This approach to innovation includes the community — in this case, patients, clinicians, and health system leaders — from the beginning. Empathy is at the center of human-centered design but LABS takes it a step further by employing researchers and designers in the communities where it works — with 95% of its employees based regionally.
“The best way to ensure we’re being true to human-centered design principles is to be part of that community,” said Bonstein Sisa, LABS’ Kenya-based Design Strategy Lead for Africa.
Sisa is just one of LABS’ design leaders born and raised in the regions where LABS works. He’s most excited about the frequent, high-value touchpoints with patients that the SPICE platform enables. “That increases our knowledge about the patient and, therefore, improves personalization,” he said. “If someone was at risk of stroke, blindness, or another complication from diabetes and hypertension, some of those things can be caught — and treated — earlier.”