How to design a two-face product?

Background:

Arineta has developed a CT scanner aimed specifically at 3D heart mapping.

It is the first Scanner of its kind in the world.

The heart is moving constantly, and unlike breathing, no patient can control the heart and stop it at will, to achieve accurate imaging.

Arineta's team, led by Dr Ehud Dafni, former Elscint (and later Phillips) chief scientist, succeeded in cracking the problem. The scanner emits radiation towards the heart from two directions simultaneously, while focusing solely on the heart. It does it in a sixth of a second, which allows it to produce an accurate 3D image of the heart (assisted obviously by a special algorithm).

The device is much smaller than most of the CT scanners, and is designed to be placed in different clinics, including cardiology clinics.

Using this scanner may save a lot of lives, since regular scanning is expensive and not accurate enough.

The challenge:

Our first question was: Can the design emanate the uniqueness, sophistication and ingenuity of this technology and its impact on life saving and prevention of further health deterioration?

In all honesty, I don't believe it can.

Can you look at a person and tell how clever she or he is?

 When we look at Einstein's picture, for example, we can literally feel or even know this is a brilliant man with an extraordinary mind, and we have a sense of awe at the scope of his genius. Just by looking at his face, we experience all these feelings, to the extent his face had become an icon for a rare genius.

 Obviously, this is entirely psychological. First we know how clever Einstein was, and then we project it on his portrait.

Can we tell if a car is automatic or manual, just by looking at it?

Obviously not. That's why Intel went to all this trouble with their "Intel inside" stickers.

Back to our challenge with the CT scanner:

 I sincerely don't believe we can really express all the sophistication and complexity of this machine with our modest means of three dimensional design. What we can do is strive at an elegant visual statement, with the right dosage of familiarity and novelty, using "meta fashion" vocabulary.

If a design of a vehicle is supposed to evoke emotion, create passion and even seduce sometimes, the design of such a medical device is meant to do the opposite:

Reduce emotion, calm down the patient and create tranquility and serenity.

Having said that, it is obvious that as designers, we will always seek a way to make a mark and try to leave our finger print, even if it is very subdued and understated.

The configuration of one panel and a screen (as opposed to the orthodox two panels and a screen) offered a unique opportunity for an asymmetrical design. Asymmetry will usually create a dynamic look and will evoke drama.  We spent a lot of effort looking for the right amount of visual impact, and tried to stay calm, while avoiding a decorative feel.

User interface:

Our second challenge was to tackle the unique mode of operation of the device, in the simplest and most friendly way.

One of the special characteristics of the scanner is that it has two "faces" or fronts, and no "rear" side. 

It is operated from both sides, hence the need of two "faces".

Most of the CT scanners have two control panels on their gantry, for right and left use. This gantry is so compact, you can have only one control panel, but you need one on each side.

The requirement was to reduce the number of control panels to a minimum, and use the same one on both sides.

The control panel is used to direct, move and steer the patient exactly into the desired position in space in the gantry, for optimum results. The movements are along three axes – x, y and z.

How can you use the same panel on both sides, when only up and down stay the same?

 Right and left, in and out are the opposite when you switch sides.

We based the solution on the fact that patients are always led into the scanner head first, face up.

The solution was very simple and allowed intuitive orientation – all the movements relate to the patient's body, not the machine. Didn't we preach day and night "focus on the users"?

The panel presents the patient's body from side view and plan view, and the buttons are part of the body. When using this panel, the operator knows exactly where the patient is going to move to. This design had acquired a patent, and created a unique non-technical look, not to say human.