Biodesign Innovation Training for Engineers
“Identifying Customer Needs & Applying the Stanford Biodesign Process”
This interactive training equips engineers with the skills and mindset to identify real, high-impact customer needs using the proven Stanford Biodesign Process. Engineers play a crucial role in innovation—but solutions can only succeed when they are grounded in deep, well-defined needs. This course bridges the gap between engineering expertise and user-centered discovery by teaching participants how to observe, listen, and interpret the clinical environment through a systems and innovation lens.
Participants will learn best practices for field interviews and observations, how to avoid common mistakes, and how to synthesize insights into actionable need statements. By the end, engineers will be ready to contribute meaningfully to cross-functional innovation teams with clear, validated problem definitions and a deeper understanding of user pain points
Learning Objectives
By the end of the training, participants will be able to:
- Identify and articulate unmet clinical needs using the Biodesign framework.
- Apply the “Identify” phase of the Stanford Biodesign Process effectively.
- Apply the Stanford Biodesign Process (Identify → Invent → Implement).
- Use best practices for customer engagement—what to do and avoid.
- Collect critical observational and interview data from customers- Gather critical data through listening and field observation.
- Avoid common mistakes in customer engagement.
- Write clear, scoped, and actionable need statements.
- Translate insights into well-crafted, actionable need statements.
Ideal Audience: Biomedical, mechanical, software, or systems engineers involved in medical technology, product development, or R&D
Course Outline:
Module 1: Introduction to Biodesign Thinking
- Overview of the Stanford Biodesign Process: Identify → Invent → Implement
- Why need-driven innovation matters in medical and health tech
- Role of engineers in the Identify phase
Module 2: Identifying the Real Customer Need
- Differentiating problem vs. symptom vs. core need
- Mapping stakeholders (patients, nurses, doctors, etc.)
- Case study: Poor vs. strong need statements
- Activity: Rewrite a poor need statement
- Deconstruct a poorly written need statement and rewrite it based on core need principles.
Module 3: Listening, Observing, and Gathering Data
- Best practices for engineers in clinical immersion and user interviews:
- Open-ended questioning
- Non-verbal cues and body language
- Avoiding assumptions and “solutioning”
- What NOT to do:
- Don’t pitch a solution early
- Don’t overinterpret single anecdotes
- Don’t interrupt the user journey
- Tools and techniques:
- Observation templates
- Interview frameworks
- Empathy maps & user journey charts
Mini-Exercise: Identify good vs. bad interview techniques in sample videos or transcripts.
Module 4: Translating Insights into a Need Statement
- Anatomy of a good need statement:
- “A way to [address problem] in [target population] to [desired outcome]”
- Scoping the need: Too broad vs. too narrow
- Prioritizing needs using filters (clinical impact, frequency, feasibility, alignment)
Activity:
From a real or fictional scenario, create 2–3 draft need statements.
Module 5: From Need to Innovation
- Connecting needs to innovation
- How need statements feed the Invent phase
- Role of engineers in aligning product feasibility with clinical value
- Connecting unmet needs with technical insights
Q&A + Wrap-Up
- Final thoughts: Why engineers must lead with empathy and evidence
- Resources: Stanford Biodesign book, templates, observation tools
Tools & Templates Provided
- Observation & Interview Checklist
- Biodesign Need Statement Worksheet
- Prioritization Matrix
- Stakeholder Journey Map Template
- Do’s and Don’ts Guide for Engineers
- Stanford Biodesign Need Statement Template
- Observation & Interview Checklist
- Do’s and Don’ts Guide for Engineers
- Prioritization Matrix Worksheet
- User Journey Mapping Template