As part of their coursework, a group of students from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) had the opportunity to collaborate with Philips Healthcare on a design project aimed at creating a "smoking hot" service within the scope of blood pressure management. The design brief tasked the students with exploring ways to complement or enhance existing blood pressure treatments through the use of digital services and connected product interventions.

To fully grasp the scope of the project and gain a deeper understanding of the healthcare industry, the team approached their research from two perspectives: the blood pressure and hypertension aspect and the patient and caregiver perspective. They then divided into four sub-teams, each focusing on a different aspect of the research: Lifestyle, Awareness, Access, and Management. Through a combination of secondary and primary research, each team gained a comprehensive understanding of their specific topic and target audience.

During a midterm review, the client posed a question that served as the driving force for the remainder of the team's research and ideation: "How is the lifestyle of 65-80 year olds and their caregivers impacted by the diagnosis and management of hypertension using existing products, services and medications within the healthcare continuum?"

After the initial platform concept was developed, the team divided into three smaller sub-teams to focus on specific areas of the project: Toolkit, App Development, and Prototyping. Through their hard work and dedication, the team was able to present the client with an integrated platform designed to help people with high blood pressure effectively manage their health and lifestyle.