Who's the User/Who Else is Affected
Who's the User?
A teenager wears an ankle brace after a soccer injury but says it feels bulky and uncomfortable.
The injured teen athlete
A way to help kids remember to use their asthma inhalers before gym class.
Need it
“This wrist monitor keeps slipping off when I sleep.”
Problem: The device doesn’t stay on securely during sleep.
Which lens of design asks, “Do people actually want this?”
Desirability
“Make something to get people off the couch.”
Example: A way to address limited physical activity to support long-term health for people with low mobility.
Who's the User?
A smartwatch collects heart rate and movement data to detect if someone might be having a seizure.
A person with epilepsy or at risk of seizures
A wearable that vibrates when your heart rate gets too high.
❌ Fix it – it describes a solution
“I get nervous before my insulin injections and sometimes skip them.”
Problem: Anxiety around injections is causing skipped doses.
Which is not a Social Determinant of Health?
A) Access to housing
B) Hospital equipment
C) Transportation
B – Hospital equipment
“Design a walker that’s not embarrassing.”
Example: A way to address stigma around mobility devices to support confidence and independence for teens and adults who use walkers.
Who’s the User?
A college student with hearing loss says they struggle to follow lectures, even while using their hearing aids.
The student with hearing loss
A smart water bottle that tracks hydration levels for people with kidney disease.
❌ Fix it – it describes a solution
“My knee brace helps, but it squeaks every time I move.”
Problem: The brace is noisy and distracting during use.
What’s the difference between feasibility and viability?
Feasibility = can we build it; Viability = can it last or be sustainable
“Make crutches that don’t break so easily for people who can’t keep buying new ones.”
Example: A way to address durability and reusability to extend the lifespan of mobility aids for people who use crutches long-term.
Who Else is Affected?
A young girl with scoliosis finds it hard to sleep while wearing her prescribed back brace.
User: The child with scoliosis
Stakeholder(s): Parents, orthotist, pediatrician
A way to help nurses reduce hand fatigue during long shifts in the ER.
✅ Need it
“My smartwatch says I slept 8 hours, but I still feel exhausted.”
Problem: The device may not be accurately measuring sleep quality.
Why is understanding someone's environment important when designing a solution?
It affects how usable and relevant the solution is
“Create a health app for people who aren’t tech-savvy.”
Example: A way to address digital literacy challenges to make mobile health technology easier to use for people with limited tech experience.
Who Else is Affected?
A patient recovering from a stroke is given a robotic glove for therapy at home but struggles to set it up and use it regularly.
User: The stroke patient
Stakeholder(s): Occupational therapist, caregiver/family member, rehabilitation specialist, or medical device company
A phone-based app that scans moles and tells you if you have skin cancer.
❌ Fix it – solution-focused
“My grandma doesn’t use the emergency alert button because she forgets how it works.”
Problem: The emergency tool is too hard to remember or use.
Name two social determinants that could affect a student’s ability to stay healthy.
Examples: access to food, safe housing, school resources, income
“Build something that forces teens to stop being on their phones all day.”
Example: A way to address screen overuse to support healthy routines and well-being for teenagers.