Human problem · Emergency care
Philips HeartStart FR3 Professional AED
Helping skilled responders read the situation and act quickly under extreme pressure.
Role: Interaction design · usability leadership
The human problem
EMS is about speed. Every minute without defibrillation cuts survival by about 10%. Professional responders need a device that keeps up with them, is tough enough for the field, and never makes them stop and think.
The FR3 was Philips’ first AED with a screen and a CPR assistance device. Both could help responders, or slow them down. The design challenge was adding capability without adding a single unnecessary step. We set one experience pillar for every decision: speed and ease of use.
Chapter 01
Designing every detail for speed
I designed the visual interface and the device behavior, down to the voice prompts, the pads and the color system. The layout reads left to right, mapped to the order of a rescue. A high-contrast color system keeps the screen readable in any light, from a dark stairwell to bright sun, and large buttons work in every kind of situation. We removed steps wherever we could, and tested details as small as the on/off button until responders never hesitated.
Pediatric use got the same care: clear protocols and a design that holds up when the patient is a child.
Chapter 02
Testing under pressure
I managed all user testing for the program, from early concepts to FDA validation. We tested in realistic scenarios with trained responders, and recorded exactly where each person placed the pads and how long each step took.
The results grid from our 2013 testing shows the method: every participant’s pad placement, coded good, close or incorrect, next to a task-by-task record. That evidence drove design changes and supported our 510(k) submissions.
The 2013 testing was for a new addition: a CPR meter that coaches compressions in real time. One session stays with me. A nurse started slowly, and for the first minute his CPR was clearly off. By the time he finished, he was doing perfect CPR. The device had taught him while he worked.
Outcomes
- Replaced the market-leading FR2 with a screen-based professional AED designed around speed and ease of use.
- Brought two releases through FDA 510(k) submission.
- Earned Red Dot and two iF Gold awards.
What I learned
Great ideas only matter once they reach responders’ hands. The FR3’s long timeline was a real issue for the business, and it taught me that speed to market is part of good design.