Are current design trends considered when designing, say, a cardiovascular imaging system or mammography machine?
We don’t look at fads because they don’t last long. We do look at worldwide trends in architecture, fabric design, and consumer and automotive products. We try to create an environment that is familiar and reassuring to the patient by selecting colors that will put them at ease and materials that feel warm, soft and comfortable. How much of the design focuses on usability? Ergonomics drives everything in our product developmentthe location of the controls, the product’s ability to move in a manner that doesn’t necessitate a lot of physical exertion on the part of the technician to position a patient. As a global company, we have to make sure that the product is adaptable enough to accommodate a variety of situations and users, from petite technicians to lanky operators. What must a design prove before it can be implemented? It has to meet the original customer “criticaltoquality” criteria identified at the outset. Our designers have to be able to measure and hit the criteria before the
