THREADLetics
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BACKGROUND:
Lactic acid concentration is one of the most predictive measures of performance and injuries, but accessing this information is limited and often restricted to blood samples. Each year, coaches handle over 600,000 injuries in contact sports alone. SMART Patch by THREADLetics provides the best way to manage athletes’ training, so that coaches can focus on the game. Current methods of lactic acid testing can:
- take large amounts of time;
- offer limited insights around performance during training; and
- offer few, if any, predictive analytics around injuries.
CHALLENGE:
Determine a target customer demographic and unmet need in order to commercialize the smart threads technology developed by Dr. Sameer Sonkusale at the Nano Lab.
Design Goals:
Project Goals:
Design Goals:
- Understand the potential applications of the smart threads technology
- Prototype a product and use case using smart threads
- Develop a clear brand and marketing strategy for building commercial demand
Project Goals:
- Identify 3-4 local 'customers' for a possible beta test
- 8-10 weekly user interviews
- Build a brand book, e.g. colors, fonts, etc, and A/B test for marketing materials
DISCOVERY:
The SMART Threads refers to chemical, enzyme, and antibody coatings that are applied to any single thread or group of fabric. This coating responds continuously to the build-up of a specified chemical, enzyme, or antibody within the perspiration (sweat) of the user, by changing color and/or intensity of color values.
We initially completed an extensive literature review and landscape map to identify similar technology within academia— and their resultant paths. We organized and I led several meetings with industry experts at, i.e., research laboratories, medical offices and hospitals, and military and first-responder centers.
We initially completed an extensive literature review and landscape map to identify similar technology within academia— and their resultant paths. We organized and I led several meetings with industry experts at, i.e., research laboratories, medical offices and hospitals, and military and first-responder centers.
Shortly after, we found a viable lead in student athletes. I led many of the 60 individual and focus group conversations with coaches, physiotherapists, sports teams, and student trainers. I also designed several surveys for sports physicians, athletic trainers, and former athletes — collecting over 130 responses in the US and internationally for quantitative analysis.
Refined Stakeholders Map: After doing a standard systems map and journey map, I led the team through an exercise on
identifying the workflow identifying key stakeholders and their relationships when sports equipment is purchased.
Methods used include:
- Observing: Directed Storytelling, Card Sorting, Concept Cards, Journey Maps, Personas, Gartner Magic Quadrant, Online Surveys, Pioneer-Migrator-Settler Map
- Framing: Affinity and Bull's Eye Diagrams, Systems Map, Backcasting (Gap Analysis), How Might We, Stakeholder Maps, Lean Canvas, Brand Ladder, Blue Oceans 6 Paths, Utility Map, Strategy Canvas,
- Prototyping: Storyboards, Wireframing (AdobeXD), Specialized Tests, Competition Analysis, A/B Test (Facebook Ads), Work Flow Map, Supply Chain Map (Value Chain)
Persona II: I created profiles for each interviewee in order to combine, e.g., athletic trainers and physiotherapists into a central persona (1 out of 5).
Persona III: I created profiles for each interviewee in order to combine, e.g., sports physicians and psychologists into a central persona (1 out of 5).
As a result, we identified 3 key pain points in preventing or monitoring student athletes' injuries (specifically at the college-level) and formulated the following problem statement:
"College sports teams run into performance issues and injuries, because they cannot (1) regularly monitor players’ physiological fatigue and stress, (2) over time or in real-time, and (3) without invasive, analog metrics."
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Value proposition Canvas: We used this template to breakdown our observations from potential customers and connect with the technology's attributes.
Concept Cards (Refined Card Sorting): In several co-design sessions, we asked interviewees to create and respond to a long-hand solution concepts
brainstormed. Above is a description for the "Smart Band" (which we ultimately did not pursue based on the feedback and questions).
SOLUTION:
After working with both the NanoLab and student athletes to discuss product form ideas, I prototyped several physical and digital designs before we settled on a 3-part solution:
- THREADLetics's first product, the SMART Patch, is a rectangular adhesive strip with a gauze pad or band coated to respond to lactic acid and/or cortisol levels of a player during training or competition for 1-2 hours.
- The SMART Sensor is also offered as a reusable microprocessor (optional) that snaps into the interface on the Patch.
- The changes in values are then communicated (via Bluetooth) to and analyzed by the free mobile application that the athletes, coaches and trainers would use on mobile devices.
Solution Mockup I: We refined a collage design from a brainstorming session in order to visualize the form and context for a stand-alone SMART Patch.
I created several low-fidelity prototypes to test out size, weight, and texture on student athletes and physical enthusiasts. Adding color and pattern, I was also able to receive feedback and insights for brand strategy.
Prototype II: I led the development of several low-fidelity "acts like" prototypes and the testing across body types and activity types (e.g. weightlifting vs rowing).
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Mockup II: We iterated on the SMART Patch ideas to find the optimal form/connectivity type to use the smart threads research.
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RESULTS:
As a result of this detailed work and our semi-final presentation, THREADLetics was a finalist 2020 Tufts 100K Venture Competition (Life Sciences). We also were able to share a complete commercialization strategy and roadmap to the NanoLab for their technology. Through A/B testing and online engagements (Facebook Ads, Instagram, Newsletter, Website design) , we were also able to show the Lab that the concept could easily gain interest and followers.