Designing for the Unknown

ENCOUNTERING DATA GAPS

For a product to be successful, it’s critical for designers to understand the environment in which the product will be used. For a medical device, this environment is often inside the human body. While some anthropometric data such as height, weight, and arm reach, are well documented, there are many critical anatomical measures that remain unknown, particularly in the realm of women’s health.

While collaborating with a medical partner to address postpartum hemorrhage (PPH,) the leading cause of maternal death worldwide, Kaleidoscope encountered this common product design challenge. During preliminary research, the team found that there was little to no readily available data on vaginal dimensions immediately following childbirth. The scarcity of this particular data is not surprising, as the anatomy changes rapidly postpartum. Understandably, collecting this data isn’t a priority for mothers or caregivers, who are focused on the wellbeing of the newborn. Nevertheless, this lack of data created a significant challenge for the Kaleidoscope PPH design team.

 

TOOLS FOR BRIDGING THE GAP

Whether we are creating a medical device, a smart pet collar, or an industrial freezer, the team at Kaleidoscope utilizes a number of different methods when designing for the unknown. One way we obtain the data we need is simply to collect it ourselves! Armed with calipers and tape measures, we might venture into the field or bring samples into our studio to take direct measurements. Direct observation, whether in person or through videos and photos, is another way we round out our understanding of a unique user experience.

Sometimes—like trying to determine dimensions of internal anatomy—this just isn’t feasible. In those cases, we turn to subject matter experts. Surgeons, with their deep experiential knowledge of anatomy, are able to describe what they have encountered in situ, providing additional insights into the nuanced aspects of human anatomy, such as texture, firmness and what it feels like to manipulate different anatomical structures. These insights proved to be a vital element in overcoming the data gaps encountered by the PPH design team.

 

OUT-OF-THE-BOX INSPIRATION

When the Kaleidoscope team explores new product categories, we find that drawing inspiration from successful analogous products is another valuable strategy. If we’re creating a handheld device, referencing power tools, hair dryers, or hot glue guns as adjacent products can help guide the design in the correct direction. The key here is relevance—referencing products familiar to end-users ensures that the design resonates with their expectations. If we are developing a surgical device for ophthalmologists, (who are used to small, delicate instruments that they control with their fingertips,) it would be more appropriate to reference delicate tools such as those used by sculptors than it would be to reference tools used by auto mechanics.

While designing for a post-partum hemorrhage solution, analogous products included menstrual cups and discs, which share similar placement within the vaginal canal. These adjacent products provided the Kaleidoscope team with a good starting point for shape and dimensions of the device, as well as inspiration for materials and durometers to explore.  These analogous references were part of the constellation of information used by the PPH team while exploring potential solutions to our data gap.

 

EMBRACING FLEXIBLE SOLUTIONS

At the end of the day, secondary research can only get us so far. In the absence of precise anatomical dimensions, adaptability can be a powerful tool in the designer’s toolbox. Whether the solution is fully adjustable (like an office chair) or offers different size options (like audio earbuds with multiple size tips,) a thoughtfully designed adjustable or flexible product ensures that one size does NOT need to fit all—rather, we can design a solution that easily adapts to meet the needs of all users.

Being on the cutting edge of new product development often means navigating uncharted territory. At Kaleidoscope, we've mastered the art of designing for the unknown with a combination of creative data collection, analogous product inspiration, and thoughtful adaptability. By transforming uncertainty into opportunity for our partners, we create products and experiences that improve outcomes for everyone.

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Author

  • Tom Gernetzke

    Tom Gernetzke

    Senior Industrial Designer | [email protected]

    Tom Gernetzke is a senior lead industrial designer at Kaleidoscope Innovation and has spent the last 12 years creatively bringing new product ideas to life.

CES Optimist or Cynic?

Connectivity of people and devices is a significant macro trend across various products and technologies. Throughout history, most tech innovations have stemmed from the essential need for human interconnectivity including language, printing, roads, telecommunication, and the internet.

Optimistically, products like Withings' new "BeamO" represent a noteworthy evolution—a handheld device sensing temperature, heart rate, ECG, O2 levels, and features a stethoscope. This advancement enables a mobility-limited population to interact more effectively with healthcare providers, providing higher fidelity and real-time patient information. These products accumulate valuable data points over time, facilitating meaningful trend analysis.


 

However, my inner cynic sees that these types of products are usually marketed toward able-bodied and mobile people. Products like this can be used as excuses to avoid human-to-human interaction… or be reasons to replace human interaction. (You may have seen the AI powered robotic barista!) Every day, we see the impact of people losing the skills of basic public human interaction and common courtesy.

 

Overall, my optimistic perspective embraces the potential these new technologies bring to the human experience. While acknowledging potential pitfalls, I advocate for a larger role of Design within companies exploring these technologies. Engaging in discourse is crucial to finding a balance that enhances rather than degrades our collective experiences.

