ID/Lab x DHW Lab collab

This past year the DHW Lab has been working on improving wayfinding at Auckland City Hospital. To provide expertise around the strategic elements of wayfinding, such as designing and problem-solving for a campus-wide system, wayfinding strategists ID/Lab were engaged. Specialising in hospital wayfinding, they have designed for over 40 hospitals world-wide. 

Unlike a traditional client/consultant relationship, this was a collaborative venture between the two studios. Strategists and designers from the firm worked over an intensive 7 days with designers from the DHW Lab. We explored the campus using journey mapping, personas, and prioritised areas for improvement. As part of this collab, ID/Lab coached members of the team in the dark arts of wayfinding, providing insight into their strategic approach and methods in solving complex, multi-layered problems.

For both studios this was a positive new experience, and we look forward to more collaborative opportunities like this in the future. The clarity they provided in their wealth of experience was refreshing and inspiring. As part of their time with us the wayfinding work the DHW Lab had completed to date was critiqued, and many of our ideas validated and made more robust. They will continue to support us till early next year, as we compile the wayfinding strategy, recommendations, and updated design guideline for the Auckland DHB to take forward.

Pharmacy Dispenser

We are always interested in how easily accessible 3D printing technology can be used to solve problems creatively and quickly at the hospital. Some past example of our work in the space can be found here.

Recently a design problem arose in relation to the overly large quantities of prescription medication in wards. A considerable portion of these large quantities often expire. The technician believed that smaller containers with lower quantities may help to prevent this issue.

Doing this manually is far too time consuming for staff, and potentially inaccurate. Medication machines that automated this process are available, but they were deemed as too expensive. A smaller low-cost machine was purchased that automated the measuring process, but still required staff to individually handle each container.

Although the machine could output smaller quantities, the metal chute at the bottom of the device was too wide for smaller containers.  The DHW lab developed a customised 3D printed funnel to improve the functionality of the machine and allow the dispenser to work effectively.

CO-DESIGNING WITH ADOLESCENTS WITH PSYCHOSIS: Workshop 2

Card sort activity to organise content and information

Yesterday, Nick and Ivana ran a second co-design workshop with young adults with psychosis. Unlike the first workshop, this workshop was based in the community at the Taylor Centre in Ponsonby. We had a range of participants who each shared their own experiences of living with psychosis, and helped us understand their day-to-day challenges. Through a series of interactive activities, we explored how an app or website could support their needs and help them live well with psychosis. 

The findings we collected will help to inform the direction and design of early concepts and the types of content users value. 

Co-designing with adolescents with psychosis

Prototyping workshop activities

As part of our ongoing work with Pharmacy, Nick and Ivana ran a fantastic co-design workshop yesterday with a group of adolescents with psychosis, supported by their family members. The goal of the first workshop was to explore the lived experience of psychosis for patients and their families, and work together to create a digital tool or resource that helps them better manage their condition and supports healthy mental wellbeing.

Using a variety of interactive activities, we uncovered a great deal of insight and ideas into how an app or website could support their needs. 

'Emoji Stories' activity

Prioritising content through card sorting

Using personas to explore participants lived experiences

Exploring ideas for an app or website 

This is the first of a number of workshops that the Lab will run with patients at Auckland hospital and the wider community in an effort to create a tool that support a wide range of people's needs.

Accessibility Reference Group

Early this week, the Lab hosted its first Accessibility reference group workshop. It was an opportunity for our designers and project managers to present some of the projects currently underway at Auckland Hospital and receive feedback on how our work can be considerate of all user types.

Specifically, the wayfinding guideline, reception desk concept and new welcome space were discussed at the workshop, resulting in some invaluable insight that will feedback into our design process. The group will reconvene in a months time to check in with how the projects are progressing.

Wayfinding Guideline

The best wayfinding system is one that you do not consciously notice. It seamlessly takes you to where you need to go without issues of accuracy, legibility, poor placement, or information overload.

Here at the lab we are working with the Auckland DHB Performance Improvement and Facilities departments to develop a Wayfinding Guideline. Yesterday we presented to relevant stakeholders in order to progress our core decisions around typography, colour system and the way that people navigate through the campus.

Stay in touch for developments of this project in the coming months.