I am an Industrial designer who is passionate about creating projects that truly help people.
I am an Industrial designer who is passionate about creating projects that truly help people.
Occlu is a blood flow restriction band to aid an ageing demographic with pre-existing conditions complete tendinopathy rehabilitation with a physiotherapist.
Using Blood flow restriction training (BFRT), venous bloodlow is occluded allowing users to lift 20-30% of a conventional weightlifting load and still receive the same hypertrophic/strength gains in weak and contributing muscles. Not only this, stress will still be placed directly on the tendon, promoting healing without aggravating said pre-existing conditions.
Occlu removes barriers to BFRT by:
Occlu adapts oscillometric blood pressure technology through a separate module to achieve accurate occlusion percentages. As the strap tightens, air from a rubberised sack is pushed into a blood pressure sensor. These readings are sent back to the main unit through Bluetooth and displayed as an occlusion % on the dial’s screen.
Accent colours were used throughout to draw the eye to interactive areas. A Velcro strap allows the product to fit to fit a variety of arm or limb sizes.
Extensive work was carried out into proving the feasibility of Occlu. Using a planetary gearing system combined with a modified ratchet, nylon string is pulled into the main unit. This string is attached to a buckle, which subsequently tightens the strap around the limb. A custom sized bearing allows the main dial to spin freely, whilst still being secured to the main body. Turning the main dial clockwise tightens and anticlockwise loosens.
A powered screen was added to get realistic insights from user testing on the clarity of the UI.
Extensive user testing throughout the design process ensured that the product was fit for purpose through insights like dial grips to ease of placement on limbs, or spring loaded button depth.
UI was incorporated into the product to replace an app. The screens were created with inclusive design at their heart, ensuring they met WCAG 2.0 guidelines and were fit for purpose.
The design sprint was a fantastic opportunity to explore medical design.
The final design was a fully recyclable, C-reactive protein (CRP) LFT for individuals with Crohn’s disease that use HelloFresh.
After food is eaten, users can record interstitial levels through biodegradable micro-needles transferring fluid to a nitrocellulose membrane. Twisting the threaded dial bursts a buffer capsule creating a marker.
A bamboo fiber plaster can be removed from the main unit and placed over the area.
Combined with an app UI overhaul, this product lets individuals with Crohn’s react to inflammation quickly and change their meals for lower inflammatory options.
This design was awarded first place by TTP.
My placement year was spent living in central Tokyo working for Makino, a world leading CNC manufacturing firm. I took the year to develop not only as a designer, but as a person, experiencing a brand new culture and developing all core design skills from sketching to prototyping. This experience was fundamental in becoming the designer I am today.