Now, are you more of an optimist or a cynic?

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Author

  • Karl Vanderbeek

    Karl Vanderbeek

    VP of Design & Human Factors

    Karl is passionate about creating worthwhile and valuable product design with an amazing team, focused on building beautiful and intuitive experiences prioritizing the user’s needs and expectations. His team brings these visions to reality by collaborating closely with Kaleidoscope’s Insights, Human Factors and Engineering teams. Karl’s Industrial Design background includes working with brands across a wide variety of industries, ranging from healthcare and medical, to consumer and housewares, to industrial products and toys. He has earned more than 40 design and utility patents over the past 20+ years.

Unleashing the Power of a One-Stop Shop Product Development Partner

In the competitive business world today, time and dedicated company resources are more important than ever before. Companies face several challenges bringing innovative products to the market efficiently. Developing a new product requires expertise in various disciplines, from design and engineering to manufacturing and regulatory compliance. Managing your time and amplifying your limited resources will allow you to navigate these complexities successfully.  

Developing a business relationship with a one-stop shop to amplify your time and resources can be a game changer to the success of your projects. Ultimately impacting and improving the lives of the user. Let us take a closer look at the value of partnering with a one-stop shop like Kaleidoscope.  

1. CONVENIENCE AND STREAMLINED COMMUNICATION

One benefit of a one-stop shop is convenience. Customers can find everything they need in a single location, saving them time, effort, and potential stress. This eliminates the need to juggle multiple vendors and stakeholders, so they can have access to various products, services, or information in a quick and efficient manner. By having all the necessary expertise and resources under one roof, businesses can enjoy streamlined communication and collaboration. Which will increase your customers' satisfaction and trust, drawing in new customers at the same time. 

2. TIME AND EFFICIENCY AND EXPERIENCE

Working aside a turnkey product development partner can optimize time efficiency and experience. It eliminates potential bottlenecks, handover delays, and coordination challenges that can occur when working with multiple vendors. Additionally, the partner's expertise and experience allow for efficient project management, ensuring timelines are met, and deadlines are achieved. By accelerating the product development timeline, businesses can gain a competitive edge, capture market opportunities, and generate revenue. By offering a wide range of services, a one-stop shop saves customers valuable time that they can allocate to other activities or responsibilities. 

3. RESOURCE AND COST OPTIMIZATION

Collaborating with a one-stop shop product development partner offers reduced costs and resource optimization benefits. You can now work at full efficiency, maximizing processes, leveraging time-saving strategies, and achieving more goals for your business. Instead of managing multiple contracts, vendors, and overhead costs, businesses can leverage the partner's comprehensive services and infrastructure. This consolidation results in cost savings, as businesses eliminate redundant expenses and optimize resource allocation. Additionally, the partner's economies of scale, supplier relationships, and manufacturing capabilities can drive further cost efficiencies throughout the product development journey.

4. COMPETITIVE EDGE

Partnering with a reputable one-stop shop automatically can provide a significant advantage. It enables individuals or businesses to improve decision making. With a more precise and thorough approach in the choices you make, you will have more time for thorough testing and validation, reducing the likelihood of costly errors or product recalls. By ensuring the best of product quality and compliance, customers can build trust with businesses, leading to better brand reputation. Being able to respond quickly to market changes, customer demands, or emerging opportunities, creates an efficient environment where you can deliver products or services faster than competitors, giving you a competitive edge in the market.

5. END-TO-END EXPERTISE AND EXPERIENCE

A one-stop shop product development partner brings together a diverse team of experts with extensive experience across all stages of the product development lifecycle. From initial concept design and prototyping to engineering, manufacturing, and regulatory compliance, the partner possesses the necessary expertise to guide businesses through each phase. This comprehensive knowledge base ensures that no aspect of the product development process is overlooked, resulting in a robust and successful end-to-end product.

A one-stop shop product development partner offers substantial value to businesses embarking on the journey of bringing innovative products to market. Here at Kaleidoscope, we have the benefit of engaging with our business partners at our multi-disciplined campus. Our electronics fabrication and advanced prototyping part of our campus is where products come to life. We can perform rapid prototyping and the integration of new equipment to see product development success. We work closely with our customers from ideation to creating end-to-end solutions. We strongly believe in working to your fullest potential and allotting the required time and resources to get things done right the first time.  

 From streamlining communication and collaboration to providing end-to-end expertise. We accelerate time to market, optimize costs, reduce risks, and enhance product quality. The benefits are far-reaching, leading businesses to navigate the complexities of product development more efficiently and effectively, driving success and achieving their growth objectives. So, the next time your project requirements, resources or timeline have you feeling stressed or overwhelmed connect with Kaleidoscope Innovation.  

