MedVend
Type: individual project
Duration: 10 weeks
Focus: UI/UX design, service design
Innovation to address airport anxiety
Airports are chaotic places. People move quickly between destinations while they manage bulky luggage, young children or strict time constraints.
Airport anxiety
Every day about two million people fly by commercial air. If just 1% experience airport travel-induced illnesses like headaches or nausea, that's 20,000 people needing medical relief.
Addressing the issue
With recent advances, pharmacy vending machines (PhVMs) are being used as a tool to help distribute over-the-counter medications. For example, PhVMs are used at Purdue University to help serve the needs of. their student population. These machines have the potential to impact spaces beyond college campuses. In airports, PhVMs could provide hurried travelers with fast, easy, 24 hour access to over-the-counter remedies.
Pharmacy vending machines' user paint points
An analysis of user interactions with Purdue University's PhVMs informed key insights on improving design features and adapting them for airport use.
Developing an effective yet friendly device
The main focus of ideation was resolving the relationship between the ideal placement of specific interaction points within the overall form of the machine.
Introducing MedVend
Designed specifically for the Indianapolis International Airport Civic Plaza, MedVend would be centrally located in the mid-sized airport. This Civic Plaza is the main hub within the airport making it an ideal home for MedVend. The space welcomes travelers to Indianapolis and sends off travelers to other destinations. In other airports, it is recommended that MedVend be located in similar, open air locations where the machine would be highly visible and accessible.
A professional feel
Although cylindrical in form, MedVend maintains its serious and professional nature with its branding. Red accents are used to indicate the machine's medical purpose and direct travelers to the machine even in crowded terminals.
Full transparency
MedVend's cylindrical form and clean aesthetic make the machine easy to approach and easy to use. Because of its fully transparent back, products are brightly lit so that users can quickly identify and compare treatment options.
Intuitive to use
MedVend's interface allows two types of users to smoothly move through the process of retrieving their item. Users who know what they want are guided directly to that product while users who are unsure what is best for them are given more information to make an informed decision.
