Lab-quality diagnostics, anytime and anywhere

ClientOsler

Origin

Point-of-care diagnostics

A portable, rapid, point-of-care diagnostic system

Osler is a UK-based diagnostics company on a mission to empower people worldwide to access, understand and use their health data to lead healthier, happier and longer lives. Emerging from the University of Oxford in 2017, Osler has its roots in decades of pioneering research from the department that developed the portable electrochemical blood glucose sensor.

Osler Origin is a revolutionary ‘portable lab’ designed to deliver lab-quality diagnostics anytime and anywhere, equipped to provide a comprehensive range of tests across all major healthcare environments.

For over two years I worked with Osler’s engineers, scientists and product managers to develop every aspect of the product that the user interacts with - from the analyser and test cartridge to the digital interface, package leaflet and user manual.

Services

Digital interface & user experience
Analyser & test cartridge design
Product & industrial design
Package leaflet & user manual design
Contextual inquiry & usability studies

Stack-me-up user journey map with interface wireframes and ideation notes

Discover / User journey mapping & ideation

Mapping the user journey and interactions across the whole system identified pain-points and opportunities, followed by brainstorming concepts to address the insights. Basic wireframes and prototypes explored ideas to address the pain-points.

Contextual inquiry

Clickable prototypes were tested with participants, observing and interviewing them to understand users, workflows and use environments. This identified the user needs and product requirements that informed the design.

7×Emergency department nurses interviewed and observed

3×Point-of-care coordinators interviewed and observed

Design / Information architecture & UX

Content, features and data were organised into a coherent structure to help users find information and complete tasks efficiently. Low-resolution interface and experience concepts were then developed to fulfil the user needs and product requirements.

Information architecture diagram — Information architecture

Low-fidelity user experience flow — Low-fidelity UX flow

Industrial design

The analyser’s industrial design was developed through sketching to define the position of components while refining the design. These sketches explored the relationship between the display, bezel and enclosure chamfer.

2D rendering of the analyser in black and white finishes — Further refinement through 2D illustration explored the position of a barcode scanner, illuminated bar, RFID scanner and cartridge door.

Progression of analyser prototypes from block model to vacuum-cast parts — Block model prototypeSurface models were prototyped as block models so the team could assess the usability of the proposed architecture.
Chassis & enclosure prototypesCollaboration with the mechanical team to consider how the chassis and enclosure would interface.
Vacuum-cast prototypesFully integrated prototypes using vacuum-cast components to assess electrical and mechanical integration.

Usability study

A low-fidelity, fully integrated analyser prototype with clickable screens was tested with users to assess the usability of the full system.

Develop / UI/UX refinement

The user interface, user experience and system design were developed in Figma to allow handover to software developers. Working closely with the product manager and the systems and software teams, the design was refined and the requirements for the logic of the system captured.

Final UI screens for the Osler Origin analyser

Home screen of the analyser interface — Home screenSimple, intuitive menu structure · ‘Start test’ most prominent · easy access to settings, users and patients · analyser and QC status visible.

Start QC test workflow screen — QC test workflow3D animations show how to transfer the sample · expanding boxes hold operational content without cognitive overload · a progress tracker shows position in the workflow.

Osler Origin analyser in use in a laboratory

Integrated system

The full Osler Origin system - analyser, test cartridge, user manual and package leaflet - was tested with real users, facilitated by an external human factors engineering consultancy.

87.2System Usability Scale score for the overall system - rated ‘excellent’

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