Fits like a Glove: Proficient Design for Medical Devices with Rowan Myall, Product Design Engineer for Life Sciences at G&H
Designing medical devices is no ordinary challenge. Product design, as a field, is about creating innovative solutions that combine functionality and aesthetics while navigating a dynamic regulatory landscape, including ISO:13485 compliance. To dive deeper into this intricate process, we sat down with Rowan Myall, Product Design Engineer for Life Sciences at G&H (LON:GHH), to understand how the company creates cutting-edge medical technologies that prioritize performance, longevity, and user needs.
Q: Rowan, let’s first define what you do. What is your view on product design?
RM: Product design is a discipline that equips people with the tools to solve specific problems through innovative product-based solutions. A quintessential question we ask is: why is this particular solution the right choice?
For example, if dehydration among the elderly during heatwaves is the problem, why would the solution be a new kind of water bottle rather than a new cup, water fountain, or a monitoring product? At G&H, we ask: how can our product be the most innovative and effective within the healthcare ecosystem? Answering the “why” guides us to the right solution.
Q: How does the design timeline for medical equipment look at G&H?
RM: We are a customer-driven team, which means we place our clients’ needs first. Our process adapts to their specific requirements. For instance, some clients approach us with an existing product and ask us to prepare it for volume production. In such cases, our R&D team often suggests design improvements. Others might come to us with just a vision for a medical device, and our engineers in Ashford, United Kingdom, and Rochester, New York develop an entirely new product.
Collaboration is key. The best outcomes arise when both the client and our team actively engage in decision-making. This allows us to immerse ourselves in their environment, understand their challenges, and offer tailored solutions that leverage our expertise in advanced technology and rigorous medtech regulatory standards.
Q: What design principles guide the G&H team in life sciences manufacturing?
RM: We follow an adapted version of the Double Diamond methodology, which structures the creative process into four phases:
- Discover: The “discover” phase allows us to get inquisitive about the project at hand. We explore the problem, gather insights, and understand the project’s context. This is where we begin brainstorming potential solutions.
- Define: The focus shifts to narrowing down ideas, prototyping, and selecting the most suitable concept.
- Develop: This phase involves creating and testing prototypes, which is crucial to ensure the product’s viability.
- Deliver: Finally, the finished product reaches the client, ready for deployment.
This approach allows us to use both divergent and convergent thinking, ensuring we consider a wide range of possibilities before honing in on the optimal solution. Ideally, we work with clients who have already completed the discovery phase, but we are equipped to start at any stage of the process.
Q: What challenges do you see in today’s life sciences sector regarding effective medical device design?
RM: One major challenge is the industry’s focus on functionality, often at the expense of other important design aspects like usability and accessibility. Fortunately, medical device regulators like the FDA are starting to emphasize these principles, signaling a positive shift. For instance, accessibility-focused design can significantly improve a device’s impact on patients’ lives.
From this perspective, I feel we are entering a flourishing period for design in life sciences. I am proud to be part of this wave at G&H. We’re collaborating with forward-thinking clients who are revolutionizing healthcare with each instrument we co-create.
Q: What do you appreciate most about your role in designing quality medical equipment at G&H?
RM: I am truly grateful to work on meaningful projects that impact so many people’s lives. Collaborating with passionate, knowledgeable colleagues inspires me to bring my best ideas to the table. Moreover, being part of a company at the forefront of innovation drives me to ensure our end-to-end solutions excel in quality, efficiency, and durability.
Trust me, if you had a sneak peek at our upcoming life sciences portfolio, you would be excited about what is to come from G&H as well.
Life Sciences Design
Providing end-to-end design and manufacturing services for clinical and laboratory systems. Together with customers, we create and deliver game-changing innovation.
