Intro:

In this design project I got introduced into a problem that I never knew existed. Ostomies are life-saving procedures done in order to ensure that the body can dispose its waste safely and affectively since the people who do this procedure had very difficult problems involving their digestive system. One thing about ostomies is they aren't the greatest of procedures to deal with. You are now stuck with a bag that is often very revealing, and now you have to use it in order to dispose your waste which isn't a nice process to go through. When I heard all of this I started questioning how there are so many other problems like this that I don’t know about that others have to suffer with Every day.

Skills I learned/developed:

☑️ Proper Teamwork

☑️ Time Management

☑️ Critical Thinking

☑️ Iteration of Design

☑️ Delivering a 3-minute thesis

☑️ Creating Prototypes

Process:

• Our Patient had anxiety towards his ostomy bag regarding whether it was fully sealed or not, this caused him to constantly check it causing it to rip.
• Our task was to manipulate the design of the two piece ostomy bag such that it can provide comfort and assurance.

  [Two piece ostomy bag](<https://www.hollister.ca/en-ca/products/ostomy-care-products/two-piece-pouching-systems/kits/two_piece-drainable-kits/new-image-two_piece-drainable-ostomy-kit-_-flexwear-barrier-lock-_n-roll-closure-tape>)

• I originally had the thought of using an adhesive, but after much discussion with the group, we knew we had to use something that provides visual assurance to our patient, and that is when I came up with the perfect suggestion.

Zip-Me-Ostomy

• I figured that using a zipper would be the easiest yet best way to solve this problem. Now that I am thinking about it, zippers are sometimes very annoying, and we did not have something to actually lock the zipper when it goes all the way around. Nonetheless, Zip-Me-Ostomy was created and we began prototyping.

Final Prototype

Me building the prototype :)

• After the Prototype was created We had to create one slide for each of us to individually present