modular learning tool for newly diagnosed diabetes patients
The purpose of this project was to design and manufacture diabetes kits and instructional materials to train newly diagnosed diabetes patients and their caretakers to treat diabetes at home.
A previous team had designed a kit with instructional materials and manufactured 5 of these kits. In this phase of the project, we were tasked with improving that existing design and manufacturing 30 kits to be used in a clinical study.
Using my packaging experience from my time at Webb deVlam, I came up with a few dieline designs.
I came up with a standard assembly procedure for the box and adapted fabrication methods within the capabilities of Northwestern's Ford Prototyping Shop. Instead of using a CAD cutting table (traditionally used in packaging), paper and chipboard were cut on the CO2 laser cutter. Since we didn't have a machine to apply adhesive to the paper, this step was performed by hand.
Since we needed to manufacture 30 kits and each kit is comprised of 4 boxes (1 box for each step), we needed to fabricate a total of 120 boxes. I worked on this project with 2 other interns, and after teaching them my method for fabrication, we were able to construct all 120 boxes within a few weeks - including vac-formed inserts and instructional materials.
The final kit design is comprised of 4 boxes that stack magnetically. The boxes close via a magnet flap and a velcro carrying strap allows for easy transport. The magnets allow for a sophisticated presentation and satisfying tactile feedback when the boxes are properly secured and closed.