Image: Detail from The Sanix Hub by Industrial Design undergraduate student, Julien Benghozi.
Designing the future of health care
Industrial Design students at OCAD University envision the future of health care in the virtual exhibition, Designing for Futures of Well-being, on view until January 30 as part of DesignTO 2022.
Organized by Faculty of Design Instructors Nadine Hare and Renn Scott along with Faculty of Design Associate Professor Ranee Lee, the exhibition showcases prototypes created in the fall by students enrolled in human-centred design (HCD) and design for health undergraduate courses.
For the exhibition, the group of emerging designers leveraged human-centred design methods to re-envision everyday products in two key areas: aging and personal protective equipment (PPE).
“Applying human-centered design methods produces more caring solutions for underserved populations as well as those who are typically forgotten in the design process (for example, older adults living with dementia),” notes Nadine Hare, who, in addition to being an instructor at the University is an Innovation Fellow at Women’s College Health Institute for Health System Solutions and Virtual Care in Toronto.
Human-centred design thinking, also referred to as user-centred design, is a philosophy that empowers an individual or team to design products, services, systems or experiences that address the core needs of those who experience a problem.
“When imagining the future, we not only think about what people want and need, but also what they are using and have access to now. In some cases, we need to change people's expectations about what is possible. By testing and reiterating concept ideas we can understand if the opportunities we've identified are worthwhile,” says Instructor Renn Scott, who also runs a design consultancy firm called Daily Goods Design LABS.
To create their prototypes, the students researched the needs of their target users. Then, they sketched solutions and developed low-fidelity versions of their designs. These were presented to end users and subject matter experts. Integrating their feedback, the students produced their final concepts.
“In order to design truly relevant and impactful solutions, designers must begin with an empathetic and holistic understanding of the people they are designing for,” explains Ranee Lee.
In addition to the online exhibition, viewers are invited to visit a window exhibition at All Ours Studio located at 62 Geary Ave. in Toronto, which showcases the prototypes digitally.
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Designing for Dignity in Aging
Featuring the work of Fife Ashley, Sahar Athari Nikounejad, Connor Dudgeon, Kevin Ernst, Sabbrina Hassan Ortiz, Victor Josic, Kai Mackenzie, Anas Mehta, Mariana Mejia, Esteban Poblona, Henry Rudman, Shoji Ushiyama, Cheuk Wing Yu and Catherine Xayabanha.
Together with Baycrest Health Sciences, OCAD U students imagined what purpose, connection, choice and autonomy could look like for older adults living with Alzheimer's. This component of the exhibition explores what health means to older adults themselves and asks, “how might older adults living with dementia continue to engage in the activities that make them feel fulfilled?” and "how might clinical-looking assistive products be re-designed to foreground dignity and comfort?”. Rooted in a deep understanding of the daily experience of aging, the featured designers developed a series of products that can support older adults in finding physical, emotional and social well-being.
The works in the exhibition include:
Smoothie Snacks for Older Adults by Cheuk Wing Yu and Catherine Xayabanha is an appealing, nutritious, care-giver friendly snack to keep older adults with dementia healthy.
& Tableware by Connor Dudgeon, Shoji Ushiyama and Victor Josic destigmatizes tableware for adults with dementia that uses colour theory and styling from high-end tableware to encourage food consumption and create a meaningful eating experience.
Family Oriented Mindfulness App by Fife Ashley, Esteban Poblona and Henry Rudman is a group-based and cognitive-centric digital application that integrates mindful practices in everyday household tasks.
Sensory Self Care Kit by Sabbrina Hassan Ortiz, Anas Mehta and Mariana Mejia is a grooming kit inspired by vintage wares that helps reconnect women with dementia to grooming memories while boosting their self-esteem.
Hugging Hearts Vest by Sahar Athari Nikounejad, Kevin Ernst and Kai Mackenzie is a caretaker identification tag to support smoother communication between residents in long-term care and their caregivers.
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Imagining the future of personal protective equipment (PPE)
Featuring the work of Sabrina Barona-Reinoso, Julien Benghozi, Ryan Carney, Katya Koroscil, Erin MacGregor, Samira Nassiri and Parna Rashidkhani.
This exhibition examines how innovative designs that integrate antiviral and antibacterial materials and emerging technologies can be used to help protect us. Representing yet unseen scenarios, we see how casually worn masks, shields and accessories represent optimism, while technology that supports how we interact with others helps communicate a message of caution. The prototypes shown in this exhibition propose personal protective equipment for the not-so-distant future.
The works in the exhibition include:
Purified Bubble Pod by Sabrina Barona-Reinoso is a transparent bubble and portable environment that provides up to five people with a safe space filled with natural sunlight that they cannot get when isolating indoors. Equipped with a ventilation system, which creates a form of sanitization, the whole dome can be disinfected after it detects that there are no people inside.
The Sanix Hub by Julien Benghozi includes the Sanix Cabinet for fast access, easy disposal and the disinfection of medical masks. The Hart Mask is sanitized and charged within the cabinet, which helps keep healthcare workers safe while also increasing their ability to communicate and do their work effectively.
Re-inventing Remote Learning by Ryan Carney purposefully uses emerging technologies to enhance human abilities and perceptions. Its intention is to make sure that those who face learning, language, financial, geographical, self-discovery and mobility barriers experience their education with as few limitations as possible.
Hoodi by Katya Koroscil is a wearable, which includes a mask with a medical insert, an adjustable neck warmer and hood, all of which connect using recycled magnets. Its modular design eases clothing transitions and outfit changes within the flow of a day, as the magnets allow for simple and varying points of connection. Like the city we live in, we are always moving, Hoodi will keep us warm, healthy and protected along the way.
The Raincoat by Erin MacGregor allows users to communicate through the use of panels of innovative e-textile ChroMorphus fabric and haptic sensors in the cheeks of the face covering. With just a push of a button on their smartphone users can send friends a kiss on the cheek or turn red like a chameleon to say, “Please! Just leave me alone!”. The face covering can also be buttoned up or down for the wearer’s comfort.
Creative Covid Mask by Samira Nassiri is inspired by beekeeping face shields and is designed to motivate young people to maintain their physical distance. Its multi-layered design means it can expand horizontally. It has multiple purposes including the ability to carry many objects by hand when the wearer doesn’t need or want to carry them on their back.
Grip N’ Roll by Samira Nassiri and Parna Rashidkhani is an accessory that helps people feel safe when they take transit. Washable and reusable, the rectangular shaped accessory can be snapped onto any type of bar and serves as a way for a commuter to hold onto, but not touch, public transit bars and handles.