wearables Archives - Interwoven

Soft Goods, Smart Care: Designing the Next Generation of Medical Wearables

The Stakes of Medical Design

Designing for the medical field is unlike designing for any other industry. Here, the stakes are measured not just in performance or user satisfaction, but in people’s health, safety, and wellbeing. A device that fails to deliver comfort or reliability isn’t just inconvenient, it can directly affect quality of life or clinical outcomes. Medical design demands a balance of precision, empathy, and usability.

At Interwoven Design, we specialize in working at this intersection. Our team combines expertise in soft goods and hard goods, bringing together textiles, mechanics, and electronics into products that are as wearable as they are functional. From early research to final prototyping, our focus is on creating medical wearables that fit seamlessly into people’s lives—solutions that are technically robust, clinically sound, and human-centered by design. In this Insight article we will outline the unique considerations of medical design, our approach to designing medical wearables, the challenges and opportunities inherent in this area of the design industry, and three case studies of medical wearables that showcase the value of Interwoven Design’s human-centered approach.

Why Medical Design Is Unique

Medical design brings a set of challenges and responsibilities that set it apart from other categories of product development. Every decision, from material selection to interface design, must be made with an acute awareness of the user’s physical and emotional context, as well as strict regulatory and clinical requirements.

Regulatory Context
Medical devices are subject to rigorous approval processes, with agencies such as the FDA or EMA requiring extensive validation and documentation. This means that every design decision must be defensible, testable, and aligned with compliance standards, not only to achieve certification but also to ensure long-term patient safety.

Emotional Context
Unlike consumer wearables, medical products often enter a user’s life during moments of stress, vulnerability, or recovery. Designers must anticipate not just the functional needs of patients and clinicians but also the emotional impact of the device. A poorly considered interface or material can heighten anxiety, while thoughtful design can build confidence and trust.

Usability Context

For a medical device to be effective, it must be intuitive to use, not just for patients but also for clinicians, caregivers, and sometimes even first responders. Accessibility, clarity, and ergonomics are not “nice to haves” but essential design principles. This often means extensive rounds of testing and iteration to make sure that products can be used correctly and consistently, even in high-pressure situations.

Together, these contexts shape a design discipline that is both technically demanding and deeply human. It’s this balance of rigor and empathy that drives successful medical innovation.

Designing for the Body and for Care

At Interwoven Design, we see medical wearables as more than devices, they are extensions of the body and tools for care. Designing them requires an iterative, human-centered approach that prioritizes the user at every stage. Prototyping is central to this process. Early models are tested not just in the studio but in real-world conditions, allowing us to observe how products perform during daily routines, clinical use, or extended wear. This cycle of making, testing, and refining ensures that each design evolves in direct response to user needs and feedback.

Industrial Designers Working on Knee Brace

Ergonomics, hygiene, and comfort are treated as non-negotiables. Materials must withstand the realities of long-term use, remaining breathable, easy to clean, and gentle against the skin. Attention to these details transforms functional devices into trusted companions for the people who rely on them. Every strap, sleeve, or modular component is designed to accommodate movement, protect sensitive areas, and support extended wear without fatigue or discomfort.

Collaboration drives the process forward. We work closely with clinicians to align with medical best practices, with engineers to ensure technical performance, and with end users to guarantee that the product is intuitive and usable across contexts. By integrating insights from soft goods design, we go beyond wearable devices alone, creating patient safety garments, rehabilitation aids, and hybrid systems that bridge clinical care and consumer wellness. Our expertise allows us to design accessories, support systems, and healthcare environments that not only meet functional requirements but also enhance comfort, confidence, and dignity.

The result is a wearable or healthcare system that not only performs its intended medical function but does so in a way that feels natural, safe, and empowering for the user, extending the body, supporting care, and enabling better health outcomes.

The Challenge (and Opportunity) of Medical Wearables

Medical wearables are evolving rapidly, from rehabilitation devices to continuous monitoring systems and preventative tools. While their potential to improve health outcomes is immense, designing these products presents a unique set of challenges. Unlike conventional consumer wearables, medical devices must integrate electronics, mechanics, and textiles into a seamless system that functions reliably in clinical settings, daily life, and even high-movement scenarios.

At Interwoven Design, our specialty lies in creating soft goods that feel natural against the body while incorporating hard goods—sensors, actuators, structural supports—that deliver precise performance. Every strap, sleeve, or interface must balance technical requirements with comfort, fit, and intuitive usability. A device that performs flawlessly but feels awkward, restrictive, or irritating will quickly be abandoned by the people who need it most.

Long-term wearability adds another layer of complexity. Medical wearables often remain in contact with the skin for hours or even days, requiring careful attention to materials, pressure distribution, and ventilation. Devices must support patient mobility, prevent injury, and integrate seamlessly into clinical protocols, all while maintaining hygiene standards and durability.

