Design Thinking and Sustainable Design

Capstone Project 1
Simulation & Immersive Technologies
Cornell University

Erica Jayasundera

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 Table of Contents
Problem Statement .................................................................................................................................. 3
Key Challenges: ......................................................................................................................................... 3
Potential Solutions: ................................................................................................................................... 3
Digital Health Record: .............................................................................................................................. 3
Key Components for a Design Thinking Approach to Medication Management for Mahesh ................. 4
1. Empathy ............................................................................................................................................ 4
2. Define................................................................................................................................................ 4
3. Ideate ................................................................................................................................................. 5
4. Prototype ........................................................................................................................................... 5
5. Test.................................................................................................................................................... 5
Potential Solution Ideas: ........................................................................................................................... 5
Creating an Empathy Map for Mahesh ..................................................................................................... 6
1. Think & Feel ..................................................................................................................................... 6
2. Say..................................................................................................................................................... 6
3. Do...................................................................................................................................................... 6
4. See ..................................................................................................................................................... 6
5. Hear ................................................................................................................................................... 6
Ideate ..................................................................................................................................................... 8
• Brainstorming:.................................................................................................................................... 8
Smart Medication Dispenser ..................................................................................................................... 8
Scenario Planning: Envision different future scenarios and how the solution might fit into them. .. 10
Prototype .................................................................................................................................................... 10
Testing ..................................................................................................................................................... 15
User Feedback for Mobile App: Drug Reminder and Medical History.................................................... 15
Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................... 17

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Problem Statement
Understanding Mahesh's Medical Needs

As I see it, Mahesh's frequent travel and complicated health regime present significant challenges
in managing his healthcare.

Key Challenges:
➢ Frequent Travel: This makes it difficult to stick to a consistent healthcare routine.
➢ Complex Medical History: He requires regular monitoring and medication.
➢ Multiple Appointments: Scheduling and remembering appointments can be daunting.
➢ Medication Management: Ensuring timely intake and refills is vital.
➢ Medical Record Keeping: Organising and storing medical records for future reference.

Potential Solutions:

To overcome these challenges, a comprehensive healthcare management solution could be

implemented. This solution could incorporate the following features:

Digital Health Record:

➢ Centralized Storage: A secure, cloud-based platform to store all medical records,

including test results, prescriptions, and appointment history.
➢ Easy Access: Accessible from any device, allowing Mahesh to review his health
information anytime, anywhere.
➢ Automated Reminders: Timely reminders for medication intake, upcoming
appointments, and test results.
➢ Real-time Monitoring: Remote monitoring of vital signs and other health parameters.
➢ Medication Management:
a. Automated Refills: Automatic prescription refills and delivery to his preferred
location.
b. Medication Reminders: Timely notifications to take medication as prescribed.
➢ Appointment Scheduling and Reminders:

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 a. Automated Scheduling: Integration with healthcare providers' calendars for easy
appointment booking.
b. Intelligent Reminders: Customized reminders for appointments, test results, and
follow-ups.
➢ Emergency Contact Information:
a. Quick Access: Easy access to emergency contact information, including doctors,
hospitals, and family members.

By leveraging technology, Mahesh can streamline his healthcare management process, reducing
stress and ensuring optimal health.

Key Components for a Design Thinking Approach to Medication

Management for Mahesh

When applying design thinking to Mahesh's medication management needs, consider these key
components:

1. Empathy
✓ Deep Dive into Mahesh's Needs: Understand his daily routine, travel schedule, and
specific challenges related to medication management.
✓ Identify Pain Points: Pinpoint the exact moments of frustration and inconvenience he
experiences.
✓ Uncover Hidden Needs: Explore underlying needs beyond the obvious, such as the
desire for simplicity, peace of mind, and control over his health.

