Alta

What it does

Alta re-designs the hospital table into an uncomplicated, user-oriented piece of hospital equipment. It is an overbed table dedicated to the tasks encountered during patient treatment; helping to facilitate care, calm and healing.

Your inspiration

Alta’s inspiration came from staff at Wellington hospital who identified that current hospital tables are ill-suited to their needs. The tables are unstable, oversized and difficult to use, stripping patients of independence and frustrating medical staff. I found during research that 87% of patients struggle to operate the current tables, with 50% saying doing so causes them pain. 82% of hospital visitors also struggle to use the tables, while nurses are teeming with stories of how infuriating they can be. It highlighted the opportunity to hugely improve user experiences by designing a table in direct response to their needs and feedback.

How it works

Alta’s main table surface is curved, allowing patients to eat independently without spillages as meals are closer to them. The split design separates the main surface from a deeper side table compartment. The side table helps prevent possessions from falling onto the floor and houses elbow rests to support the arms during eating for added comfort. With a low centre of mass and pivot-hinged lid, the Alta jug doesn’t tip easily and controls water flow, designed to combat high instances of spills with current hospital water jugs. Alta’s ‘anti-snag brace’ and wheel covers prevent cables from getting stuck around the base or wheels while still being clear of feet during use with a chair.  When not in use, Alta can be folded away. The tabletop slides on a rail system, with counterweights hidden in the stem greatly reducing the force needed to operate it. A coloured release lever and lowering handle make folding clear and intuitive.

Design process

For Alta to be successful the needs of overbed table users had to be paramount. Given this, my design process started with research and many conversations with user groups. Compiling this information into identifiable pain points, sketching and small-scale prototyping were first used to explore how each issue could be addressed. My ideas were then translated into 1:1 scale to test the ergonomics of the design, the validity of cord detangling ideas and the force required to operate the folding mechanism, among others. Card and foam helped test the ergonomics of ideas quickly, finding comfortable shapes for eating and table control positions. Role-playing and simulations in the hospital with these prototypes were integral to understanding how well the design addressed space and comfort issues. Key functional ideas were tested using more physically robust construction methods and 3D-printed parts. The base design in particular benefitted from this; starting with a complex mechanism but through testing and iteration becoming a streamlined, fixed base design allowing both comfortable seated eating experiences and cord-detangling benefits. Feedback was constantly gathered from users throughout the whole process to ensure the design continued to meet their needs as it evolved.

How it is different

Alta targets the struggles of a modern New Zealand hospital ward like no other table, giving back independence to patients that most hospital tables further restrict. The folding mechanism and unique cord detangling base mean the table can be used by most patients without assistance, reducing the workload for an extremely strained nursing workforce. Alta also has interchangeable features to cater to different patient journeys while acknowledging differing hospital budgets. The tabletop shapes can be interchanged, and height adjustment controls come in manual, plug-in and battery-powered options. The manual option uses a gas strut and overhand squeeze handle to adjust the table’s height, designed for the least strenuous adjustment experience possible without using costly electrics. Where budgets can be higher, both electronic models have smooth height adjustment and inbuilt charging ports operated with simple push-button controls.

Future plans

It would be incredibly gratifying to see Alta realised into a released product that creates meaningful change in the hospital environment. I often get photos from family and friends of current tables with the question “when’s yours coming!?”. Alta is currently still a design concept, meaning further structural prototyping is needed alongside the usability prototyping already undertaken to solidify its validity for the hospital environment. A table well resolved enough to undergo a trial in a hospital would be an incredible milestone to reach. I am eager to try and accomplish this, and get the help and expertise I need to get there.

Awards

Alta was awarded a Red Dot Design Award in 2024.