I recently signed up to become a volunteer at a local hospital. One of the many requirements to participate in such a program is to ensure you have been suitably vaccinated and aren’t subject to any serious infections (e.g. measles).
Now my second time in the hospital in less than a year (this time on purpose), I made a point to again survey my surroundings. In particular, I took a closer look at the heart monitor adjacent to where I was sitting along with the tools the nurse used to take blood from my arm.
Here are a few things I noticed in just 30 seconds:
Center of Gravity: The monitor rested on a short pole connected to a set of wheels that were arranged in 90 degree angles to one another. What was interesting about this is that the pole was lowered approximately two inches so that its center of gravity was lower to the ground. This allows the unit to be moved much more easily and rapidly with reduced risk of toppling over.
Robust Power Cord: The end of the power plug was larger in size than a standard power plug. This allowed the cable to be removed from the wall with little effort, allowing for rapid transport to different locations within the hospital.
Protection: The needle that was used to draw blood from my arm had a plastic cover that was attached just below the collection tube. After the blood was drawn, as if reading my mind, the nurse rotated the cover (using one hand) until it snapped in place, completely protecting her from the needle end.
Color: The unit was a bright blue color, making it much easier to spot in case of immediate need.
One of the main reasons I mention this experience is because one can find any number of design strengths or opportunities in virtually any situation. While I have not had the need to use a heart monitor, I could still glean a few key design traits from the device that I could, in theory, use in future designs of my own.
Nurses and doctors who use the device on a routine basis may skim over what I’ve just mentioned, and instead highlight other traits that are more familiar to them. For example, they may comment on the size of the display or the height of the actual unit; traits that I would take for granted given my lack of experience and exposure.
A good designer is always taking in the world around them to see what’s working and what’s not. Similarly, design elements used in one situation or context can be employed in an entirely different situation; it just takes knowledge and understanding to enable the transition to occur.
In my next post I’ll give a real-world example and go a step deeper into this cross-pollination concept.