PROJECT SNAPSHOT / KODEX
ROLE
Product Designer
TIMELINE
2017–2019
TEAM
2 designers
CONTEXT
EPD Solutions / Philips
01 / CONTEXT
Innovation met resistance.
Kodex was an electromagnetic cardiac mapping and navigation system that generated real-time, high-definition 3D views of cardiac anatomy. Following its early pilot, physician feedback revealed hesitation to adopt the new experience.
CLINICAL STAKES
The interface supported precise catheter navigation during complex procedures. Usability was not merely a convenience.
ADOPTION BARRIER
Physicians had invested years learning established systems and were reluctant to abandon familiar workflows.
02 / RESEARCH
The interface was fighting the workflow.
EPD interviewed approximately six electrophysiologists and reviewed the alpha experience. Three concrete problems emerged from the interviews.
01
The wrong point of view
The POV shot did not match how physicians expected to inspect and rotate the 3D model.
02
Unnatural navigation
Catheter movement did not align with the side-reversal interaction physicians had learned on other systems.
03
Missing live feedback
The alpha interface lacked essential ablation indicators and respiration graphs.
03 / DESIGN PRINCIPLE
New technology, familiar control.
The opportunity was to preserve the power of the new mapping technology while reducing the learning curve through recognizable patterns, clearer information, and adaptable workflows.
04 / APPROACH
Design for the procedure, not the screen.
With approximately three months before the HRS convention, we worked in parallel: UX research and workflow exploration alongside visual design and the foundations of a reusable design system.
01
Study conventions
Compare industry-standard interfaces to reduce unnecessary relearning.
02
Explore layouts
Test low-fidelity arrangements of visualization, ECG, and tools.
03
Create reusable rules
Build consistent components to accelerate iteration and implementation.
DESIGN DECISION 01 / LEGIBILITY
Make information readable throughout a long procedure.
Clinical sessions could last several hours, and screens could be viewed from roughly two meters away. I used a dark interface, distinct visual hierarchy, and typographic levels designed for quick scanning.
LEGIBILITY / VISUAL HIERARCHY
Clear signals. Less visual noise.
ECG
ACTIVE
ALERT
MAPPING
Design direction — color and type hierarchy.
DESIGN DECISION 02 / WORKSPACE
Let physicians shape the workspace around the task.
Different procedural moments required different views. I designed three primary panels that could be resized, collapsed, or rearranged, helping physicians prioritize the anatomical model or supporting information as needed.
Resizable, collapsible panels — physicians reshape the workspace
Resizable, collapsible panels — physicians reshape the workspace.
DESIGN DECISION 03 / QUICK ACTIONS
Keep critical actions within reach.
During procedures, the physician’s attention and hands were occupied. I grouped frequently used actions into a floating toolbar and supported customizable presets to make repeated operations easier to reach.
Floating toolbar — critical actions within reach
Floating toolbar — critical actions grouped within reach.
05 / SYSTEM THINKING
Build a foundation that could scale beyond the first release.
I established a working design system early so the team could make changes without rebuilding interface patterns each time. The goal was to support rapid iteration, consistent interaction patterns, and a clearer handoff to developers.
REUSABLE INTERFACE LANGUAGE
TYPOGRAPHY
Legible levels for dense clinical data
COMPONENTS
Repeatable controls, panels, and toolbars
LAYOUT
Flexible visualization and data regions
06 / OUTCOME
From concept to clinical use.
After roughly three months of iteration, developers began implementing the designs for testing with consultant physicians. Kodex was presented at the HRS convention in February 2019, and the original case study documents subsequent use in clinical settings.
3 MONTHS
Design exploration and early implementation
FEB 2019
Showcased at the HRS convention
CLINICAL USE
Photographs document use in a clinical environment
The original case study also notes Philips’ 2019 acquisition of EPD Solutions. This is company context, not a claimed result of the redesign.
07 / REFLECTION
Innovation only matters when experts can work with it.
This project reinforced the value of designing with domain expertise rather than around it. In a high-stakes environment, familiar patterns, legible information, and control over the workspace are central to making new technology usable.