Fitting a full clinic’s worth of equipment and services into a space the size of a delivery vehicle is a massive spatial puzzle. For ARPA-H’s Platform, we moved beyond spreadsheets and technical lists from our hospital partners to tackle this challenge head-on. By working directly with clinical experts, we designed mobile units that balance complex medical requirements with the emotional needs of patients, ensuring that even in a small, mobile space, care feels dignified and human.
Using a full-scale mockup and live role-play, we moved workflows off the page and into real life, understanding interactions and gathering real-time input from the program's stakeholders. The goal was research and socialization, building shared understanding and a foundation for cross-team collaboration. Through this research, teams surfaced workflows beyond technical requirements. This ensured efficiency and comfort for on-site clinicians, remote clinicians joining via AR, and caregivers, especially during multi-hour chemo infusions and privacy-sensitive appointments such as OB-GYN care.
“The other thing is lowering that White Coat Syndrome, thinking about colors in this environment, and emotional state of these patients is often compromised, and I have found over years of HCD talk healing images are extremely important.”
Kinesiology MD, Homeward Health
A dignified patient experience is rooted in autonomy and privacy at every touchpoint. We designed to ensure equitable access, creating vestibule-style entries that buffer against weather, and providing private, respectful spaces for sensitive procedures or conversations. These thoughtful elements empower patients with a sense of control and well-being throughout their care journey.
Patient comfort is built on a foundation of thoughtful details. Whether it's offering a moment of distraction during wait times, designing safe and welcoming spaces for children, empowering patients with real-time results, or ensuring consistent caregiver support. These elements transform apprehension into a sense of ease and trust.
Our approach supports clinical excellence by alleviating pressure on staff through pre-assembled supplies and external cleaning partnerships. Additionally, we create private areas for clinicians to chart between patients, ensuring every detail meets the highest standards.
“The thought process of the transfer, there's nothing worse than having someone with a pressure ulcer and you're trying to transfer them and they're scream crying because you don't have a lift or the right slide board.”
Occupational Therapy MD, Huntsman Cancer Institute
Alongside the 10XBeta team, we developed a clear experience framework and a set of design recommendations to guide the mobile clinic's design. At its core was a set of Experience Principles defining how the space should behave and feel for every user—patients, remote and field clinicians, and support staff—aligning clinical priorities with patients’ emotional needs. These principles were supported by care unit design recommendations and strategic spatial guidance that informed the fabrication and deployment of a full-scale, fully functional EV clinic-on-wheels prototype ready for in-field testing.
Other Tomorrows
Hannah Oh
Kyle Wing
Lee Moreau
María Risueño
10XBeta
Carly Smith
Christopher St. John
Edward Jacobs
Emmanuel Wasson
Frederick Kruger
Jolie Lerner
Marcel Botha
Matthew Gómez
Ria John
