles so we were creating solutions for those who felt restricted by their condition, and those who didn’t want to be.
I highlighted how different patients changed their bags, and where fails occurred, as these were the two biggest concerns for them.
I reframed our engineering team’s outlook by focussing ideation on Opportunity Areas, rather than bag components.
I reframed our engineering team’s outlook by focussing ideation on Opportunity Areas, rather than bag components.
I reframed our engineering team’s outlook by focussing ideation on Opportunity Areas, rather than bag components.
The team began sketching ideas for new bag parts, hinges, collecting material samples etc. and began to hit a wall.
I knew we needed to start thinking in a patient-centric way. To provoke more innovative ideas I created Opportunity Areas, with prompts for ideas based on my research synthesis and current journey steps.
The team began sketching ideas for new bag parts, hinges, collecting material samples etc. and began to hit a wall.
I knew we needed to start thinking in a patient-centric way. To provoke more innovative ideas I created Opportunity Areas, with prompts for ideas based on my research synthesis and current journey steps.
My Future Journeys secured executive buy-in for our bold direction in intelligent ostomy care.
My Future Journeys secured executive buy-in for our bold direction in intelligent ostomy care.
My Future Journeys secured executive buy-in for our bold direction in intelligent ostomy care.
To get stakeholder buy-in I wove our concepts together into a series of Future Journeys.
They helped outline a holistic patient experience including new leak-detecting intelligent Ostomy bag, updated packaging, digital services, and educational resources.
By presenting the journeys to senior stakeholders, it demonstrated that we truly understood patient needs, before diving into our digital service and Ostomy bag designs.
To get stakeholder buy-in I wove our concepts together into a series of Future Journeys.
They helped outline a holistic patient experience including new leak-detecting intelligent Ostomy bag, updated packaging, digital services, and educational resources.
By presenting the journeys to senior stakeholders, it demonstrated that we truly understood patient needs, before diving into our digital service and Ostomy bag designs.
To keep patient needs front and center, I worked with the Product & Industrial Designers as they developed their concepts.
To keep patient needs front and center, I worked with the Product & Industrial Designers as they developed their concepts.
To keep patient needs front and center, I worked with the Product & Industrial Designers as they developed their concepts.
A key pillar of my Future Journeys relied on a intelligent Ostomy bag that could detect and alert patients of a leak.
I defined the key product features for our Product and Industrial designers to develop the App and Bags, ensuring they would drive positive health outcomes.
A key pillar of my Future Journeys relied on a intelligent Ostomy bag that could detect and alert patients of a leak.
I defined the key product features for our Product and Industrial designers to develop the App and Bags, ensuring they would drive positive health outcomes.
I shifted the focus from incremental device improvements to transformative patient experiences. Resulting in an industry-leading connected care solution that would meaningfully improve the daily lives of thousands of patients living with ostomies.
I shifted the focus from incremental device improvements to transformative patient experiences. Resulting in an industry-leading connected care solution that would meaningfully improve the daily lives of thousands of patients living with ostomies.
I shifted the focus from incremental device improvements to transformative patient experiences. Resulting in an industry-leading connected care solution that would meaningfully improve the daily lives of thousands of patients living with ostomies.
LEARNINGS & REFLECTIONS
LEARNINGS & REFLECTIONS
LEARNINGS & REFLECTIONS
Any time you're working on a new piece of hardware, it's probably a good idea to have someone from the assembly line present from day one… otherwise all your hard work will forever remain a twinkle in your eye.
Any time you're working on a new piece of hardware, it's probably a good idea to have someone from the assembly line present from day one… otherwise all your hard work will forever remain a twinkle in your eye.
Any time you're working on a new piece of hardware, it's probably a good idea to have someone from the assembly line present from day one… otherwise all your hard work will forever remain a twinkle in your eye.
While a team of hardware specialists may not report to a UX lead, your insights and vision can drive innovation for an entire project. Pushing beyond rudimentary upgrades to create something special.
While a team of hardware specialists may not report to a UX lead, your insights and vision can drive innovation for an entire project. Pushing beyond rudimentary upgrades to create something special.
While a team of hardware specialists may not report to a UX lead, your insights and vision can drive innovation for an entire project. Pushing beyond rudimentary upgrades to create something special.
Fears of HIPAA / GDPR are frequently used as an excuse for not speaking directly to patients, leading to a disconnect in patient expectations and product offerings. Demonstrating how to run targeted research builds trust and removes this barrier.
Fears of HIPAA / GDPR are frequently used as an excuse for not speaking directly to patients, leading to a disconnect in patient expectations and product offerings. Demonstrating how to run targeted research builds trust and removes this barrier.
Fears of HIPAA / GDPR are frequently used as an excuse for not speaking directly to patients, leading to a disconnect in patient expectations and product offerings. Demonstrating how to run targeted research builds trust and removes this barrier.
