Lindsay Lipschultz, EDI '24Associate Human Factors Engineer, Design Science
Alumni Interview
Tell us what your current title is and what your role entails.
I currently work as a human factors engineering consultant for medical device manufacturers. I conduct usability research to improve the user interface designs of novel medical devices through feedback from the intended user population and then validate that users are able to interact with the products safely and effectively.
When you started EDI, did you know what industry you wanted to work in?
When I started EDI, I knew I wanted to work in the medical device industry as I have always had a passion for designing products that will positively impact users' health and wellness. I really appreciated that I was able to tailor my EDI experience to gain the skills I was looking for to start a career in that field through my elective choices and thesis project. Since graduating, I have been able to apply design thinking skills in various roles in the medical device industry and found it very rewarding to work in the intersection of design research, engineering, and healthcare.
Tell us about an EDI course that made an impact on you.
Designing Product Interactions was the course most impactful for me. I valued learning how to tailor the features of a user interface to elicit certain feelings and communicate with the user about what to expect to happen next. These skills have been very important to apply in the design of medical devices, where proper use is vital to the safety of the patients. Thoughtful design of the devices user interfaces focused on making these devices intuitive and communicating the right information at the right time, the products are much safer to use and improve patient outcomes.
What is one lesson you learned during your EDI journey that has stuck with you?
During EDI I learned that observation of users interacting with your products is the fastest and easiest way to see what needs improving, and it's true! Testing prototypes early and often with people who will use the final product has shown me unexpected ways users interact with devices that need to be addressed and given me directional feedback to help decide between different design concepts.
What was your EDI thesis project and what inspired you to pursue it?
My thesis project was called RemindRx and it was a suite of smart medication holders that aided with keeping users adherent to their medication regimens. I was excited to use the project to apply what I had learned in EDI to the medical device space and create something that would positively impact users' health. During my research for the project, I learned that medication adherence is challenging for people with irregular schedules and is a prominent cause of treatment failures and re-hospitalizations. I was inspired by the challenge to design a consumer product that would stand out and be more effective over the plethora of available medication management tools, yet also fit seamlessly into the lives of the users.
What advice do you have for an EDI student interested in working in your industry?
I would say to not be afraid to ask for opportunities to apply your skills in new ways outside of what your role currently entails. You can also show your strengths and learn new skills when you reach out to collaborate with members of a different team or find innovative ways to make a process more effective or efficient.
