Mock-up as a design tool in designer-surgeon collaboration

Some surgeons are capable of seeing needs earlier than other users in the same domain, and they are also able to provide the solutions. Some earlier research showed this, e.g. surgeons with lead user’s characteristics designed their own tools. However, current workloads and other responsibilities hindered them from expressing their design problems and needs for new surgical tools. In this paper, the author will discuss the use of mock-up kits as a design tool and "making" as design collaboration essence in two collaboration design projects with colorectal surgeons. This mock-up kit was developed through some other related work containing eclectic everyday material and on hand formable material, e.g. cardboard. Two colorectal surgeons were involved in separate design projects, and each of them has their own needs and purposes. The research aimed to study how mock-ups can be used in such co-design works and how this method can enhance the usability of surgical tools. It has shown that the process of ‘making’ allowed the surgeons to use design strategies. The activities in both collaboration projects indicated that mock-ups are valuable tools to use in such co-design projects because they enable the surgeons to be actively involved in creative activity.