Challenge

The challenge I present is a real case in which we applied the method of Design Thinking in its different  phases. Our users are people suffering from  Malaria in fairly advanced stage and to whom is performed a series  of treatments. This means carry a device through which the  medicinal product is delivered. This device has measures of 22 cm.x  10 cm. X 2.5 cm. (Length x width x height) and weighs 500 g.

The challenge that we were proposed was to raise ways to bring the medical device as  functional, comfortable and aesthetic for the patient (men and women).

At the beginning of this phase of the project, we had 5 prototypes to test with patients. Each  prototype was very different in terms of: place of the body to be carried, way of subjecting, type of  fabric, accessory details.

With these 5 different prototypes, we should determine which worked and which did not, and for  those who worked what and how they should be improved.

Selection

With the range of possible proposals, our objective at this stage was to determine which were really  valid and could finally be real solutions to carry the medical device. Because patients can be male /  female and different age and physical states, we had to see if one product was enough to give as a  solution or we would validate different from them.

Learning Launch the tool is the best way to perform this test because we had groups of patients to  whom we could perform testing of prototypes.    Insights

At the beginning of the Learning Launch process we were unclear of how many rounds of testing  would be required. The application of the same process gave us the key.

In the meeting with patients and nurses held at the end of the first learning launch, we gave the  first clue of the prototypes to be dismissed; They did not meet the functionality that should be  required.

In the second learning launch we tested the refined prototypes and got further feedback with  improvements to be made as on fabrics.

At the end of the third learning launch, we got four validated prototypes.

Application

The first learning launch was made with a group of 6 patients (3 men / 3 women) of different ages and

different physical.

We arranged a meeting in which each patient was provided with a kit with 5 different prototypes  models with detailed explanation - how to carry, instructions, etc. - In this phase, nurses accompany  patients throughout the process, so questions or doubts could be solved. This test phase lasted a  month. At the end of the month we held a meeting with all patients to obtain feedback from each of  them. The conclusion of this first learning launch was to dismiss 2 prototypes and make  improvements in the remaining 3.

We made a second learning launch with improved prototypes with another group of patients, following  the same process as before. At the end of the round, with the feedback obtained we refined the  prototypes.

Finally we considered a third learning launch with patients who were in the initial phase of introducing  the device, so they had no vices, as in former groups of patients we diagnosed sometimes were little  open to admit new ways to bring the apparatus because they were already used to a specific way.

At the end of this stage we got confirmation of 4 prototypes fully validated in terms of way to wear,  fabrics, and accessories.

Approach

After the second learning launch, we did not give the phase concluded, because we questioned what  would happen to new patients with the device. Previous learning launch were conducted with  patients who had had time with the device which gave us the insight that they were people with vices  as to how to carry and less open minded for introducing different ways.

This gave us the key to the need for a third learning launch with new patients in the disease  because we made assumptions or assumed vices we had to contrast.

Future learning launch should get all range of different users from the beginning.

