As I arrived in Singapore, Design Thinking—the human-centered approach to innovation, with global design firm IDEO as its chief proponent—had landed. I joined IDEO’s newly-established Singapore office on a project basis over three years, as the studio grew from 4 staffers to around 10-12. Initially providing communication design and interaction design as IDEO partnered with multiple government agencies on a series of projects, I then co-led on a long and challenging engagement in the energy sector.
While the details of most projects remain under NDA, some of the Singapore office’s impact in the region’s public sector is surveyed on IDEO’s website.
In one highlighted project, our team worked with the Singapore government’s Ministry of Health to bridge the gap between policy and public perception.
I designed a new digital tablet app aimed at helping patients better understand and predict the cost of a stint in hospital. With the help of a care cost advisor—a new role introduced by our team—patients or their representatives could interact with a colorful dashboard to explore the financial ramifications of a hospital stay and treatment, helping them make the best sense of their options. The app was prototyped in two hospitals over several quarters.
