Health Innovation Hub Ireland collaborates with Galway University Hospital and Atlantic Technological University on design driven healthcare solutions

A collaboration between HIHI and UHG and ATU’s Industrial Design third-year students has recently wrapped up with a very successful demonstration of the intersection of healthcare and design thinking.

HIHI’s Michael Duane, Clinician Liaison and Principal Engineer for HIHI, Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering together with Kenneth Nevin, Lecturer in Product & Industrial Design, MSc Design Innovation, oversaw the program within the hospital. The initiative immersed third-year students in various hospital departments, where they addressed real-world problems encountered by clinicians daily and embarked on a design process which involved presentations by clinicians on their needs. Through iterative dialogues with clinical staff, the students refined their concepts and this hands-on approach ensured that the designs addressed the practical needs of the hospital environment.

The semester-long collaboration culminated in new product designs being presented to clinical staff which highlighted the synergy between the students’ fresh perspectives and the clinical expertise of the hospital staff. The success of this module has set the stage for a new partnership between Atlantic Technological University and the hospital, promising a future where design-led solutions continue to enhance healthcare delivery.