Perkin Elmer | Vectra Polaris - Automated Pathology Imaging System

Perkin Elmer’s mission of innovating for a healthier world is at the heart of everything they do. They help customers make smarter decisions, earlier diagnoses, more effective treatments and scientific breakthroughs. The Vectra ® Polaris™ Automated Quantitative Pathology Imaging System was designed with those goals in mind. I worked with the engineering team at Manta Product Development to conceptualize the appearance, user experience and user interface for this product.

Project Goals:

• Analyze and conceptualize human factors access to features and components

• Simplify user interaction and user feedback via minimal steps and intuitive cues

• Explore industrial design appearance concepts and a family look for a new laboratory product with two models

• Apply established Visual Brand Language to communicate corporate identity

• Integrate appropriate manufacturing processes for low volume production

Working with Perkin Elmer’s in-house team, we researched and analyzed the market to understand competitive products and trends in laboratory equipment. Using the established visual brand language for Perkin Elmer and reference products, we developed a visual map and defined a target for the new visual identity to guide concept development.

Multiple concepts of the fully featured model were presented for review. Each concept included an interpretation of the visual brand language including logo and color application options, aesthetics to support fabrication using pressure formed and sheet metal panels for low volume manufacturing. Unique user interface options included displays with meaningful user feedback, lighting concepts, and door activation methods to deliver ease of use and intuitive interaction.

The final result:  Simple | Precise | Timeless

Inspired by the beautiful microscopic images produced by the Vectra ® Polaris™ system that are truly contemporary works of art, we worked to create a product that was timeless and modern. Lab and Benchtop products must endure the test of time, and following  Perkin Elmer’s strict visual brand language guided our journey.

Clinicians, oncologists, immunologists, and pathologists have a challenging job with lots of details to consider in their diagnostic process.  This product enables identification and quantification of multiple biomarkers and reveals spatial context within a digital workflow to assist researchers with faster, more informative studies. Integrating the nuances of touchless automation with walk-away image acquisition and 80 slide capacity with continuous loading technology were complex challenges that required clean, elegant and intuitive UX and human factors solutions in order to maintain the simple, precise, timeless and modern theme.

As part of the follow-on effort, two concepts and some additional features were selected for refinement. Additionally, the project required an extension of the design language to define the aesthetic for a smaller and lesser featured, more manual product offering.  Four refined families with updated progress lighting and user interface concepts were presented and one was selected for production.