Exploring Cross-Disciplinary Design Dialogues: A Case-Study Workshop on Designing Medical Interfaces and the Integration of the ‘Check’ Methodological Canvas

This paper addresses the topic of designing medical interfaces as a scenario which fosters cross-disciplinary design dialogues. It demonstrates this through a case-study workshop where MA students conducted user research and proposed a re-design of an inhalation anesthesia device interface. It represents a tester of a new methodological canvas “Check” tool and how it was integrated into the established methods of UX/UI design. The paper shares pedagogical reflections as well as feedback from the design team on the process of analysis and design of user interfaces and on the characteristics of collaboration between designers and medical companies. Findings suggest that designers should be trained to research the unintended use of medical devices (the UX component), including the emotional component of interaction. “Check” tool can support them in doing so through differentiating rational and emotional components of interaction and structuring them according to principles of cognitive ergonomics. The paper also emphasizes the need to conveniently and comprehensively integrate medical standards into interaction analysis, while advocating for improved communication, formalization, and potential standardization of collaborations between designers and the healthcare industry.