These challenges, however, are also opportunities. By addressing the intersection of comfort, ergonomics, and performance, Interwoven Design can create medical wearables that are not only clinically effective but also empowering and dignified for the people who use them. Our integrated approach ensures that each product functions as an extension of the body, helping patients and clinicians alike achieve better health outcomes through thoughtful, human-centered design.

Case Studies: Medical Design in Action

Interwoven Design’s work in medical wearables and healthcare soft goods spans a wide spectrum, from patient-focused therapeutic devices to clinician-centered support tools. Each project demonstrates how thoughtful design can bridge the gap between technology, the human body, and the demanding realities of healthcare environments. Whether stabilizing a catheter for heart failure patients, creating a flexible armband for continuous glucose monitoring, or integrating back support into a utility bag for nurses, our approach remains the same: combine clinical insight with human-centered design to deliver solutions that are safe, functional, and comfortable for real-world use.

Case Study 1: Nuwellis Device for Aquapheresis Therapy

Interwoven Design partnered with TKDG and Nuwellis to design a wearable solution that improves the patient experience during Aquapheresis therapy, a treatment used to safely remove excess fluid in people with Congestive Heart Failure (CHF). For patients already navigating a fragile health condition, maintaining catheter stability is critical: dislodgement, vein compression, or accidental interference can compromise treatment and patient safety.

The Design Challenge

The goal was to create an external arm stabilization device that protects the catheter while remaining comfortable enough for extended wear. The solution needed to work across different patient anatomies and treatment contexts, from resting in bed to moving around a hospital room, without restricting mobility or adding undue burden.

Our Approach

Through research with clinicians and patients, we identified key risks such as poor arm positioning, excessive elbow bending, and unconscious interference with the catheter site. These insights guided the development of multiple wearable prototypes designed to protect access points, promote healthy blood flow, and maintain comfort. Materials like Baymedix® froth foams were chosen for their softness, breathability, and ability to reduce pressure on the skin.

Impact

Clinical feedback highlighted two standout prototypes that offered strong catheter protection while preserving freedom of movement. Follow-up testing confirmed that these designs maintained vein access and minimized risks during therapy. By combining thoughtful ergonomics with material innovation, Interwoven Design delivered a solution that reduces complications, improves patient confidence, and supports more effective treatment outcomes.

Case Study 2: Senseonics Continuous Glucose Monitor

Senseonics is advancing diabetes care with the first long-term, implantable continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) system, designed to measure glucose levels for up to 90 days compared to the five-to-seven-day lifespan of most existing systems. Interwoven Design partnered with the Senseonics team to design the external armband that houses the system’s electronic component, ensuring comfort and reliability for everyday use.

A model wears a black and black armband.

The Design Challenge

The armband needed to balance durability, security, and comfort for wearers managing diabetes around the clock. From moments of high activity to periods of rest and sleep, the device had to stay securely in place without causing discomfort or drawing unwanted attention.

Our Approach

We developed a flexible, two-part band featuring a seamlessly knit inner layer and a reversible over-cuff. This design gave users both comfort and choice—adjusting for security, flexibility, and even color preference—while ensuring that the device remained unobtrusive during daily activities.

Impact

The resulting armband delivers a secure, user-friendly solution that integrates naturally into the wearer’s lifestyle. By prioritizing comfort and adaptability, the design supports Senseonics’ mission to make glucose monitoring easier, more accurate, and less intrusive for people living with diabetes.

Case Study 3: Whitecloud Medical Utility Bag

Whitecloud Medical set out to solve two everyday challenges faced by nurses and medical technicians: back strain from strenuous lifting and the need to carry essential supplies throughout long shifts. Interwoven Design partnered with Whitecloud to design and prototype a first-of-its-kind product that combines a supportive back brace with a utility bag, purpose-built for demanding healthcare environments.

The Design Challenge

Medical professionals often lift patients, maneuver equipment, and push gurneys, all while carrying syringes, bandages, and other tools in overloaded pockets. This combination leads to back strain, discomfort, and inefficiency. Whitecloud’s founders, medical professionals themselves, envisioned a wearable solution that could ease physical strain while keeping supplies accessible.

Our Approach

We designed a modular waist pack and back support system that functions as one unit but allows flexibility in use. The bag slides around the belt for quick access to supplies or can be secured over the back support during strenuous movement. Both the bag and the back support can also be detached and used independently. Interior compartments include a fold-down main pocket for medical tools and a rear pocket for personal items, streamlining organization.

Impact

The Whitecloud Medical Utility Bag provides healthcare workers with reliable back support and accessible storage in a single wearable solution. By combining ergonomics with practical functionality, the design reduces strain, improves efficiency, and directly responds to the daily realities of clinical work.

