Client
Qnovia
Industry
Medical
RespiRX is an FDA-approved nicotine replacement therapy device. It delivers nicotine through inhalation (like a nebulizer) over a 12 week regime to help people quit cigarettes. Our goal was to empower users to quit smoking by providing a simple, supportive, and user-centric experience.
My Role
Led & executed the design of the RespiRX one pixel at a time.
Co-developed the quitting regimen, user experience, design language, and front-end industrial design development.
Challenge
Challenge
Some of the challenges we faced required unique solutions.
Crafting a device and regimen reminiscent of smoking rituals, understanding the complexities of quitting, and designing a simple interface for a tiny a** LCD screen were some of the key hurdles we faced.
Solution
Respi RX
A patent pending medical Inhaler.
Prescribed by a doctor to help
people quit cigarettes.
How It Works
Breath Activated
The device delivers precise doses through breath activation.
Ultra Portable
- A portable device suitable for everyday storage and carrying.
Metered Dosing
- The device monitors and displays real-time dosing with a 12-week step-down regimen.
Support Prompts
Guided support prompts encourage users throughout their quitting journey.
Approach
Methodology
The six stages in the design thinking process—Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype, Test, and Implement—are non-linear and iterative.
They enable us to understand our users, define assumptions, devise innovative solutions, visualize concepts, validate findings, and ultimately implement the right solutions.
Empathize
Who are we designing for?
Personas
Barriers for Adoption
The Quit Journey
Personas
We identified two main target audiences:
Barriers
What smokers experience and what the device should consider.
Quit Journey
Journey map to capture smokers emotional and physical barriers during quitting.
Define
Measures of Success
Design Philosophy
Design Considerations
Ergonomics (form development), intuitiveness, screen information and how information is conveyed to a user were all considered.
Ideate
Generate New Ideas
VBL Workshop
Design Sprints (ID & UX)
Information Architecture
User Flow & Wireframes
VBL
Visual Brand Language Workshop
A workshop was held to help determine the intentional use of design elements – elements like shape, color, materials, and finish. To subliminally communicate Qnovia's core values and personality through design style expressions.
(client facing workshop was conducted in Mural)
VBL Framework
VBL Framework was used to guide the workshop exercise.
ID Ideation
Industrial Design Brainstorming & Ideation
Internal Creative technique to generate a lot of ideas quickly. Exploring form development, ergonomics, and interaction zones. (low fidelity sketching and digital sketching
UX Design Sprint
UX Design Sprint
An internal sprint with a cross-disciplinary team (Mechanical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Human Factors, and Design) explored device interactions and features like dose tracking, notifications, and milestone messaging.
I facilitated this virtual session, focusing on ideating around physical interaction, dose tracking, notifications, and reward/support features.
UX
Information Architecture, Wireframing, & User Flow
Now that thematic concepts were developed and built out on sticky notes. We started to visualize what those concepts could "look" like. Information architectures, wireframes and user flows were used to develop the initial design.
IA
Information Architecture
Wireframes
Wireframe Development
User Flow
User Flow for Initial SRS Development
Prototype
Visualize Ideas
ID models
CMF Renders
Mockups
Prototype
3D Prints
3D prints
Mockups
Mockups
Prototype
Interactive Prototype
Interactive iPad prototype was shown to users to simulate and test how the device would be used.
Test
Validate Ideas
User Testing
14 Participants
5 ID Concepts
Features
UI screens
Testing
Testing & High Level Findings
We conducted in-person sessions. Five ID concepts, five mouthpiece concepts, CMF, UI, and support features were shown to participants to gain insight into their impressions of the concepts and their thoughts on the design and features in relation to smoking cessation.
Findings from the user study identified:
1.) The preferred industrial design (Concept C & F) & the most ergonomic mouthpieces (Concept A & F)
2.) The most useful UI information to users (dose information & icon indicators)
3.) The most preferred features (milestone messaging and positive reinforcement)
USER TESTING
14 in person sessions were conducted for a directional user study.
PREFFERED DESIGN
User testing uncovered the preferred ID & UI design directions.
1.) ID
Preferred Industrial Design
The Most Ergonomic Mouthpiece
Concept A - was preferred due to its tall mouthpiece with a low edge allows this design to incorporate a cap without compromising comfort. The user can control how deep or shallow the mouthpiece can be placed into the mouth. - Smooth curvature of this design conforms and rests on the natural shape of the lips and creates a comfortable seal.
Concept C featured a textured surface which provided a secure and comfortable hold. The shape accommodates various grip positions and was perceived as sleek and portable. Concept F included a thumb finger groove that provided a secure and comfortable hold. It was also perceived as more technological due to the larger screen/glossy area.
2.) UI
The Most Useful UI
Dose information was highlighted as the most prominent and important information to users. One dose = one cigarette is relatable and easy to comprehend for all users. Dose and puff information are equally as important and should be represented in the main screen.
Icon indicators were most comprehensible and easy for all users to understand.
Milestone Messaging & Positive reinforcement was the most preferred support features.
Implement
Refinement
ID Refinement
UX/UI Refinements
Pixel Perfect Design Assets
Developer Handover
IFU Development
ID
ID Refinements (Form & Mouthpiece)
Form refinement features a morph of leading concepts that resulted in reduced parts and simple manufacturing assembly, a comfortable form factor and ergonomic mouthpiece, easy access button location, and a secure grip feel to accommodate different hand positions.
UI
UX/UI Refinements
Refinements to the UI included:
1.) Dose information being the most prominent on the screen (users found this information to be most useful in gauging where they were in therapy)
2.) The use of icons which was identified as a clear way to convey information
3.) Positive reinforcement – an automatic message to let users know when they accomplished a weekly milestone
Components
Asset Creation & Development Handover
Pixel-perfect asset and component creation to complement screen technology.
Development handover was a seamless process due to weekly meetings and reviews with the development team throughout the program.
(Figma design file was handed over to the dev team)
pixel prefect
screen demo
IFU
Instruction for Use
Initial IFU was developed to illustrate how the product is intended for use.
Final UI Design
Next Steps
Development of Working Units (in progress)
Clinical Testing of Formulation (in progress)
FDA Validation Study (Upcoming)