2. Define

✓ Problem Statement: Clearly articulate the core problem: "How can we design a
solution to simplify Mahesh's medication management, reduce stress, and ensure
adherence to his treatment plan, especially during frequent travel?"
✓ User Persona: Create a detailed profile of Mahesh, including his demographics,
lifestyle, goals, and frustrations.

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3. Ideate

✓ Brainstorming: Generate a wide range of ideas, no matter how unconventional.

✓ Mind Mapping: Visualize connections between ideas and identify potential solutions.
✓ Scenario Planning: Envision different future scenarios and how the solution might fit
into them.

4. Prototype

✓ Low-Fidelity Prototyping: Create simple sketches or wireframes to visualize the

solution.
✓ High-Fidelity Prototyping: Develop detailed prototypes, such as mockups or
interactive prototypes.
✓ User Testing: Gather feedback from Mahesh and other users to refine the design.

5. Test

✓ Pilot Testing: Conduct small-scale tests to evaluate the solution's effectiveness.

✓ Iterative Improvement: Gather feedback and make necessary adjustments.
✓ User Feedback: Continuously seek input from users to refine the solution.

Potential Solution Ideas:

Based on Mahesh's needs, consider these potential solutions:
➢ Smart Medication Dispenser: An automated device that dispenses medication at the right
time, with reminders and alerts.
➢ Mobile App: A user-friendly app that tracks medication intake, sets reminders, and provides
educational resources.
➢ Personalized Medication Packs: Pre-sorted medication packs for each day or week, tailored
to Mahesh's specific regimen.
➢ Telehealth Integration: Remote consultations with health-care providers to monitor his health
and adjust medication as needed.

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By following these design thinking principles and considering these potential solutions, you can
develop innovative and effective approaches to medication management for Mahesh and others
with similar needs.

Creating an Empathy Map for Mahesh

Understanding Mahesh's Perspective

To create a comprehensive empathy map for Mahesh, consider the following key areas:

1. Think & Feel

• Thoughts:
o Concerned about his health and potential complications.
o Worried about missing important business trips due to health issues.
o Frustrated with the complexity of managing his medical needs.
• Feelings:
o Stressed about balancing work and health-care.
o Overwhelmed by the amount of paperwork and appointments.

2. Say
• “It's hard to keep up with my health medication, appointments ,and medical bills."

3. Do
• Travels frequently for work.
• Schedules and attends regular medical check-ups.
• Manages multiple medications daily.
• Fills prescriptions at various pharmacies.
• Stores medical records and test results.
• Contacts health-care providers for appointments and consultations.

4. See
• Appointment reminders and notifications.
• Medication bottles and packaging.
• Insurance paperwork and bills.

5. Hear
• Doctor's instructions and advice.
• Appointment reminders and alerts.

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By understanding Mahesh's thoughts, feelings, actions, and environment, you can identify
potential pain points and opportunities to improve his health-care experience. This empathy map
can help you develop innovative solutions, such as a mobile health app or a dedicated health-care
concierge, to simplify his medical journey and reduce stress.

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Ideate
• Brainstorming: Generate a wide range of ideas, no matter how unconventional.

Upon brainstorming for ideas on how to ease the list of Mahesh by creating a solution to
fit his medical needs, I thought a comprehensive but simpler easy to use mobile
application or a drug dispenser with some form of an LCD screen showing notifications
on medicine intake and reminders would fit his exact requirement . Designing a physical
dispenser came to my mind because I designed such equipment as a key assignment
requirement for Microcontroller-Based Embedded System Design Course at ENTC
Moratuwa. It is ready as a circuit but needs a packaging to be completed to showcase as a
prototype.

Smart Medication Dispenser

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 Figure 1 : Possbile Bread board Design for the drug dispenser.

Figure 2 : Ready made drug dispenser available on Amazon.

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 But with the time frame, the solution needs to be quick and portable. And physical testing
of the product is not feasible.

Scenario Planning: Envision different future scenarios and how the solution might fit into them.

