As part of the Health Design team, we were tasked with synthesizing research done by the previous group, and then designing an online workshop that would further explore the relationship between patient and pedorthist. After synthesis, our key question became: How does the quality of communication impact the outcome in terms of fit and comfort? We used a probe kit in the form of a shoebox that was delivered to each participant (all Kintec clients). Shoe box labels, shoelaces used in the packaging and activities making shoes created semantic affinities for the workshop.
During the sessions, we were happy to see that the kit provided a comfortable environment for participants to discuss sensitive experiences during their making. Some remarked that making the shoes helped them better understand their own feet and prepared them to speak about it with an expert. In the debrief with a Kintec representative, we asked: "How might abstract or visual types of activities support people in identifying and expressing their needs prior to an appointment? How might Kintec incorporate gathering qualitative data to better understand their clients on a personal level?"
Box Mockup
Interior box mockup
Participant-submitted photo or their workshop workspace
Participant-submitted photo of the felt shoe they created in comparison to a shoe they use every day.
Participants show off their felt shoes
Participants show off their paper shoes
Packaged kit interior
Pre-workshop activity envelope
Project Team
Kintec Footlabs
Angela Cheng, Research Assistant
Keith Doyle, Principal Investigator
Caylee Raber, Director
Nadia Beyzaei, Coordinator