Kablooe Design

Minneapolis is home to Kablooe Design, a product design and development firm. Its medical device work is central, though it also takes on consumer goods, bringing usability research, industrial design and engineering together on both. The firm's stated aim is to help companies make products that people love, by understanding what users need and solving their problems.

Human factors and usability research for medical devices

Human factors engineering is central to the firm's medical work. It runs usability research, regulatory studies and protocols, and prepares the reporting that goes with them. The company says high user adoption comes from good usability research, which in turn shapes product design that wins in the market.

Industrial design from concept to manufacture

Industrial design starts with concept development built on solid insights, and moves toward design for manufacturing so that a product can be made at scale. The firm turns creative concepts into efficient products, and it works on the physical form and feel of a device as well as its function.

Electrical, systems, firmware and software engineering

Engineering services cover electrical engineering, systems engineering, firmware development and software engineering. The firm says it follows a documented, compliant development process, which matters in regulated medical work. Its hardware and software teams can take a connected product from design through to testing.

Start-up support, prototyping and testing

Lean creative development is offered for start-ups, with proof of concept work, prototyping and testing. Design for manufacturing is part of the same support, so early prototypes can be developed toward production.

Projects in medical and veterinary devices

Named projects on the website include a device for prostate treatment, a veterinary microscope and a urological device. The firm also publishes articles for product teams on topics such as medical device risk management, reimbursement strategy and wearable device design in healthcare.