With the above criteria the only possible solution would be to provide a portable easy to
use mobile solution, we need to consider the following too when designing the final
product.

1. Doctor's instructions and advice.

2. Appointment reminders and alerts.
3. Stores medical records and test results.

Prototype

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Figure 3 Automated Reminders and UpToDate health status (Stores medical records and test results.)

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Figure 4 Medicine Restock

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Figure 5 1 Doctor's instructions and advice.

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Figure 6 Appointment creation and schedule

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Testing

User Feedback for Mobile App: Drug Reminder and Medical History

General Usability

· Ease of Use:

o Is the app intuitive to navigate?

o Are buttons, menus, and options easy to find and understand?

o Are the reminders clear and effective?

· Design and Layout:
o Is the interface visually appealing?
o Are text and icons readable and appropriately sized?
2. Features
· Drug Reminder:
o Is it easy to set up reminders for medications?
o Are the notifications timely and customizable?
o Are there options for flexible schedules (e.g., daily, weekly, or as
needed)?
· Medical History Tracking:

o Does the app allow for easy input and retrieval of medical history?

o Are records organized logically (e.g., by date, doctor, or

condition)?
o Can users attach documents or photos (e.g., prescriptions, test
results)?
· Integrations:
o Does it integrate with other apps, like health trackers or wearable
devices?

o Can users share data securely with caregivers or doctors?

3. Performance

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 · Is the app fast and responsive?
· Does it crash or have bugs?
4. Accessibility
· Does the app support different languages and regional drug
databases?
· Is it accessible to people with disabilities (e.g., voice commands,
screen reader support)?
5. Security and Privacy
· Do users feel confident their medical data is secure?

· Are there clear explanations of how data is used and stored?

6. Suggestions for Improvement

· Are there additional features users would like (e.g., a symptom
tracker, doctor appointment scheduler)?

· Are there any pain points or barriers to continued use?

7. Overall Experience

· Would users recommend this app to others? Why or why not?

· What’s the one thing they love most about the app?

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Conclusion

The design thinking approach applied to Mahesh’s medical needs has emphasized the importance
of empathy, innovation, and iterative problem-solving. By deeply understanding Mahesh’s
challenges, such as managing medication during frequent travel and maintaining a complex
medical history, we have identified potential solutions that leverage technology to provide
seamless health-care management.

The proposed solutions, including a mobile app for reminders, digital health records, and
integrated appointment scheduling, are aimed at simplifying Mahesh's health-care routine while
ensuring his treatment adherence and overall well-being. This case study highlights how a
human-centred approach can drive the creation of practical and impactful solutions that cater to
individual needs.

By focusing on Mahesh's unique circumstances and iterating on the proposed prototypes, this
project lays the foundation for innovative health-care solutions that can be extended to a broader
audience facing similar challenges. Future work will involve refining these concepts through
user feedback and further testing, ensuring that the final product not only meets but exceeds user
expectations.

References

1) Generative Design: A Paradigm Shift in Sustainable Product Design- Designing modular

furniture that can be easily disassembled and repurposed.
2) "Co-Creative Design with AI: A Human-Centered Approach" - Designing AI-powered
systems that enhance human creativity and problem-solving abilities.
3) AI-Driven Sustainable Materials Innovation: "Accelerating the Discovery of
Sustainable Materials through AI" by Curtarolo et al. (2013) .Identifying novel materials
with superior properties for energy storage, catalysis, or structural applications.
4) Ethical AI in Design:: "Ethical Considerations in AI for Design" by Stoeckl et al. (2019)
Developing AI tools that avoid biases and promote fairness in design decisions, such as
ensuring equitable access to public spaces or transportation.
5) Human-Centered AI Design:

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 Paper: "Co-Creative Design with AI: A Human-Centered Approach" by Mueller et al.
(2019)
Collaborating with AI to generate innovative design concepts, such as sustainable urban
planning or inclusive product design.
6)

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