P.U.L.S.E.

Within Health Concept Lab, in collaboration with OnePlanet and healthcare professionals, the assignment was to develop an innovative aid that supports people with Parkinson's disease in their daily lives. The challenge lay in designing a single easy-to-use product that addresses several problems people with Parkinson's face every day, such as:

• Taking medication on time
• Finding personal belongings
• Relaxation and stress reduction
• Supporting speech and movement exercises

The product had to match the motor and cognitive abilities of the target group and be simple to operate.

The final result is P.U.L.S.E. (Parkinson Utility for Living, Speech & Exercise): a multifunctional aid that combines several supportive functions in one clear device. The prototype features, among other things:

• A BuzzTag function for finding personal belongings
• A medication reminder
• Breathing and meditation exercises
• A speech trainer
• Rhythmic support while walking
• An ergonomic housing with an intuitive user interface

The prototype was built as a fully working device and tested with users, who were particularly positive about its simplicity and clarity. In addition, P.U.L.S.E. was selected to take part in the Innovate Innovatiefste Studentenwedstrijd, recognising the project as an innovative student design.

The project was carried out using the Design Thinking method, with research, ideation, prototyping and user testing at its core. I had a broad role within the project, responsible for research, design and communication alike. My contribution consisted of:

• Conducting user, product and form analyses
• Translating research findings into design decisions
• Designing and developing the button module
• Designing the user interface
• Writing and designing the project documentation
• Designing posters and presentation material
• Preparing and delivering presentations
• Contributing to the development and refinement of the prototype
• Supporting user testing and processing feedback

This gave me experience with the complete design process: from research and concept development to building and presenting a working prototype.

The result is a strong response to the assignment because:

• Several daily challenges faced by people with Parkinson's are combined in one product
• The design is based on user research and collaboration with healthcare professionals
• The prototype actually works and has been extensively tested with users
• The product remains simple and clear despite its many functions
• The design addresses both physical and cognitive limitations of the target group

This project also shows that I:

• Can translate research into innovative design solutions
• Can collaborate in a multidisciplinary project team
• Can combine technical, functional and aesthetic aspects in one product
• Can develop ideas into a working prototype
• Can communicate complex information clearly through documentation and presentations

Selected for the Innovate Innovatiefste Studentenwedstrijd, giving the project national recognition as an innovative student design.