Ventilator System
Overview
This project involved designing a fully portable, life-critical mechanical ventilator from scratch for use in hospitals, ambulances, and homes. The goal was to turn complex clinical data into clear, actionable insights, helping medical professionals quickly adjust life-saving parameters directly on the device.
I led the end-to-end UX/UI design, handling everything from early discovery and UX research to the final UI. Working closely with medical advisors, hardware & software teams, I shipped 3 product releases, wrapping up with a final design prepared for the pig testing.
Role
UX/UI Designer
Industry
Healthcare
Duration
24 Months
Tools
Challenges
High-Stress Ergonomics
We needed to figure out how to design an interface that medical staff could operate seamlessly during fast-paced, high-stress emergencies without hesitation.
Safety & FDA Compliance
Ensuring strict patient safety and data security was critical. We had to meet rigorous FDA requirements while minimizing any physical risks or discomfort to the patient.
Handling Complex Scenarios
The ventilator needed to support at least three different clinical scenarios and over five complex ventilation modes to accommodate a wide range of patient respiratory needs.
Solutions
Accessible, High-Contrast UI
Analyzed competitors and applied ergonomic standards to create a highly readable UI. I used large typography, high color contrast, and optimized touch targets to prevent misclicks during emergencies.
Clear Alarms & Data Protection
Mapped FDA requirements directly into the design. This included adding multi-step data protection and designing distinct audio-visual alarms to guide clinicians decisively during critical moments.
Adaptive User Flows
Designed logical user flows where the main screen adapts to the specific clinical scenario. This surfaces only the necessary controls while keeping advanced settings, like apnea backup, easily accessible.
Design Process
A research-first approach to building an intuitive, life-saving medical device from scratch
Discovery
Healthcare domain research, competitor analysis, and a deep dive into FDA regulations.
UX Design
Customer journey mapping, information architecture, and wireframes validation with clinical advisors.
UI Design
High-fidelity UI mockups and a scalable, accessible design system creation.
Testing & Iteration
Refining complex features based on stakeholder feedback and shipping 3 major product releases.
Ventilator Market Review
Analyzed ventilators such as Hamilton G5, Dräger Savina 300, and Bellavista 1000 to understand how they work and how users interact with them. Two of these devices were tested by our team, giving us practical insights into the design.
Mapping the ICU Scenario
The ICU journey was mapped in collaboration with medical advisors to understand real clinical workflows in the most common use scenario. This helped identify key pain points and opportunities to reduce cognitive load, improve alert prioritization, and support faster, safer decision-making.
Designing Clear Interaction Paths
User flows were created for three scenarios (Transport, Home Care, and ICU) to reflect different use contexts. This helped align interactions, uncover gaps, and simplify key tasks, leading to faster setup and reduced risk of errors in critical situations.
From Complexity to Structure
Information architecture helped structure all features, content, and interactions into a clear system. Based on insights from research and user flows, it was used to prioritize critical tasks, simplify navigation, and reduce cognitive load.
Developing the UI Kit
A UI kit was created to ensure consistency and speed up development. It included foundations (typography, color, logo usage, grid system, spacings) and components across all levels (atoms, molecules, and organisms). Bold typography and high contrast were used to support clarity in high-stress clinical environments.
Visual Design
The interface uses a dark, high-contrast style to improve readability in ICU conditions. Clear hierarchy, bold typography, and color cues help clinicians quickly scan data and spot critical changes. Modular layouts and consistent components keep the UI clear, reduce cognitive load, and support fast, accurate decisions.
Monitoring Screen
The main screen brings together key data, waveforms, alarms, and controls in one place. Clinicians can adjust parameters, set ranges, and start or stop ventilation quickly, with clear structure and real-time feedback supporting fast, confident decisions.
Alarms System
Alarms were designed to be clear and easy to notice in any situation. High-contrast colors and placement in key areas keep alerts visible, while indicators show when values go beyond set ranges. Visual alerts are supported by sound and device lighting, creating a reliable system for quick response.
Data Visualization
A large part of the work focused on designing clear data visualization for indicators, parameters, graphs, and charts. Existing ventilators were analyzed to understand common patterns and improve readability. The result is a high-contrast visual system that helps clinicians quickly interpret complex data in a consistent and clear way.
Error Prevention
Error prevention was a core part of the design. High-contrast visuals, clear labels, and large touch targets make interactions easy and reliable, while alarms, confirmations, and PIN-protected actions reduce the risk of mistakes. Ergonomics and technical constraints were also considered to ensure the interface works safely in real clinical conditions.
Security & Data Privacy
Data privacy in healthcare focuses on protecting sensitive patient information, including medical history and treatments, through strict security measures and regulatory compliance. In the interface, patient data is minimized, using IDs instead of names, and only essential details (age, sex, patient type) are shown to support ventilation setup and reduce the risk of data exposure.
Patient Management
The patient management functionality enables clinicians to create and update patient profiles, ensuring organized handling of patient data. It supports quick selection between new and existing patients, setting the care scenario (ICU, Home Care, Transport), and adapting ventilator settings accordingly, with key data and alerts always visible.
Device Settings
The Device Settings feature allows clinicians to adjust ventilator parameters, customize data display, and manage system configurations based on clinical needs. It includes multi-step device and breathing circuit checks that must be completed before use, ensuring safety. Core settings cover device behavior, alarms and alarm history, O2 enrichment, connectivity, and display preferences, helping maintain control and reliability in daily use.
Tablet App
A tablet app was designed to extend the ventilator system and support monitoring across multiple devices. Clinicians can quickly find a patient by room and see device status at a glance, including warnings and key indicators. The app includes four main screens for monitoring, detailed indicators, patient data, and device management, making it easier to manage devices and access key information quickly.
Standards & Requirements
Healthcare product design requires strict compliance with ISO standards and FDA regulations to ensure patient safety, device quality, and data protection. The team researched design control principles and prepared key documentation, including design plans, design transfer & history, and change control. Through close collaboration with clinicians and business analysts, the final design was aligned with regulatory requirements while remaining safe, accessible, and easy to use.
Outcomes
Over two years, contributed as a UX/UI designer across three product releases, including preparation for successful pig testing. Worked closely with BAs, R&D, PMs, medical advisors, and hardware/software teams to translate clinical needs into a safe and usable interface aligned with FDA requirements.
Led key parts of the UX/UI process, including user flows, information architecture, design system, and interface design across the ecosystem. Based on the experience gained in this project, I also delivered a knowledge-sharing lecture on healthcare design for design and sales teams, helping spread key insights across the company.