# #347: Human-Centered Design in Medical Devices

- Show: [Global Medical Device Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast)
- Published: 2023-12-07
- Length: 49m
- Episode: 347
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2023-12-07-347-human-centered-design-in-medical-devices
- Listen: https://podcast.greenlight.guru/episode/346-human-centered-design

## Summary

Morven Shearlaw, co-founder of the Glasgow-based design agency Fearsome, discusses the critical role of human-centered design in medical device development. She emphasizes defining the full ecosystem of users—including clinicians, patients, and cleaners—rather than just the end-user, and warns against jumping to solutions before understanding the core problem. Shearlaw shares anecdotes about how early user feedback can radically redirect product strategy and highlights the importance of integrating human factors early to manage risk and ensure commercial success.

## Chapters

- [0:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2023-12-07-347-human-centered-design-in-medical-devices#t=54) Introduction and Fearsome's Origin
- [7:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2023-12-07-347-human-centered-design-in-medical-devices#t=442) Defining the User Ecosystem
- [10:57](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2023-12-07-347-human-centered-design-in-medical-devices#t=657) The Human-Centered Development Process
- [16:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2023-12-07-347-human-centered-design-in-medical-devices#t=1002) Pitfalls: Jumping to Solutions
- [18:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2023-12-07-347-human-centered-design-in-medical-devices#t=1124) Human Factors as Risk Management
- [26:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2023-12-07-347-human-centered-design-in-medical-devices#t=1578) Real-World Feedback Case Study
- [34:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2023-12-07-347-human-centered-design-in-medical-devices#t=2085) Recommended Resources and Books
- [40:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2023-12-07-347-human-centered-design-in-medical-devices#t=2423) Regulatory Standards and Compliance
- [46:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2023-12-07-347-human-centered-design-in-medical-devices#t=2781) Finding and Engaging Users

## Topics

- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Medical & health devices](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/medical-devices)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Certification & compliance](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/certification-and-compliance)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Fearsome (company)
- Greenlight Guru (company)
- The Mom Test (other)
- The Design of Everyday Things (other)
- FDA (other)
- MHRA (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [074: Medical Device Product Development Best Practices](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2021-05-05-074-medical-device-product-development-best-practices) (Product Startup)
- [176 - The Fastest Way to Ruin Drug/Device Development (And How to Avoid It!) with Eric Sugalski](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2025-02-19-176-the-fastest-way-to-ruin-drug-device-development-and-how-to-avoid-it-with-eri) (Let's Combinate)
- [Dakota Welker | User Needs, Design Inputs, Verification & Validation](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-09-25-dakota-welker-user-needs-design-inputs-verification-validation) (Being an Engineer)
- [049 - "What Does the Data Say?" with Shannon Hoste](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2022-09-07-049-what-does-the-data-say-with-shannon-hoste) (Let's Combinate)
- [005 - “Compassionate Product Development” with Cameron Jones](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2021-11-03-005-compassionate-product-development-with-cameron-jones) (Let's Combinate)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2023-12-07-347-human-centered-design-in-medical-devices. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Global Medical Device Podcast.