After conducting user research and coding our data for themes through affinity diagramming, our team moved into the ideation phase of our project. The purpose of ideation was to generate a promising design that could be built in full during our prototyping phase. Four artifacts were created during ideation: a list of design requirments, a collection of potential design sketches, three refined sketches for user feedback and a summary of user feedback.
Design Requirements
Drawing directly from user research findings, our team compiled a list of design considerations to refer to during ideation. Additionally, we pulled out the most pertinent design considerations and created a top ten design requirements list. By generating ideas that satisfied these design requirements, we ensured that potential products would, indeed, be beneficial to users within our design space.
Features of a successful medication management system are listed in the following documents:
To start off the idea generation process, each team member created several unique sketches of design ideas. These sketches depicted user experiences, user interfaces, and medication management tools. Each sketch was also intended to align with our list of design requirements that was generated after user research. Original sketches can be viewed in the photos bellow.
customizable medi-set
confirmation button
digital picture frame reminder
detachable compartments
routine based remiders
printable records
record keeping content
revolving pill bottle holder
linear filing system
Stackable pillbox with LEDs and small digital display.
Pillbox that accommodates liquids.
Pillbox with digital display and fingerprint sensor.
30 Day compartment format.
Pillbox with digital display on each compartment.
Compartments with magnetic clips and wifi capabilities.
Pillbox with removable labels and knobs for locking.
A screen that clips on top of mediset that shows visual walkthroughs to describe what medication you should be taking and details about it.
Views can switch between days, dates, or pictures of pills.
Lightweight tablets with adhesive backing can be placed wherever is useful for the users.
Medisets can be attached to a screen that displays a comforting message from the caretaker as well as information about the medicine.
Puzzle piece shaped boxes that can clip together and be rearranged according to the user’s’ preferences.
A simple planner that is designed to contain every type of information that the user may need.
Portable design with screwable compartments
A watch that reminds you to take your medication at the normal time, but reminds you again once you are within a certain distance of your medicine.
Custom labels can slide in or out of the cover of each box of the mediset.
Similar to a slide carousel, the pills for each day would be released from each compartment by twisting. The center could be extra storage for traveling.
This is a system that stores all the users medications (up to 8 pictured) and then, by pushing a code, it releases the prescribed medication at the right time into a compartment in the center.
The user then tips the pill case sideways and the pills come out in the hand. The side opens on a time release after the code has been input and pills have been dispensed.
Pill bottles have threading on the bottom for pill containers to connect together.
Hooking mechanism for pill containers to connect together.
User receives messages on television screen as reminders to take medications as part of an escalating reminder system.
User receives reminder call to take medications as part of an escalating reminder system.
Structured record keeping notebook.
First page of structured notebook with doctor’s contact info and medication information.
Remaining pages of structured notebook with method to record medication adherence and questions for doctor.
Wearable bracelet that notifies user when medication needs to be taken.
Final Sketches
After coming together and combining design ideas, our team discovered that a medication management system can encompass three subcategories: medication organization systems, reminder systems and record keeping systems. As a team, we developed a final design that considers each of these areas and that we feel would successfully satisfy user needs. Finally, we created three refined sketches of the design to present for user feedback.
Organization System
Reminder System
Record Keeping System
Additional descriptions and questions for user feedback are available in the following document:
To ensure that our designs were meeting user needs, we presented our refined sketches to users for feedback. Overall, our design concept received an overwhelmingly positive response.
“I think this would be very helpful.”
“Fabulous!”
“That would be really good.”
Nevertheless, there is always room for improvement. Design suggestions from user feedback are summarized in the following document:
