1. Experience design
2. Industrial design
3. User research
4. Production
USER 
Research lab technicians

CLIENT 
Volta Labs

TEAM
Spatial Dynamics Industrial Design Studio

DURATION
2 Months

Volta Desktop DNA Sequencer


Project summary:
 Emerging from their work at MIT Media Lab (Tangible Media), Volta Labs’ technology has changed how DNA sequencing and lab testing exist today. To meet market demand, Spatial Dynamics was tasked with researching and designing the first commercial version of The Callisto™, a product that is easy to use, clean, and aids the lab technician’s workflow.

As the Lead User Experience Researcher, my work was to identify the pain points of the current working model, analyze the space that technicians worked in, interview several users, and define the design principles that the team would move forward and implement in the Callisto model.


Role︎


  • Lead User Experience Researcher
  • Drove interviews with lab technicians to identify pain points and observe lab activities.
  • Gather market research to identify competitors and define opportunities for Volta’s technology.
  • Identify pain points that would later be used to form design principles to guide the design team.
  • Present research findings to stakeholders.

Goals ︎


  • Improve and optimize the user experience of Volta’s technology in the DNA Sequencer.
  • Design a market-ready model of Volta’s product for lab environments.

Outcomes ︎


  • End deliverable- a market-viable product for use both as marketing content to acquire more funding for further development and strategic collaborations with industry leaders in the biomedical space to expand the capabilities of Callisto’s applications.
  • An improved user experience for the Callisto product technology saves lab technicians a significant amount of time and energy while increasing output in labs.
  • Expedited labwork for DNA sequencing for faster, more reliable results that progress the field of science and innovation.



Problem statement ︎


How do we limit the opportunities for human error to compromise the results of the lab prep work when setting up and using the machine to gain trust in Volta's innovative technology in its product, Callisto?

Solution ︎


A streamlined product that works with the user to minimize the possibility of human contamination that could lead to compromised experiments, costing both time and money for labs developing new and innovative technologies in the biomedical space.





Meet Callisto


A benchtop instrument, The Callisto™ Sample Prep System is designed to transform labs and make them as efficient and accurate as possible. Volta’s new technology is integrated into a complete system. Efficient nucleic acid extraction seamlessly merges with push-button library creation. This all-in-one machine offers a “push the button and walk away” experience, shortening the DNA Sequencing task to mere minutes.

Explore the product here ︎

Product Schedule










IDENTIFY


What are the priorities of the stakeholders?

Research: Deeper Understanding of technology adoption
and the language of research labs


Observation

Direct Interviews

Competitor Research





UNDERSTANDING

Application of Research:
The experience of using Callisto


Analyzing the order of operations for moments of interaction with the work-like prototype, I isolated the opportunities that would lead to mistrust of the machine’s capabilities. By outlining the workflow of a standard lab procedure and interviewing several lab technicians on their previous experiences in lab experiment failures, I was able to isolate specific moments of human interaction that could create an opportunity for the machine to fail and lead to distrust in Callisto’s ability to produce trustworthy results.



Current user flow for lab technicians with subtasks







UNDERSTANDING

Traditional lab workflow
(with DNA sequencing machine) simplified




IDENTIFY

Where can the system fail and lose trust?

Research: Problem areas from traditional lab workflow
(with DNA sequencing machine)



IDENTIFY

Analyzed factors that impact experience in user flow


Building on identifying pain points in the product’s user journey, we grouped those moments of friction into categories to uncover common themes that would help shape the product's design principles. Friction themes include a lack of space for two-handed steps, clear instructions, and hard-to-reach surfaces that foster contamination, to name a few.


IDENTIFY

Researched primary factors that need to be addressed to avoid adverse outcomes


Themes began to emerge as pain points were identified through observational studies and interviews. The most significant concerns were opportunities for contamination, a lack of guidance, and accessibility for lab technicians, which would negatively affect the results of the tests run by Callisto and ultimately lead to a loss of trust in the machine's accuracy.

Left to right: Two-handed access, Ease of grip, opportunity for contamination, height of entry, guided assistance, clear visual communication, sight and sound confirmation, space requirements













Outcomes


The project outcomes significantly decreased the potential for human error, which accounted for >85% of compromised experiments. Adding Callisto increased productivity by 60% by automating areas focusing on dispensing, mixing, and separating lap prep materials.




New user flow using Callisto:









Features driven by design procedures

Ease of cleaning and one-handed accessibility

The risk of contamination is a significant concern for lab technicians, as it may result in hours or even days of lost lab work. To prevent any residue buildup and hidden contamination zones, the design was to have radius corners, smooth surfaces, and easy access for a technician to clean before loading the machine.

In response to pain points:


Guided interface for guaranteed accurate results

Human error is the most common reason for inaccurate results from lab studies. While Volta’s technology optimizes the mechanical mixing and measurement of reagents, human error can still occur during installation and de-installation procedures. That is where the UI comes in. To aid decision fatigue, the machine has a screen with a step-by-step guide to lead a lab technician through the procedures to ensure perfect results.

In response to pain points:


Compatible with Volta’s Labware

Other products sold at Volta are their Labware kits, which allow lab technicians to work more efficiently and organize all samples by having pre-measured kits for various operations. These Labware products were to be used in the machine, so effortless installation and verification were needed to ensure all components were in their proper place for the design.

In response to pain points:






Callisto V 1 

Marketing product

Callisto V 2 

Customer product









The Digital Experience

Building trust with the user through clarity and
confident brand presence


Upon investigating similar tools in the medical lab space and other desktop machinery, as well as our user research into the lab technicians’ workday, we found that direct guidance would ensure a 100% success rate for the DNA sequence protocols.



 Example of high-level troubleshooting workflow



Tools used: Adobe Illustrator, Miro, Keynote, Figma
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