In his most recent article in Medical Device and Design Industry, Michael Wiklund discusses the need to thoughtfully design every interaction, or touchpoint. Refined Touchpoints Drive Quality Perceptions suggests that medical product purchasers are influenced by effective, high quality design as much as consumers might be when shopping for a new household kitchen appliance.
Wiklund emphasizes the industrial design aspect of touchpoints with a clear understanding of the influence of materials and mechanics on experience. This makes the article a useful introduction for designers and usability specialists who might lack exposure to ID. For example, his recommendations include:
- Minimize or hide molding defects (e.g., shrink marks, flow marks, color streaks) that give parts a plasticky look and give them an unrefined feel.
- Avoid exposed fasteners that give devices a more primitive appearance and can be hard to clean.
- Avoid sharp edges and corners. Instead, radius them—even if only slightly—so they feel better and do not pose a hazard to the skin or protective gloves. A slightly radiused edge can still look crisp if the device’s styling calls for it.
- Ensure that labels, whether they are printed, adhered, or molded in, are not subject to undue wear (e.g., rubbing off during the extended life cycle) that could make them illegible.
Key issues covered in the article include the obvious, like buttons and handles, but also less considered, but essential components such as wheels and connectors that can have a strong influence on the perception of design quality. And while the focus is on medical devices, the suggestions are applicable to other product design fields.