Designing Confidence Into Care

Medical design is about more than solving functional problems, it’s about building trust, safety, and dignity into every interaction. From stabilizing a catheter during Aquapheresis therapy to creating flexible wearable monitors and clinician-focused utility solutions, the challenges are as much human as they are technical. Through rigorous testing, iterative prototyping, and a deep commitment to human-centered thinking, Interwoven Design ensures that every product performs reliably while feeling intuitive, comfortable, and approachable in real-world use.

Our expertise in seamlessly combining soft goods and hard goods gives us a unique advantage: we can craft wearable medical solutions that are both technically sophisticated and thoughtfully tailored to the body. Every strap, sleeve, or modular component is designed with the user’s comfort, mobility, and safety in mind.

We invite clinicians, medical device companies, and innovators to collaborate with Interwoven Design to create medical products that not only meet clinical standards but also resonate with the people who use them every day. Designing for care means designing for confidence, and that is a principle at the heart of everything we do.

Interwoven Design is a design consultancy that is positioned at the intersection of soft goods and wearable technology, creating products that function with the body and offer comfort as well as the superb performance that arises through the innovative incorporation of rigid, often electronic and responsive elements. Sign up for our newsletter and follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn for design news, multi-media recommendations, and to learn more about product design and development!

Designing Digital: Interfaces, Interactions, and Communication in Wearable Tech

Design doesn’t stop at the physical product, and this is especially true in the field of wearable technology. In our field, the experience often depends as much on the digital layer as it does on the straps, sensors, or fabrics that touch the body. A button that feels intuitive, an alert that communicates clearly, a dashboard that makes data meaningful—these digital details are what transform a wearable from a clever object into a trusted tool.

At Interwoven Design, we’ve found that nearly every project we take on has a digital component woven into it. Sometimes it’s a user interface that guides medical treatment. Other times it’s a haptic signal or LED sequence that makes a product’s function legible in the field. This is to say nothing of the endless digital sketches, technical drawings, diagrams, and presentations involved in every project. Even beyond the devices themselves, digital design shapes how we communicate—through our website, Instagram, and LinkedIn—to make our work accessible and understandable.

In this Insight article, we’ll explore how we approach digital design in wearable technology from multiple angles: how interfaces act as bridges, how digital and physical elements must integrate seamlessly, and how our outward-facing digital communication extends the same design principles. Along the way, we’ll share examples from our studio projects that show how digital and physical design combine to create products that are not only functional, but intuitive and human-centered.

Lens 1: User Interfaces as Bridges

When it comes to medical and wearable devices, the interface bridges complex technology and the people who rely on it. Whether it’s a surgeon adjusting a device mid-operation, a warehouse worker tracking exertion, or a patient managing a chronic condition, the interaction must feel effortless and clear. Screens, buttons, and haptic cues are not just details of execution. They are how theoretical functionality becomes real user action.

The challenge lies in balancing capability with simplicity. Medical devices often contain highly sophisticated systems, yet the interface must distill them into accessible, reliable controls. A touchscreen with oversized icons lets a nurse navigate quickly in an emergency. A tactile button gives feedback even through gloves. In industrial settings, vibration cues can alert workers without pulling their eyes from the task. For consumer wearables, intuitiveness is everything—a health-tracking band that needs a manual will not inspire long-term use or adoption.

Context drives design. Interfaces must perform in low light, in motion, or when the user’s hands are full. Accessibility is equally vital. Icons, contrast, and feedback must consider users of all ages, abilities, and technical backgrounds. These choices affect not only usability but also safety and trust. A device that communicates clearly and predictably becomes an extension of the user’s body and mind. It empowers them to act with confidence.

At Interwoven Design, we view interfaces as more than functional tools. They are points of connection, empathy, and communication—bridges that let technology blend seamlessly into daily life, whether in the clinic, the workplace, or the home.

Case Study 1: WithMe Baby Monitor

For new parents, peace of mind is priceless. The WithMe Baby Monitor was created to deliver exactly that. This wearable sensor tracks a baby’s breathing, skin temperature, activity, and body position, then shares the data seamlessly with caregivers through a mobile app. The project’s success depended on more than accuracy or form—it hinged on how information was presented and acted upon. When developing the interface, the design team understood that parents would use the system under stress, fatigue, and distraction. Clarity and reassurance became the core goals.

Rather than flooding users with data, the app distilled complex biometric inputs into intuitive signals: calm confirmations when everything was normal and clear notifications when attention was needed. By translating data into simple, actionable insights, the interface eased anxiety instead of heightening it. Context shaped many design choices. Large, high-contrast icons made information easy to read, whether in a dim nursery or bright daylight.

