Harm Reduction

Harm Reduction

Project Type: Human-Centered Design (Product/Medical)
Location: Edmonton, AB
Date: 2019
Role: Student

Using the framework of the UN 17 sustainable development goals myself and my colleagues conducted primary and secondary research to address issues of opioids and harm reduction in Edmonton, AB.

Using the social, environmental and financial pillars as a guide we sought design solutions that would address our primary goal;

How might we holistically approach access to dignity-affirming resources for vulnerable populations in Edmonton struggling with addiction?

and our secondary goal;

How might we improve education and reduce stigma surrounding opioid overdoses?

Which led us to our two pronged design solution of an awareness campaign and community resource vending machines

We first focused on primary and secondary research, conducting several interviews with content experts. This helped us identify several key issues related to substance use in Edmonton:

COVID-19 disrupted the drug supply
Isolation and closure of services
Closure of safe consumption sites
Lack of government support
Shortage of opioids leading to an increase in pharmacy robberies

From these insights, we developed our "how might we" questions for our primary and secondary users and began ideating using design sprints, such as the opportunity tree.

After brainstorming, we evaluated our ideas through the lens of social, economic, and environmental pillars, ensuring our solution addressed all these areas.

We concluded that a two-pronged approach—an awareness campaign and community resource vending machines—would be the best solution.

We then reviewed secondary research on similar initiatives to develop our digital prototype.

Finally, we presented the prototype to our interviewees for validation, receiving positive feedback and ideas for future improvements.

Our interviewees expanded our knowledge and empathy and pushed us to a very feasible design solution. This was aided by our use of design methodologies like design sprints and the three pillars of sustainability.

I was really moved by our research and the vastness of this wicked problem and it led me to working on future projects in the area of substance use. In 2023 I volunteered for a group called Design for Health where I helped conduct workshops, analyze and organize research, and develop a wireframe for a informational website on substance use. I also volunteered as the graphic designer for a University of Alberta student group that provided naloxone training.