Duration: 5 months
Bachelor Thesis, Zürcher Hochschule der Künste
Spring 2021
Team: Christian Barteld
Dental fear is one of the most common and persistent anxieties, often associated with pain despite major advances in dental care. Many patients struggle to communicate discomfort during treatment, leaving dentists without clear, real-time feedback.
How might we create a simple, intuitive way for patients to express pain and feel more in control during dental procedures?
How might we create a simple, intuitive way for patients to express pain and feel more in control during dental procedures?
Methods & Tools:
Background research & literature review on dental anxiety
Interviews with dentists, psychologists, and patients (adults & children)
Observational research & co-design activities (including children’s drawings)
Usability testing with prototypes
Brand & presentation design tailored for healthcare stakeholders
Interviews with dentists, psychologists, and patients (adults & children)
Observational research & co-design activities (including children’s drawings)
Usability testing with prototypes
Brand & presentation design tailored for healthcare stakeholders
Alivia — A product-service system that empowers dental patients through real-time pain communication, designed to reduce anxiety and improve care.
Alivia is a two-part communication device:
Handheld Unit (Patient) – Stress-absorbing, pressure-sensitive, and tactile to reduce anxiety. Patients squeeze to indicate discomfort levels.
Wristband (Dentist) – Receives real-time haptic and visual signals of the patient’s pain level.
Before treatment, patients receive a short introduction to familiarize them with Alivia. The wireless connection ensures a seamless experience without adding complexity to the dental procedure.
Impact
- Created a low-threshold, intuitive system that reduces stress and empowers patients.
- Gave dentists actionable, real-time feedback to adjust treatment and improve patient comfort.
- Usability tests indicated higher perceived control and reduced anxiety in simulated treatment sessions.
- Project visuals and branding are designed to communicate functionality to both patients and dental professionals.
This project showed me the importance of designing for emotional as well as functional needs in healthcare. It reinforced how user research and co-creation can shape a solution that addresses both patient well-being and provider efficiency.
