Gentle technology for serious care
Designing the future of large-volume injection systems that support, comfort, and empower patients through human-centered innovation.
"Reimagining medical technology not as cold gadgets, but as companions that support, comfort, and empower patients in their healing journey."
We started by asking stakeholders and discovered the true patient pain points
Understanding the real patient experience beyond medical requirements
Doctors, Nurses, and Pharmacists sharing frontline insights
Engineers and Marketing teams providing technical constraints
Two patients, two different experiences with current injection systems. Their stories reveal the human impact behind the medical statistics.
Follow two patients through their different experiences with current injection systems. See how design can transform medical care from traumatic to supportive.
Traditional injectables create a huge burden of sharps waste every year, while patients struggle with adhesive trauma, confusing instructions, and emotional distress during treatment.
The carrying case becomes your sharps container - one less thing to worry about. Treatment becomes manageable, comfortable, and sustainable.
Through extensive research, we identified six critical areas where current devices fail patients
Tiny buttons, overwhelming controls, high cognitive load. Confusing IFUs cited as 46% of adherence problems.
Clear, picture-first steps; simple operation; as few steps as possible (pre-filled, etc.); Care companion guiding you through.
Up to 72% report irritation/allergy; painful removal and skin tears. Some resort to cling wrap among other things.
Adhesive-free fabric wrap attachment option; easy-to-remove breathable adhesive.
Flashing lights, unclear device status, lack of reassurance, uncertainty.
Warm & familiar design, supportive care companion, clear status indication + progress updates via text messaging.
Subcutaneous tissue depth varies widely; if not right, you either hit muscle or deliver into the dermis.
On-device ultrasound determines SC depth and optimal needle length and avoids blood vessels.
Desire for quieter, lighter, low profile, unrestrictive device.
Decoupled needle, silent pump, minimum dead volume, injection site cooling to reduce discomfort.
Cumbersome travel, having to carry sharps containers; worrying about ice packs, fridge space and temperature.
Sharps-secure box with built-in cold storage and everything you need for an injection.
From problem framing to refined prototypes - a human-centered approach to medical device innovation
We began with the prompt: design an adhesive-free, large-volume drug delivery system that patients could trust and companies could scale. Instead of starting with the device, we reframed the problem through people:
We collected insights from several sources:
We mapped each stakeholder's journey and discovered that the real pain points weren't just mechanics, but trust, comfort, and cognitive load:
Using "How Might We" questions, we brainstormed broadly:
Our early slogan was "Gentle hugs are nice" to capture the vibe we wanted to achieve.
Early device concepts addressing adhesive trauma
Form factor explorations and user interaction concepts
Digital companion development inspired by Tamagotchi
Scenario development and early concept sketches
From the brainstorm clusters, we converged on a system vision:
We built low-fidelity prototypes to test our concepts, from elastic fabric mockups to adhesive pull-tabs and cling-wrap hacks. These experiments validated that comfort could be achieved without compromising functionality.
"Gentle hugs are nice" - testing the wrap concept
Iterating on comfort and functionality
We used storyboards and illustrations to humanize the design, showing patients gaining comfort through the wrap and Kitty's guidance, medical workers reducing training time, and companies seeing improved adherence and sustainability.
A progressive evolution of injection systems, each generation addressing specific patient pain points through iterative innovation
The first generation tackles the most immediate patient pain point: adhesive trauma. By introducing comfortable alternatives and visual guidance, Gen 1 creates the foundation for trust and comfort.
"Gen 1 immediately eliminates the 'duct tape' feeling that 72% of patients report, while maintaining secure device placement and reliable drug delivery."
Building on Gen 1's success, Gen 2 completely eliminates adhesives with an elastic wrap system and introduces integrated cold storage to address medication anxiety.
"Gen 2 transforms the patient experience from medical procedure to supportive care, with zero adhesive trauma and guaranteed medication safety."
Gen 3 introduces intelligent injection site optimization and emotional AI support, creating a truly personalized treatment experience that adapts to each patient's needs.
"Gen 3 represents the future of patient-centered care: technology that not only delivers medication safely but provides emotional support throughout the journey."
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The speculative fourth generation explores cutting-edge technologies that could revolutionize drug delivery, moving beyond needles toward completely painless, sustainable treatment methods.
"Gen 4 envisions a future where treatment becomes invisible—no pain, no waste, no anxiety. Just gentle, effective care that adapts to your life."
Each generation builds upon the previous, creating a comprehensive ecosystem that evolves with technology while maintaining our core principle: making treatment feel supportive, not traumatic.
From Trauma to Trust: Six principles that guide every design decision
Picture-first, step-by-step actions that eliminate confusion and build confidence through clear visual guidance.
Adhesive-free elastic wrap that provides a "gentle hug" instead of painful tape that tears skin and causes trauma.
Needle suspension with multiple depth options and integrated thermostat to ensure medication safety and proper delivery.
Friendly Care Companion ("Kitty") that provides reassurance and guidance without clinical coldness or judgment.
Reusable transfer box, reduced adhesives, and built-in sharps storage to minimize environmental impact and waste.
Generational roadmap (Gen 1 → Gen 4) that evolves with technology while maintaining core patient-centered principles.
"Designing for medical devices means designing for vulnerability. Every choice—from the wrap material to the companion's voice—should make patients feel supported, not exposed."
