What is design thinking? Learn how this user-centric approach helps create successful health & wellness products by focusing on empathy & prototyping.
The health and wellness industry has no shortage of customers seeking better well-being. In 2020, the global market was valued at $3.31 billion and is projected to reach $4.24 billion by 2026, as people look for ways to lower lifestyle-related disease risk and support healthy aging.
Many companies remain in their comfort zone, overlooking the real needs and challenges their customers face. By focusing on user experience, firms can enhance customer satisfaction and cut costs. Design thinking offers a practical route to that understanding.
As Harvard Business Review notes, design thinking centers on empathy with users, disciplined prototyping, and tolerance for failure—qualities that help build responsive, flexible organizations.
Unlike conventional problem-solving, design thinking starts with deep customer insight before solutions are drafted. Understanding individual challenges allows teams to craft more personalized, effective offerings.
For example, the Aduro 7+1 LED face mask was developed through this process. Iterative prototypes and user feedback revealed a need for adjustability; an elastic Velcro strap was added to improve fit and comfort.
Beyond single features, design thinking follows a consistent set of principles.
Design thinking focuses on user experience
To build empathy, teams must grasp users’ needs and desires; otherwise they risk building products no one wants. Emotional language—describing how a light-therapy device might leave skin looking refreshed, for instance—helps convey intended benefits.
Examine complex problems through models
Physical models, or design artifacts, let teams explore customer journeys and interactions in tangible form, revealing pain points early.
WHO: Healthy aging PubMed search: design thinking healthcare
Explore solutions through prototypes
Before launch, a prototype is built to surface and solve potential problems. Creating prototypes lets you test the product early and see how it performs in real-world use.
Failing forward
Design thinking does not seek failure, yet most products need several refinements before release. Each iteration sharpens the device and better aligns it with user needs.
At Led Mask we apply the same process: our light-therapy devices are shaped by design thinking and clinical engineering, with continuous feedback from users.
If you are exploring a private-label light-therapy device, our medically oriented systems can be adapted to your specifications. We welcome partners who share a design-thinking approach to safe, effective light-based solutions.
