It is not often in the work of a product designer that, while creating a project for a very specific target group, we suddenly find ourselves in that group and have the opportunity to test the finished product in everyday life. As luck would have it, our designer Aleksandra Jatczak, who designed Pregnabit Pro - a state-of-the-art mobile KTG device for pregnant women - is currently expecting a baby herself. Courtesy of the client, Nestmedic, she was given the opportunity to use the device, which will soon hit the market. Today we had the opportunity to talk to Aleksandra and find out more about her experience, both in working on the project and in using the device. Full interview below!

Anna Ganclerz: Aleksandra, Pregnabit Pro was created under your watchful eye - you not only designed its look, but also took on the role of project manager. How does it feel to now hold the finished device in your hand and be able to use it as a future mom?

Aleksandra Jatczak: Absolutely the best! We've all put a lot of work and heart into this project, so it makes me very happy to see something that we've only seen on a computer screen or in the form of prototypes for months, make its way to people and actually make their lives easier. An added bonus is that, by coincidence, I actually ended up in the target group and now have the opportunity to test the product myself. I wish such experiences upon every designer.

AG: Can you tell us a little more about the product itself? What exactly is Pregnabit Pro?

AJ: Pregnabit Pro is a mobile KTG device - primarily it allows you to check the fetal heart rate and uterine contraction activity. In addition, the mother's heart rate is checked and the baby's movements are counted. The results are transferred to a telemedicine platform and evaluated by a midwife, after which the mother-to-be receives a report. If the results are unsatisfactory, the midwife can contact the patient and ask her to repeat the test or refer her to a hospital. What distinguishes this equipment from other KTG devices is its mobility - the examination can be carried out at any time at home - usually such examinations are only performed in a clinic or a hospital.

AG: What was the scope of Mindsailors' work on Pregnabit Pro? Which stages of the design process were completed?

AJ: All of them - from the predesign stage, to visual concepts and supervision during product implementation.

AG: I'd love to know more about the design process for Pregnabit Pro - could you tell me about it step-by-step?

AJ: Pregnabit Pro is a new and improved version of the Pregnabit device, so before we sat down to sketch out the first ideas, we had the opportunity to test how the first version of the device worked, learn about its features, as well as its pros and cons. We traditionally started work on the project by listening to the client's needs, drawing up a brief and preparing a moodboard. There were a lot of people working on the project - not only the Mindsailors team, but also other specialists, so we met to establish the work schedule, the responsibilities of each party and, of course, so that we could all get to know each other better :) Thanks to the fact that we knew from the outset roughly what the dimensions of the electronics inside would be, we could already assume the size and shape of the device at the visual stage, which by the end of the project had changed very little. Once the client had chosen one of the three visual concepts, we made a dimensioned prototype, which allowed us to assess the ergonomics of the device and adjust the position of the buttons. After minor adjustments, we moved on to mechanical design - several prototypes were also made at this stage, this time to verify the mechanical design and adjust the electronics. In the meantime, we consulted various solutions with the team responsible for the electronics, the contractor - the company that was then in charge of creating the injection moulded parts - and even an acoustic specialist that the client pointed us to. Here it is worth mentioning that the client was very keen on the sound quality of the baby's heartbeat. Thanks to the cooperation with the acoustician, it was possible to achieve an ear-pleasing result, in contrast to a standard KTG. With Pregnabit Pro, it is also possible to adjust its volume. Once the mechanical design was handed over, we made a few more cosmetic adjustments due to the manufacturing technology used by the contractor, and then carried out supervision during the implementation of the project.

AG: How do you recall working on this project? Were there any challenges or difficulties along the way?

AJ: I won't lie if I say it was my favorite project out of all the ones I've been involved in so far. I don't think there is a project where there haven't been any challenges or difficulties. Here, the challenge was definitely the timing of the project. It took about six months from writing the brief to handing over the documentation. It was a very intense time, but the whole team did a great job. I appreciate that the cooperation between all of us - and there were quite a few of us - went very smoothly and everyone approached the project with a lot of commitment. Without this, it would not have been possible.

AG: Pregnabit Pro is designed for pregnant women. When is it particularly important to use it?

AJ: Whenever you are concerned - for example, if you do not feel the baby's movements, or if, on the contrary, they are more intense than usual, or if you experience contractions and want to check whether these are just preliminary contractions or whether labour has already started. Certainly mums who have pregnancies with complications will benefit most from this. I think it can also be of great value to women who are excluded by transport and who find the trip to the clinic a hassle.

AG: In your opinion, is it a good idea to use such a device as part of a subscription? If so, what are the benefits behind it?

AJ: Definitely. The KTG test is performed during the last few weeks of pregnancy, so buying the device misses the point - both economically and environmentally. With the option to subscribe and rent the product, it is in circulation all the time.

AG: Could you describe how to use the Pregnabit Pro? How do I put the device on and what do I pay special attention to?

AJ: The straps are used to fasten the two probes - the FHR probe to check the fetal heart rate and the TOCO probe to check the uterine contractions. Cover the FHR probe with the special gel supplied with the machine and look for the spot where you can most clearly hear the baby's heartbeat. We pin the TOCO probe in the upper abdomen. In addition, the pulse oximeter is placed on your finger, you lie down comfortably and... that's it! Sometimes it happens that the baby is extremely mobile and escapes from under the FHR probe, in which case the device lets us know that it should be corrected. During the examination we also mark the baby's movements with a button on the side of the device or on the screen. The device comes with very clear instructions, which can also be displayed as an animation on the screen of the device, so it is difficult to get lost.

AG: How would you rate the use of Pregnabit Pro? Do you find the device useful, is it easy to use? Maybe you would change something? ;)

AJ: I always set the bar high for myself, so of course I would find a few little things to improve :) Having said that, I think we've all done a good job - the device is easy to use, inspires confidence and is incredibly useful. I hope that telemedicine in Poland will grow, because it is definitely a good direction.

AG: How did you react when you received a surprise parcel and, upon unwrapping it, saw that it was Pregnabit Pro?

AJ: First of all, I was very pleased! In my work as a designer, it is rare to have the opportunity to experience a product for a longer period of time, to be able to properly test it and draw conclusions, so I am grateful to the client for the initiative and appreciate the coincidence that I found myself in the target group just at the moment when the device saw the light of day.

AG: Thank you very much, I wish you a successful delivery and much health for you and your little one!

AJ: Thank you!

Aleksandra Jatczak
Designer & Constructor

Anna Ganclerz
Brand Manager