About The Healthcare Experience Design Conference The Healthcare Experience Design Conference blends the powerhouse perspectives of healthcare thought leaders, product developers, and design implementers across a broad spectrum of healthcare technologies and delivery channels. Informative, inspiring and above all practical, this conference will empower technologists, usability practitioners, design practitioners and thought leaders to improve healthcare technologies from electronic health records to web-based applications, medical devices, and human services. About Luminary Labs Luminary Labs is a strategy and innovation consultancy working with organizations in transition to become more resilient in the face of change. We have have deep roots in business planning, technology, innovation, and design, and we partner with our clients to help them use these tools, mindsets, and methodologies to their best advantage.

1. HxD 2012:
EIGHT TAKEAWAYS
March 27, 2012
Luminary Labs
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2. Food underpins systemic changes in health
Kicked off by Robyn O'Brien in her personal story about food allergies and reinforced by Gary Hirshberg's
exploration of the ills of conventional US farming practices, the impact of what we eat on our nation's health became
a persistent undercurrent. Diabetes, cancer, heart disease, asthma, and a plethora of other conditions have been
linked to the effects of the modern US food system. The audience was presented with a strong call to action to think
more broadly about our health.

3. Our government is backing innovation
In a riveting presentation full of awesomeness and mojo, Todd Park described the steps HHS is taking toward the
creation of a "self-propelled, open ecosystem of innovation". The focus is on engaging entrepreneurs to use newly
accessible data to improve health (and ultimately create more jobs). He empowered us to take action by affirming
that it's not the government's health data, but rather our own.

4. Behavior change comes in many forms
From encouraging small steps to up-ing motivation to walking through the stages of change, a variety of methods for
behavior change were presented. There is no miracle recipe, but the consensus throughout is that learning rapidly
from interventions is the best path to success.

5. Gaming = behavior change
Though "gamification" is becoming an increasingly unpopular word, the use of game mechanics was consistently*
presented as the method for changing behavior. With focus exclusively on mobile and online offerings, it's clear the
approach is still maturing into a well-adapted methodology in health.
* aside from BJ Fogg's presentation

6. See the people behind the data
Several of the more popular sessions focused on patient stories, qualitative research, and unpacking the real people
lying behind potentially misleading statistics. Though not labeled human-centered design, there was an upswell of
conversation around how "data are people too".

7. Make it understandable and I will be engaged
Both Stephen Anderson and Trapper Markelz walked through examples of frustratingly complex data (choosing an
insurance plan, Type 1 diabetes regimen) and the scenarios behind them. By applying methods from information
architecture and graphic design, they showed how a previously overwhelming table of numbers can be transformed
into a dynamic visualization informing choice and behavior.

8. Design for failure to create long-term success
Understanding that a system will fail, and designing for those failure cases, encourages continued success. Devorah
Klein from Continuum discussed how emphasis on rewards for people who have trouble changing behavior is like
sending a "you suck" message when they're most vulnerable. Acknowledge that failure is natural and create systems
that meet their users where they are.

9. Bring good interaction design to health
Several speakers communicated design principles such as spacing out information, providing appropriate cues for
action, and being very clear about activities and feedback. The phrase "and the rest is just good interaction design"
was commonly heard throughout the day.