This stage focuses on developing my initial concept for future medical services and expanding on how technology could support more effective and accessible care. Through brainstorming and exploring relevant inspiration, I aim to refine the idea further while considering ethical implications, helping shape a more thoughtful and responsible design direction.
To further explore my project direction, I began identifying key areas of interest for future medical services, a field that is both highly adaptable and well future-proof. I wanted to draw inspiration from genres I’ve personally experienced, such as films and games, to help spark ideas and shape possible concepts. This approach allows me to ground my thinking in familiar references while aligning with the project requirements, particularly in considering specific users and a defined future context.
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Using these inspirations will help guide my project direction and act as idea sparks to support further development and refinement.
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I decided to create a quick mind map to outline the key areas I wanted to explore and research further. This approach helped me clearly identify what I am looking for within my project, while also highlighting which genres and areas of interest may be most beneficial in shaping and developing my idea.
From this, I plan to explore at least two categories from the areas I identified, using them as sources of research and inspiration. I feel this approach will help broaden my knowledge while also highlighting what I need to learn, allowing me to develop my project idea in a more meaningful and future-focused way.
The first area I chose to focus on was futuristic set games, specifically Cyberpunk 2077 and Marathon. These are games I regularly engage with, so I already have a strong understanding of their style, themes, and underlying concepts. By exploring their visual design, in-game narratives, and how they present futuristic systems, I can begin to draw connections to my project on future medical services. This will help me understand how such ideas can be portrayed, as well as identify elements that could inform what is needed within my own design approach.
I decided to focus on Cyberpunk 2077 first, as it is the game I have the most experience with. One of the main reasons for this choice is its setting in the year 2077, which aligns well with the requirement to design for a specific future timeframe. Within this world, societal needs, particularly in areas like healthcare, have evolved significantly, offering a useful reference point for how medical services might change over time. The game also explores how these systems directly impact both the character and the wider narrative, which provides valuable insight into how future medical services could be integrated into people’s everyday lives in a more immersive and meaningful way.
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Cyberpunk 2077 is relevant due to its 2077 setting, offering insight into how future medical services may evolve and integrate into everyday life.
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A modern masterpiece - Cyberpunk 2077
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One of the main areas I explored within Cyberpunk 2077 was the Trauma Team, a private emergency medical service that provides rapid-response care to clients, prioritising immediate treatment and extraction in critical situations. Their purpose is to deliver high-level medical support on demand, often operating with speed, advanced technology, and a strong focus on the individual. While I initially considered focusing directly on this concept, I realised I wanted to design a broader medical service system rather than a single response team. However, the idea of personalised, immediate care and protection is something I found particularly compelling and relevant to my project.
Some key takeaways from this research include the importance of speed, personalisation, and continuous monitoring within future medical systems. The idea of immediate response and user-focused care, alongside clear and intuitive data visualisation, stood out as particularly impactful. I can integrate these into my project by designing a service that feels responsive and tailored to the individual, while also using simple but effective interfaces to communicate health information and support user understanding in real time.
I also explored the game, Marathon, as a source of inspiration. While it may not directly relate to my focus on future medical services, I found its futuristic visual style and overall aesthetic highly relevant to my design direction. The game’s strong art direction and brand identity offer a clear example of how cohesive visuals can shape the feel of a system or product. I feel this is something I can take forward into my project, using similar visual and stylistic approaches to help communicate my medical service concept in a more engaging and considered way.