In the ever-evolving world of healthcare, Yves Behar, a renowned industrial designer and founder of design firm fuseproject, emphasizes the importance of adopting new ideas and keeping up with the pace of change to enhance the consumer experience. Behar highlights the discrepancy between people’s experiences in clinics and hospitals versus the seamless experiences they encounter in everyday consumer settings like Apple Stores. His belief in the power of design to positively impact lives drives him to focus on “designing for extreme audiences,” including children, the elderly, neurodivergent individuals, and those with mobility impairments.
Behar challenges the traditional notion of design catering predominantly to the comfortable middle part of life. He believes design is most crucial during times of extreme change, where innovation can make a significant difference. One of his notable projects, Moxie, an AI learning robot companion aimed at autistic and neurodivergent children, has proven to be beneficial for all children, especially during challenging times like the Covid-19 pandemic.
Launched in 2022, Moxie has facilitated over 4 million conversations with children, resulting in a 71 percent improvement in social skills for regular users. Another standout creation by fuseproject is Behar’s favorite, the SNOO robotic bassinet, designed to soothe babies by replicating pediatrician Harvey Karp’s methodology through swaddling, shushing, and swinging.
Behar explains how the SNOO bassinet utilizes AI to identify a baby’s distress signals and responds by providing soothing noise and movement. The innovative device has even received FDA approval for its effectiveness in preventing SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). Behar’s groundbreaking designs are reshaping the healthcare landscape and improving the well-being of individuals, demonstrating the transformative power of design in healthcare.
This article is featured in the July/August 2024 issue of WIRED UK magazine.