Notifications were tiered—gentle reminders for low battery, urgent alerts for vital changes. Sound and haptic cues added layers of feedback so parents could stay informed even with their hands or eyes occupied. The result was a system where the interface became the heart of the product. WithMe didn’t just collect data—it gave parents confidence and control. By focusing on how information was delivered, not just what was measured, the design turned advanced sensing technology into clear, human-centered communication that fits seamlessly into everyday caregiving.

Lens 2: Integrating Digital with Physical Design

Wearable technology is never purely digital or physical—it’s both, tightly intertwined. The challenge lies in blending textiles, hardware, and software into one seamless system rather than a collection of parts. A user shouldn’t have to think about how the app connects to the strap or whether a sensor will sync with the interface. The design must feel unified, intuitive, and effortless, hiding its complexity beneath the surface.

The form factor shapes how the digital layer comes to life. For some products, this means embedding displays or haptic cues directly into a strap so feedback is felt on the body. For others, the digital experience is external—an app or dashboard—but still closely tied to the wearable’s physical function. A garment may look simple, yet its success depends on how well the software interprets movement or how easily the user can interact with controls hidden in seams. Alignment between form and interface is essential. The digital experience should enhance, not complicate, the physical design.

True integration comes from prototyping digital and physical interactions side by side. Testing an on-screen button is incomplete without feeling the corresponding tactile click on the body. Likewise, fabric layouts mean little until paired with a responsive app that interprets sensor data in real time. Iterating both together helps designers find friction early and create products that feel like one cohesive experience—not two systems forced to coexist.

Case Study 2: The HeroWear Exosuit

For the HeroWear Apex Exosuit, integration of digital and physical design was essential to its success. The exosuit’s primary control—a switch that allows users to engage, disengage, and fine-tune assistance—needed to be intuitive, fast, and ergonomically located. Positioned at the front of the shoulder, the switch had to work seamlessly with both the garment and the worker’s natural range of motion.

To find the best solution, our team tested prototypes in real warehouse environments. We observed how workers moved during long shifts and noted the motions they repeated most often. Prototyping showed that small changes in placement or resistance could make the difference between smooth operation and disruption. By combining digital control with physical ergonomics, we ensured the switch could be found instantly and used with minimal effort.

The result is an exosuit that feels like a natural extension of the body. Its interface doesn’t just control assistance—it builds worker confidence and trust. This focus on detail led to strong adoption in the field and earned the Apex international recognition for innovation and human-centered design.

Lens 3: Beyond the Device, Digital Communication

Digital design doesn’t end with the product in a user’s hands. At Interwoven Design, we see it as a continuum that also shapes how we communicate our work with the world. Just as a wearable’s interface must be intuitive, our digital presence has to be clear, engaging, and consistent.

Our website functions as a curated portfolio, highlighting the depth of our expertise while making it easy for visitors to explore projects and services. It’s designed to mirror the clarity and precision we bring to product interfaces, giving prospective clients a seamless introduction to who we are and what we do.

On Instagram, we open up the process. It’s a space for storytelling—where sketches, prototypes, and behind-the-scenes glimpses reveal the culture of design thinking that drives our work. The platform lets us share not just outcomes, but the human side of making: experimentation, iteration, and discovery.

LinkedIn acts as our professional hub. It’s where we contribute to industry dialogue, share insights, and connect with collaborators who care about the future of wearable technology and soft goods. Thought leadership here reinforces our position at the intersection of design, technology, and human use.

The consistency across these channels—product interfaces, website, social platforms—creates a unified experience. For us, credibility comes not just from what we design, but from how we communicate it. Whether someone interacts with an Interwoven wearable or with our digital footprint, the same principles apply: clarity, trust, and human connection.

Connecting People, Products, and Platforms

At Interwoven, we don’t see digital design as a separate discipline—it’s part of the fabric of every project. From the way a button responds to touch, to how an app conveys reassurance, to how we share our work online, digital is threaded through the entire design process. It’s both a tool for exploration and a tangible outcome that defines user experience.

Our strength lies in this integration. By blending expertise in soft goods with fluency in digital, we design systems where textiles, hardware, and interfaces feel inseparable. Each of them reinforces the other to create products that are not only functional, but intuitive and human.

Ultimately, digital design is what makes wearables understandable, usable, and trusted. It turns complexity into clarity and ensures that technology feels like a natural extension of the body and daily life.

For clients and partners, we offer more than product creation—we design ecosystems. From textile to interface to communication, we build solutions that connect people, products, and platforms with confidence and care. If you’re looking to bring a wearable or soft goods concept to life, we’d love to collaborate. Interwoven Design is a design consultancy that is positioned at the intersection of soft goods and wearable technology, creating products that function with the body and offer comfort as well as the superb performance that arises through the innovative incorporation of rigid, often electronic and responsive elements.

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