01 February, 2013
Prof. Paul Barach, of the Utrecht University Medical Center in the Netherlands, told a lovely story to show how clever design alone can solve problems: Amsterdam's busy Schiphol Airport once had a problem with its men's urinals. Men were missing the target, as they are wont to do, causing germs, odors and costly cleanup. The design solution? Paint a fly in the center of the urinal bowl. Men love to aim and hit targets, and those painted flies are now ubiquitous worldwide. Barach's point? Technology separates patients and doctors. Use design to bring them together again, reduce errors and cut costs. Substitute creative design for big bucks.
