Product Team
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1 UI Designer
1 UX Designers
1 Industrial Designer
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"Sequencing is going to be a part of protecting ourselves from future pandemics. It is not just about being able to identify pathogens but also determining the individuals most at risk."
Project duration: 1 year
Project duration: 1 year
Overview
From 2013 to late 2015, West Africa experienced the largest Ebola outbreak to date, a virus with a fatality rate of up to 70% in humans.
Dr. Ian Goodfellow, a virologist, travelled to Sierra Leone to establish a research lab. his mission was to perform genome sequencing on archived samples to comprehend the epidemiology and evolution of the Ebola outbreak, a task he and his team had never undertaken before. The choice of instruments for their research was crucial.
After evaluating numerous options, they decided on the Ion Chef system, the Ion PGM system, and the Ion AmpliSeq technology for sample preparation. This provided a firsthand opportunity to see how our newly designed systems performed under extremely challenging conditions. From a digital aspect, the Ion Chef, designed with our new philosophy of simplifying workflows to their most basic forms and using Progressive Disclosure to guide scientists through tasks, was put to the test.
Unique Illustrative Walk-Thru's
This project required precise walkthrough procedures, making it essential to create realistic, true-to-life illustrations that fit seamlessly within my visual system. Inspired by IKEA-style user manuals, I designed step-by-step illustrations with an added improvement—the ability to highlight key components for clarity.
Storyboarding each directive was crucial for maintaining an accurate flow. This allowed me to present concepts to the product team, gather feedback, and refine designs in alignment with any hardware updates. Once adjustments were made, I collaborated with the industrial designer to determine the optimal perspective for each illustration—such as a 3/4 view or front-facing angle—ensuring clarity and usability. Leveraging CAD renders, I created precise vector illustrations that enhanced the user experience. Here is the step-by-step process for "loading the deck":
Not all users are new, so it's important to provide the option to skip walkthroughs when needed. To address this, we offer a quick start feature.
User has option of a quick start
Results
Upon his return, Dr. Goodfellow expressed great satisfaction with the results. His team, novices in sequencing, managed to set up the instruments, verify their functionality, and initiate the sequencing process within 2-3 days. The systems' efficiency and user-friendliness surpassed expectations. Despite the challenging environment, they successfully gathered the required data. Dr. Goodfellow's only suggestion for improvement was a more lightweight instrument for ease of transportation (from truck to the tent).
Receiving real-time feedback from someone operating under such severe conditions and appreciating the simplicity of the instrument was invaluable. This experience affirmed our design philosophy and will continue to inform our future projects. It also inspires me to see how design can really help change the lives of the people all around the world.
