Investigating and developing a user-friendly interface for a DLP 3D bioprinter

Abstract

The project investigates a light-based 3D bioprinter from a user point of view. It aims at finding how the current functionality and interface is perceived, what future functionalities are desired and how the interface could be improved. This should result in two deliverables. Firstly, a needs and desires list based on user insights and theoretical investigation. Secondly, a redesign of the current interface based on the needs and desires list that take aesthetic inspiration from the company’s existing software for extrusion-based printing. The bioprinter was investigated by observations, presentations, and theoretical evaluations. User insights were found through interviews with the primary user group, researchers within the medical field. Through these investigations and interviews, input was given on how the printer operates and what future functionality is wanted. With the product interface, three overarching goals were in focus for the redesign. The first goal was to improve the interface architecture, by having a consistent layout based on functional hierarchy. The second goal was to create a more touch friendly interface, and the last goal was to provide a design with high visual clarity. Apart from these interface improvements, new functionality was added to the redesign, for example expanding the interface compatibility to a 96 well plate and providing 3D model navigation. Design suggestions were created through iterations and evaluations with company experts throughout the design creation which helped the project create an interface that met the needs and desires. The final design combines concepts on different interactions needed to solve a setup process that suits current and future functionalities