15 Apil, 2025
Tackling a Real-World Healthcare Challenge.
As part of the Ideas Lab programme at the University of Galway, I had the opportunity to work on a healthcare innovation challenge presented by Boston Scientific. Our team was tasked with reimagining the design and user experience of stoma bags a critical yet often overlooked medical product. Through empathy driven research, we identified key user challenges, including discomfort, stigma, and usability issues, especially for younger patients. This challenge allowed us to combine entrepreneurial thinking with human centered design to develop a solution with real impact potential.
Collaborative Innovation and Problem-Solving.
Working within a multidisciplinary team, I contributed to brainstorming, market research, prototyping, and validation phases of the project. We engaged in customer discovery interviews with stoma patients and healthcare professionals to better understand the pain points.
Using design thinking and Lean Startup principles, we iteratively developed and tested solutions that prioritized comfort, discretion, and daily usability. Our teamwork, creativity, and data-driven approach were critical in shaping an idea that could address both functional and emotional needs of end users.
Key Takeaways and Future Impact.
The Ideas Lab experience was a turning point in shaping my approach to marketing and innovation. Working on a healthcare product taught me the power of customer-centric thinking, empathy-based research, and data-driven storytelling—all of which are critical in modern digital marketing. It reinforced my belief that effective marketing isn’t just about promotion, but about deeply understanding user needs and delivering value through creative, evidence-based solutions. This project sparked my motivation to pursue digital marketing strategies that are not only innovative but also meaningful, impactful, and aligned with real human challenges.
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