Master Thesis in Advanced
Product Design
Year:
2023
Activities:
Research
,
Concepting, Design, Visualisation
How might we create a seamless and passive hydration monitoring solution that delivers evidence-based, reliable insights, integrates effortlessly into the busy routines of caregivers, and reduces material use in single-use components?
About this project
In response to Europe’s aging population and the growing need for diagnostic tools that empower patients, the Hydration Check Patch offers a non-invasive, user-friendly solution for continuous hydration monitoring. Using electrochemical sweat analysis, the patch enables up to three days of tracking - without requiring any physical activity.
Designed for elderly individuals in a variety of care settings, the patch features a rechargeable transmission pod that processes and sends critical electrolyte data to a simplified smartphone application, accessible by caregivers or family members.
Design Team
:
Valerie Feiertag, Nils Achenbach
Company Collaboration
:
Agile Robots AG
Tutoring
:
Thomas Degn, Ceren Bagatar, Daniela Bohlinger
:
The extensive research behind it
Core to this project was the involvement of healthcare professionals and caregivers, including the ASB, a German aid and welfare organization providing support in areas like elderly care, emergency services, and social work. Through interviews I was able to identify the everyday challenges of caregivers - ranging from staff shortages and time constraints and critical communication gaps.
These conversations, combined with deep desktop research, helped define my target groups: elderly individuals, many of whom live independently and are increasingly expected to manage aspects of their own health as the trend shifts toward self-care; caregivers, who face growing pressure to support more patients with fewer resources; and family members, who are taking on greater responsibility in managing the well-being of their loved ones.
Prototyping
Prototyping was a key part of this project. I started by using different types of plotted foils - both adhesive and non-adhesive - to create quick, low-fidelity prototypes. This allowed me to test various patch shapes and evaluate how well they stuck, how they felt to wear, and where they could be placed on the body. I carried out informal hallway testing at the university to gather initial feedback. After several rounds of iteration, I shared the prototypes with medical experts to further validate and refine the design. Later, I used silicone molding to create more realistic 3D models of the patch, giving a better sense of its form for demonstration and discussion.
The result
The solution I designed was the Hydration Check Patch - a non-invasive, wearable system that uses electrochemical sweat analysis to monitor hydration levels in real time. Tailored for elderly individuals and their caregivers, it tracks key electrolytes in sweat and provides hydration data through a connected smartphone app. The patch features an adhesive carrying system with a sleeve design, securely holding a low-profile, rechargeable transmission pod for up to three days of continuous, comfortable wear.
Are you interested in learning more about the project, the tools I used, challenges I faced and the lessons learned? Contact me for the full project documentation that dives deeper into my design process.
