Designing an intervention for hierarchy issues in the OR

One of the ideation methods that we used to design the embodied challenge is “Material props in context”. This method was developed by Oscar Tomico at the Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) and asks the designer to explore materials in a certain context by draping your body in a material and then moving around in that context. This allows designers to use their bodies to understand and experience the materials in the context and to use this information to make design decisions. We used this method for finding original design solutions while immediately thinking about the embodied interaction that takes place. Another method that we used is called “Object theatre”, developed by Jacob Buur and Preben Friis at the University of Southern Denmark (Buur & Friis, 2015). For this method, designers have to make a performance around everyday objects. The designers will act out all the different perspectives, including the perspective of the object, to experience all the relationships between stakeholders (Wilde et al., 2017). The methods were used in an improv theatre session, where our prototype was shown to new users. We used this method to observe how people interact with our product for the first time and understand the affordances and constraints of our product.

We started to ideate. We were sure about making a modular system. This would allow elderly homes to pick and choose modules based on the people living there and the amount of space they have available for the garden. Having discussed our ideation we decided to select the square modules with rounded edges, because of their safe and modern looks. The square modules offered the most customization of possible layouts. Next, we talked about different sizes, heights and modules.
Different versions of prototypes were made. For this project, the use of prototypes was very important to understand how the embodied interaction worked. While the first prototypes were made from scrap materials and cardboard boxes, laser cutting and 3D-printing techniques were used to produce the final prototype. The prototype was made to simulate the interaction of the end product, where touching and feeling were important factors. A video was made to illustrate the interaction between the products and its users.

The “Blob Challenge” will be placed in the breakroom of nurses and surgeons where they will be motivated to do the challenge together. In contrast with existing solutions, the challenge will be incorporated into the daily work-life of nurses and surgeons, with the intention of maintaining good communication. The blob was designed in such a way that the first initiative is to explore the blob by fingers and hands. It is smooth and has different polygons to it, which makes the blob somewhat useless for other applications than just touching it. Users are shown a different perspective on the blob and have to communicate to find the blobs on the board. Each user searches for the blob on their half of the board and has to communicate to the other player what they see and what they feel. This requires active participatory sensemaking. Another affordance is to slide the blobs to each other, which also imitates the situated practice in the operating room, where the surgeon and nurse have to pass each other tools.