NOV
#Medical product design
#User Research
#AI robot
Jun 2021
Co-designed with Taiwanese nurses, NOV is a conceptual medical cart designed for Taiwanese nurses, redefining the arrangement of medical items and the utilization of the medical cart. It incorporates AI robot technology, enabling it to automatically navigate to specified locations following the workflow, thereby alleviating the workload.
HIGHLIGHT
AI Autonomous Mobility
NOV can automatically travel to designated locations, such as wards and nursing stations, eliminating the need for nurses to push cumbersome carts and thereby reducing their physical burden.
360-Degree Rotation
Nurses can adjust the orientation of NOV to meet the needs of different locations. The cart is designed with a nearly square shape (from a top view) which prevents collisions with surrounding objects during rotation.
Spatial Layout Design
We transform the data and insights collected from qualitative and quantitative research into design solutions. At the same time, we incorporate future trends like tabletization of computers to maximize the utilization of space in NOV.
BEHIND THE SCENE
Background Research
Researches indicate the harsh working environment for nurses
Our experience
Our nurse cousins often complain about the exhaustion from work
Both of our cousins happen to be nurses, and we often hear them express dissatisfaction their working environment, including the medical carts.
Assumption
Medical cart is one of the factors contributing to the fatigue of Taiwanese nurses ?
Qualitative survey
130 nurses agree medical carts aren't user-friendly
We conducted a survey for 130 Taiwanese nurses and confirmed there are 8 significant problems with in medical cart.
In-depth interview
One of the nurse cousins shares her personal experience of the problems mentioned above
Convergence
Through analyzing, we identify 2 major issues with medical carts
Design entry point
How might we redesign medical cart to reduce the workload for nurse and address the clutter problems?
Development
We integrate future medical trends into the design and invite 4 nurses to join the design process in VR & MR
Final Concept
Our design solutions align with the 2 main issues
Feedback
The 3 functions that the 113 nurses find the most helpful
We introduce the design outcomes to 113 nurses randomly through a questionnaire, asking them to select the 3 most helpful features.
REFLECTION
Be aware of the relationship between the product, user, and the environment
After sharing our design outcomes with the head nurse from Taipei Veterans General Hospital, we realized that the medical environment in Taiwan is quite complex. During the research phase, it is crucial to have a thorough understanding of current situation, such as the varied habits and practices of nurses in different departments when using medical carts. In future medical product design projects, I aspire to study enough user and environmental research, developing more comprehensive medical products.
THANK YOU !
© 2025 All RIGHTS RESERVED
MADE BY MAO HUANG