Improving Medical Devices for Home Use: Dr. Kristi Bartlett's Research - The Power of User Insights in Design and Innovation

Episode 5 of the Design Journeys Podcast hosted by Chris Whyte. New episodes every other Wednesday!On this episode we're joined by Dr. Kristi Bartlett.SummaryDr. Kristi Bartlett, Assistant Professor at the University of Kentucky College of Design and Director of Product Development at Zibrio, discusses her career journey in medical device design and her passion for equality and gender bias in design. She shares her experience transitioning from civil engineering to industrial design and her research on improving medical devices for home use. Dr. Bartlett also talks about Zibrio's balance assessment technology and the importance of user-centered design. In her role as a professor, she focuses on helping students find their personal motivation and develop their design skills. The conversation explores the challenges women face in engineering and design industries, including gender bias in job descriptions and the lack of representation. It highlights the importance of creating a more inclusive and appealing environment for women in these fields. The discussion also touches on the value of user insights in the design process and the ability to update connected devices to meet user needs. The conversation concludes with a mention of the Women in Industrial Design Group and the need for support and mentorship in the design community.Keywordsdesign, engineering, medical devices, equality, gender bias, industrial design, user-centered design, women in engineering, gender bias, job descriptions, inclusivity, user insights, connected devices, design process, Women in Industrial Design Group, support, mentorshipTakeawaysDr. Kristi Bartlett transitioned from civil engineering to industrial design after realizing the need for better-designed medical devices for home use.She conducted research on improving feeding tube equipment for children and found that prototypes she designed were more effective than existing equipment.Dr. Bartlett is passionate about equality and gender bias in design, particularly in the field of medical device design.She emphasizes the importance of user-centered design and helping students find their personal motivation in their design work.Zibrio, where Dr. Bartlett works as Director of Product Development, has developed a balance assessment technology that can predict fall risk in individuals. Women are often deterred from applying for engineering and design roles if they don't meet all the requirements, while men are more likely to take the risk and apply.Job descriptions should use gender-neutral language to attract a more diverse pool of applicants.User insights are crucial in the design process, and the ability to update connected devices allows for continuous improvement based on user feedback.The Women in Industrial Design Group provides a supportive network for women in the design industry and offers opportunities for mentorship and career development.Chapters00:00 Introduction and Background01:51 Choosing Civil Engineering06:56 Joining Zebrio08:45 Researching User Needs11:31 Joining University of Kentucky19:36 Themes in Design21:15 The Role of AI in Design24:20 Equality in Design26:40 Gender Balance in Engineering27:37 Creating a Balanced Culture27:56 Gender Bias in Engineering32:58 Design Process and User Insights36:42 Social Media and Influencers41:48 Women in Industrial Design Network45:29 Shoutouts and Closing Remarks47:42 Insights on Physical Product Development and RecruitmentKristi's recommended Podcast: "How I Built This" - https://open.spotify.com/show/6E709HRH7XaiZrMfgtNCun?si=d01d9a0c7ec04b7cConnect with Kristi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristibartlett2/Follow Zibrio on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/zibrio/Connect with Chris Whyte on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrchriswhyte/⁠⁠⁠Learn more about Kodu Recruitment: ⁠⁠⁠https://teamkodu.com/