Minor Project
26/09/2025 - 30/12/2025 | Week 01 - Week 15
Koh Sher Wei | 0353816
Minor Project | Bachelor of Design in Creative Media
MIB
Weekly Plan
Minor Project: Patient Transfer Device
Group number: 08
Members:
- Chong Cheng Tao (Leader)
- Lee Jia Yi
- Ahmed Riyan
- Nabil
- Ng Chloee
- Alexis
- Koh Sher Wei (me)
Project Overview
For this my module, my group chose "Centre for Active Living" as our client. The brief summary of this project is to create a prototype that helps tackle the issue of inefficient/inconvenient ways of elderly mobility.
We are expected to conduct thorough research, experimentations, interviews and user testing. In order to produce a suitable wheelchair design for better and convenient elderly/patient transfer.
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Progression
During our first stage of the project research, we were each assigned with a task. My task, along with Jia Yi, Chloee and Alexis, was to research about current mobility devices (wheelchairs) that are available in the market.
We split the research into 4 parts:
- Core Mechanic/functions
- Market Availability
- Pros and Cons
- Cost Analysis
Conducting this research allows us to identify different factors and values that we should consider when we design our prototype. It helps us narrow down what is important, and what limitations we can try to explore.
I did the research for core mechanics, where I divided current wheelchairs into 3 categories. Manual, bariatric and electric. As I feel that these are the main wheelchair designs that are hold a demand in the market, which can provide sufficient insights for our study.
After we were done with our contextual research, we started on user interview. The idea was to focus on 2 user groups which are caregivers and elderly. We decided on doing 2 user groups because we think that both groups would have different needs and requirements for a suitable wheelchair design.
Initially, all of us gathered together at Assunta Hospital to try and find interviewees but we were only able to conduct interviews on 3 users. 2 caregivers and 1 elderly. However, this was not enough, as we needed 3 users for each group in order to have a fair and comparative data. Therefore, I was asked to interview my 90 year old grandmother who is wheelchair bound.
The next step was user persona and problem statement. For this part, all of us did a google meet and did everything together. We also asked for feedback and refined the "How Might We" in class.
On week 08, we did the Crazy8 ideation during a tutorial session. We each had to come up with our own ideas within a limited time. I was only able to draw 3 wheelchair designs. While the rest of my members also drew quite a few of their own ideas.
After we did the Crazy8 ideation, we did a group call to discuss and share our thoughts on each other's design. Once we came to a conclusion, we did the MoSCoW method to summarise the must, should, could and won't for our desired wheelchair design. This helps us identify important features, design priority and things to avoid when we go into our prototype stage.
On week 09, we started our prototype phase. This was also when we decided to include designing an APP for our wheelchair. So we each had to come up with device sketches during this stage.
This is my pinterest board where I looked for references. My idea that I generated during the Crazy8 Ideation, was to have gaming chair fabric as a comfort point. Gaming chairs are designed for comfort during long hour sessions which wheelchairs do not have. I also looked into baby strollers for compact storage and easy folding. Another factor that I considered were tattoo chairs. Sampling their air pump for adjustable height as well as their wheel size and placement. This is more for the budgetary factor of the wheelchair.
Lastly, the main point we were told to focus on is wheelchair to bed transfer. This was also something I thought about during my Crazy8 Ideation, which is to have a double layered seat/back rest so that we can easily recline and slide the patient over to a bed without having to physically carry the patient.
After we compiled our sketches, we discussed the technical aspects of the design and refined it based on further research. Cheng Tao, Riyan and I looked up references, did some research and did the final sketch while others focused on the app prototype.
Final 3D prototype was done by Nabil because he is the only one who is proficient in Blender.
Lastly, Jia Yi, Alexis and I worked on user testing after Nabil finalised the 3D prototype and video guide, and Chloee, Cheng Tao and Riyan finished the app prototype.
First Presentation
On week 8, we had our first presentation to Prof. Manohar and Dr. Wong to show our progress thus far. This included our project research, user interview, empathy stage (affinity diagram), user persona and problem statement as well as Crazy8 Ideation.
Final Presentation
Finally, on week 15 we did our final presentation to showcase our 3D prototype and App prototype.
Reflection
This module helped me understand the importance of human-centred design, especially when addressing real-world problems faced by the elderly and caregivers. Throughout the process, I learned that designing is not just about creating solutions, but about understanding users’ needs, limitations, and daily experiences.
During the research phase of studying existing patient transfer and mobility devices, I realised there's a lot of practical and financial limitations that many current products have. I didn't even know these issues when I had elderlies who required wheelchairs at home, like my grandma and grandpa. So, this made the problem feel more personal and meaningful.
The Crazy 8 process was really fun; it made me realise that sometimes ideas can be as crazy and as absurd as we want it to be because it could lead to new discovery and new ideas.
Overall, this project helped me grow as a designer by reinforcing the importance of empathy, research, and iterative thinking. It showed me that effective design should not only be innovative but also practical, inclusive, and grounded in real user needs.
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