top of page
teal spot light.5.png

At-Home HPV Test Kit

2021

IDEO x Teal Health

 

Team: Industrial Designer, Design Researcher, Gynecologist, Mechanical Engineer, Prototyper  

Role: Design the device from scratch to the final design, modeling, CMF, rendering, prototyping and user research

Project Details: A 12-week professional project focused on designing the patient experience for an at-home Pap smear and HPV test kit​

Traditionally, getting an HPV test meant a pap smear at the hospital, which can be uncomfortable, time-consuming, and costly without insurance. Teal Health and our team have designed an at-home HPV test kit, allowing individuals to conduct the test in the privacy of their own homes. This kit simplifies a complex process, prioritizing the patient's experience. This shift led to a complete rethinking of at-home HPV testing. Thanks to our design, Teal Health secured $8.8 million in seed funding from investors and was recently FDA-approved.

image.png
image.png
image.png
Dezeen Logo.png
Fast_Company_logo.svg.png

Current pap smear test device for the HPV test

18051538548367887.jpg
iStock-501818163.jpg
pap-smear.jpg
Frame 4.png
unnamed2.jpeg
unnamed (1).jpeg
IMG_2016.jpg
20210614_120625.jpg

We had a unique process for this project—we sketched and prototyped simultaneously, going back and forth between the two. We actively tested each iteration by putting it in our hands to see if it worked. Since usability, experience, and providing confident guidance were key to this project, creating mock-ups early in the process was especially helpful. We created the design through making. 

User journey map 

Untitled presentation (4).png
Untitled presentation (5).png
Untitled presentation (6).png

We approached this challenge through a patient-centric lens. We conducted research with a focus on speaking to four Physicians and patients. In order to get rich stories, we designed research tools such as a user journey map exercise to help our participants prioritize important moments during at-home test. We also hosted co-creation sessions with physicians and patients and built a visual mock-up to prototype an improved journey with real patients. 

 

After creating the final mock-up, we tested it with about 80 patients and achieved a 100% success rate in cell collection.

​

teal-animation-s.gif

How to use the device

Position yourself and insert the device into your body. Make the slider up, toward your head. It will deploy the sponge. Then, rotate the slider with your thumb about five times. It'll collect the bad cells from the cervix. Finally Retract the sponge and remove the device

​

Rectangle 54.png
white2.884 n.png
tip white.881 n.png
white tip .887.png

The tip is small, soft, and flexible to ensure a non-intimidating, painless insertion. Frictionless materials and gentle shapes provide comfort and confidence. The protective elements contact the body first, shielding the expanding sponge, which collects cells effectively while the slim shaft minimizes discomfort.

“It’s difficult to target the cervix, so I think you need to just fill the space as much as possible.” - Physician

Cervical Stage 4.892.jpg

Anteverted

80%

Cervical Stage 6.895.jpg

Retroverted

20%

An angled tip ensures the sponge is positioned at the optimal location to contact the transition zone of the cervix while limiting exposure to vaginal cells. 

Rectangle 54.png
green handle.999.png

The smart dial is designed for one-handed use, considering the intended context and location of operation. Using a single hand is essential for maintaining patient stability and ensuring ease of use—especially for individuals with limited range of motion. As a result, one-handed operation became a key requirement in the concept development.

​

Among various interface options, users responded most positively to the slider interface, as it most clearly communicated the device’s function. The dial is nestled in a cutout shaped for thumb comfort, while the sloped top surface provides tactile feedback to help users intuitively gauge how far to slide. The flattened bottom adds stability when the device is placed on a counter.

light test3.rs.png
Frame 1 (8).png

​Materials contribute significantly to user interaction. The handle has a cross-section engraved texture ensuring a secure grip. A smooth material on the face facilitates frictionless sliding motion. The vertical textured slider enhances patient control while rotating the dial. The chosen colors are carefully curated for a gender-neutral purpose and are slightly toned down to create a less intimidating sensation.

Approachable, clean and welcoming 

for giving confidence in occasional use 

Rectangle 51.png
purple2.857 n.png
Rectangle 51.png
ezgif.com-animated-gif-maker.gif
Rectangle 51.png
purple tip2.860 n.png

Refreshing, clean, and lightweight,

evoking a hygienic feeling for self-use at home

Rectangle 53.png
blue.869 n.png
Rectangle 53.png
ezgif.com-animated-gif-maker (2).gif
Rectangle 53.png
tip blue2.883 n.png

Balanced, soothing, yet trustworthy for enhancing trust in use

Rectangle 52.png
green.866 n.png
Rectangle 52.png
ezgif.com-animated-gif-maker (1).gif
Rectangle 52.png
green tip.886 n.png

Crisp, clean, and neutral, evoking a sense of hygiene and simplicity for self-use at home

Rectangle 54.png
white.870 n.png
Rectangle 54.png
ezgif.com-animated-gif-maker (3).gif
Rectangle 54.png
tip white.881 n.png

 © All rights are reserved by Heeju Kim 2025

bottom of page