DC152 Interview: Medical Packaging Design with Dr. Laura Bix

Design Critique: Products for People

Dr. Laura Bix from the Michigan State University School of Packaging returns to the show! Her latest project was researching the packaging of medical supplies used by EMTs in the field as they stabilize patients and transport them to the hospital in the ambulance.

Dr. Bix describes how most medical supplies are normally packaged for the highly controlled Operating Room environment and how they might not work as well in the field and in ambulances. From initial investigation ideas, to recording ambulance environments on closed tracks, to constructing an ambulance simulator usability lab for testing the opening of packaging with EMTs under repeatable conditions, Dr. Bix walks us through all the phases of the project.

Here is an article on Dr. Bix's work at the school, including the study we talked about in this episode (I used two great photos from this article in this blog post, thank you MSU!): https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/packaging-the-industry-no-one-thinks-about-but-saves-lives

Visit the MSU School of Packaging website.

Even more links: https://www.facebook.com/MSUPackaging https://www.linkedin.com/company/msupackaging/ https://www.instagram.com/msupackaging/ https://www.instagram.com/msucoppac