Transforming medication adherence into an engaging daily habit

Our interpretation of the brief was to design a pill dispenser and reminder system for elderly users. Forgetting medication is a common challenge, and we wanted to transform this routine into something simple, reassuring, and even enjoyable.

MedBox combines reminders, interaction, and rewards into one seamless experience:

Personalisation:

a caregiver or family member customises the experience by preparing messages, activities, or puzzles that will be printed as rewards.

Setup:

the caregiver loads the pills into MedBox for the week and programs the medication times.

Reminder:

at the scheduled hour, MedBox activates with lights and sound, notifying the user that it's time to take their medication.

Interaction & Intake:

the user presses the stop button, silences the alarm, receives their pill in the drawer, and takes it.

Reward:

when the drawer is returned, MedBox prints a personalised reward — like a Sudoku, a riddle, or a message from family — making the moment positive and engaging.

By combining these steps, MedBox reframes medication intake from a passive task into an interactive daily ritual supported by positive reinforcement.

I was responsible for the Arduino programming and hardware integration, making all components work together under tight time constraints.

• Arduino Nano ESP32 controlled the logic.
• Buzzer played a short melody as the alarm.
• Neopixel LED ring provided visual feedback.
• Button handled user interaction.
• Stepper motor (later replaced by DC motor) dispensed the pill reliably.
• Magnet sensor ensured the drawer was closed before the reward could print.
• Thermal printer generated personalised printouts.

This project sharpened my ability to prototype quickly, solve hardware limitations, and translate an abstract concept into a fully working functional system.

MedBox was a small project in scope but a big one in lessons. As a designer, I learned how to:

• Work under extreme time constraints — with only 4 days, every decision had to be fast, intentional, and realistic. I couldn't overthink; I had to prioritize what was essential for a working prototype.
• Collaborate closely with teammates — the design and electronics were inseparable. My choices in form and layout had to align with what was possible in Arduino and vice versa. This taught me how important it is to communicate clearly, compromise, and design with technical feasibility in mind.
• Value feedback loops — even in a one-week sprint, testing and quick feedback shaped the product. Seeing how the idea translated into real interaction reinforced how vital feedback is to any design process.

Overall, MedBox reminded me that good design doesn't happen in isolation: it emerges from constraints, collaboration, and iteration.