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Author

  • Taylor Schmitt

    Taylor Schmitt

    Marketing Co-op | [email protected]

    Taylor Schmitt is currently a student at The Ohio State University, where she studies marketing. She loves exploring new opportunities and facing new challenges. While working at Kaleidoscope she has been able to work closely with the sales team to support business growth and brand visibility

The Power of Creativity, Innovation and Community

The 2023 International Design Conference hosted by the Industrial Designers Society of America and held in the bustling city of New York was a true testament to the power of creativity, innovation and community. Co-created with the NYC design community and powered by NYC Chapter Chair Vincent Lin, this event served as a melting pot of the brightest minds in design, converging to discuss the future of design and its potential to address global challenges. It was as much a vibrant celebration of innovation and camaraderie as it was a stage for essential conversations about design's pivotal role in sculpting a resilient and sustainable future.

 

FINDING YOUR FLOW, TRUSTING YOUR INTUITION

The conference itself got off to an invigorating start with an insightful talk by Cormac Ó Conaire from PA Consulting. He explored the concept of staying in the 'flow', underscoring its potential to boost creative prowess. Cormac argued the value of pushing oneself to face challenges, which he outlined as key components in achieving a flow state. While he acknowledged that tools aren't indispensable to achieving flow, he suggested that they could enhance and sustain it. "Team flow is a unique state of mind," he noted - and the shared experience of the IDC, much like team flow, created a unique state of mind, fostering a heightened sense of engagement, collaboration, and innovation.

The conversation segued into a fascinating discussion led by Juliette Laroche and Ziyuan Zhu from IDEO about the potential of generative AI in product design. They envisioned a future where AI is applied to everyday objects, imbuing them with personality and interactivity. They explored how AI could be harnessed for material exploration, promising unexpected but beneficial outcomes. Afsin Mehnin from Card79 built on the intangible power of designers to harness these new tools, discussing the role of intuition in industrial design. He spoke about how intuition could be honed through experience and pattern recognition, and how physical creation was a unique form of learning and intuition.

 

SUSTAINABILITY AND REJUVENATION

The theme of sustainability was powerfully reinforced by Jarred Evans from PDR Consulting. Tackling the formidable challenge of achieving net zero in product design, he emphasized the crucial significance of material selection, lifecycle consideration, and financial sustainability. A case study on stroller design offered a practical example of how sustainability goals could be met through mindful design and material choices. "Product design has changed, and not everyone is ready. It's about picking the best worst solution. Better now is an improvement on perfect never," he advised the audience of designers and industry leaders from across the country and the globe.

 

 

 

Ranee Lee from OCAD University continued the narrative on sustainability and rejuvenation. She detailed the inspiring journey of DESIGNwith, a community-based creative collective from Toronto. The social and environmental lab collaborated with middle-aged women from economically disadvantaged urban areas to rejuvenate their communities through design. This successful co-design project demonstrated the enormous potential of design as a tool for socio-economic upliftment and the passion for a more caring world is evident in the work created by the team at DESIGNwith.

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"We are seeking a caring design practice in a post-pandemic world."

Ranee Lee from OCAD University

 

CELEBRATING THE INTERSECTIONS OF IDENTITY & DESIGN

One of the most emotionally resonant talks was presented by Joey Zeledon, who shared their journey as a trans nonbinary person in the design industry, highlighting the importance of authenticity and self-acceptance. They spoke about the intersection of cultural and personal narratives, suggesting that designers often wear a 'costume' that represents their professional identity. Zeledon emphasized the importance of challenging traditional design norms and questioned whether designers consider their own identities in the same way we consider product transformations. They proposed viewing product design as a means of helping products find their identities, thus creating new narratives around identity and design.

 


Shawn Williams expanded upon the role of one's personal journey and lived experience in design, focusing on the impact of mentorship and community in shaping your career and impact in the industry. He credited his mentors, particularly Ms. Johnson who bought him his first notebook, for fostering his talent. Williams emphasized that possessing a tool as simple as a #2 pencil can grow to symbolize power in design. As the youngest member of Diversify by Design (DxD), he shared how senior designers within the organization embraced and nurtured the next generation, fostering a sense of community. We too have the opportunity to support the next generation of designers, creating an industry that is more welcoming to all.

SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!

In conclusion, the 2023 International Design Conference was a vibrant celebration of design thinking, innovation, and community, showcasing the transformative potency of design in sculpting a resilient and sustainable future. The event was not merely a discourse on the future of design but also an inspiring testament to the power of community and mentorship in the industry. It left attendees inspired, enlightened, and looking forward to what design's future holds. We are thrilled to announce that the flame of creativity will continue to burn bright in Austin, Texas, the chosen location for the next year's International Design Conference in 2024. The design community worldwide eagerly anticipates the innovation, collaboration, and inspiration that the vibrant city of Austin promises to offer.

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Author

  • Caterina Rizzoni

    Caterina Rizzoni

    Lead Industrial Designer | [email protected]

    Caterina Rizzoni is a lead industrial designer at Kaleidoscope Innovation and is the Director-at-Large of Conferences for IDSA.