NEWS
They Came To Scan A Part. They Left Inspired.
Recently, designers Doug Halley and Daniel Roth from Design Interface visited Think(box) at Case Western Reserve University to scan several small components from a medical device as part of a reverse engineering project. While the goal was to capture precise geometry, the experience left a lasting impression beyond the technical work itself. Think(box) offers access to an impressive collection of professional-grade equipment, including 3D scanners, 3D printers, and advanced fabrication tools. Even more remarkable is that many of these resources are available at little or no cost, making cutting-edge technology accessible to designers, entrepreneurs, students, and makers who might otherwise be unable to afford it.
More than just a makerspace, Think(box) provides an environment that encourages innovation, learning, and hands-on problem-solving. The facility gives individuals the opportunity to develop new skills, test ideas, and bring concepts to life using advanced manufacturing tools. As an important resource for the Cleveland community, Think(box) continues to make product development and innovation more accessible, and the Design Interface team looks forward to returning for future projects.
Visit Think(box) to learn more about their capabilities: Sears think(box) | Case Western Reserve University
Design Interface Inc. can show you what is possible. Our forward-thinking solutions for tradeshow booth design, product design, package design, medical device design, graphic design, and photography unlock the value of your ideas as we communicate your message and goals. See more here: https://designinterface.com/
Designing Medical Devices That Reduce User Error
At Design Interface Inc., we believe medical devices should be easy, safe, and comfortable to use, especially in busy healthcare environments where doctors and nurses work under pressure every day. Good design can help reduce mistakes and improve patient care by making devices simple to understand and operate.
Features like ergonomic controls, easy-to-read screens, clear layouts, color-coded alerts, and simple navigation help healthcare professionals quickly find the information they need and use devices with confidence. By focusing on user-friendly product and medical device design, Design Interface Inc. creates solutions that improve efficiency, support patient safety, and help healthcare teams provide better care in real-world clinical settings.
Design Interface Inc. can show you what is possible. Our forward-thinking solutions for tradeshow booth design, product design, package design, medical device design, graphic design, and photography unlock the value of your ideas as we communicate your message and goals. See more here: https://designinterface.com/
A Look Inside Design Interface Inc.
Inside Design Interface: Innovation, Collaboration, and Creative Space
At Design Interface Inc., creativity and exploration are part of our everyday process. Recently, our team had the opportunity to experiment with an Insta360 camera, generously provided by Iris Yuan Hong. This hands-on experience allowed us to capture immersive visuals and explore new ways of documenting our work, adding another layer of innovation to how we approach design and storytelling.
Our studio is thoughtfully equipped to support a wide range of creative and technical workflows. The space includes a welcoming lobby, a fully functional conference room, dedicated computer workstations, a professional photo studio, and a prototyping shop. We also utilize advanced fabrication tools, including two 3D printers—Bambu Lab and Formlabs—which enable us to bring concepts to life with precision and efficiency.
Design Interface Inc. can show you what is possible. Our forward-thinking solutions for tradeshow booth design, product design, package design, medical device design, graphic design, and photography unlock the value of your ideas as we communicate your message and goals. See more here: https://designinterface.com/
Celebrating the Next Generation of Design at CIA’s Spring Show
At Design Interface Inc., our connection to the Cleveland Institute of Art runs deep—especially through its Industrial Design program. Our principals, Carla Blackman and Adrian Slattery, both teach at CIA, creating a strong bridge between professional practice and design education.
That connection comes to life at CIA’s annual Spring Show, taking place this week.
The 2026 Spring Show highlights student work across a wide range of disciplines—from product and transportation design to graphics, interactive media, and sustainability. Visitors can meet students and experience the ideas shaping the future of design.
Opening Reception: Tuesday, April 21, 6–8pm
Highlights include:
• Runway Show (7pm)
• Animation screenings (7:30pm)
• One-night-only exhibitions and student sales
The Spring Design Show in Reinberger Gallery featuring Industrial Design, Graphic Design, and Life Sciences Illustration.
The exhibition continues through the week:
Wed–Fri: 10am–5pm
Sat–Sun: 12–5pm
Location: Reinberger Gallery, 11610 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland
We’re proud of our ongoing partnership with CIA and excited to support the next generation of designers. If you’re in the Cleveland area, we encourage you to stop by, explore the work, and be inspired.
For more information go to: https://www.cia.edu/events/2026-spring-show-opening-night/
Design Interface Inc. can show you what is possible. Our forward-thinking solutions for tradeshow booth design, product design, package design, medical device design, graphic design, and photography unlock the value of your ideas as we communicate your message and goals. See more here: https://designinterface.com/
From Idea to Impact: How Design Interface Turns Innovation into Patented Reality
At Design Interface, design goes beyond appearance—it’s about solving problems and creating meaningful innovation. Our team has contributed to over 30 patents with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), with Adrian Slattery, Douglas Halley, and Carla Blackman named across a wide range of medical, consumer, and industrial products.
Designing for Healthcare Innovation
Much of our patented work focuses on medical devices that improve patient care. From wound-care systems and compression garments to post-surgical recovery solutions and non-contact thermometers, our designs prioritize usability, safety, and effectiveness. We also support advanced innovations like spinal implants and portable compression systems that enhance recovery and mobility.
Engineering Everyday Solutions
Not all innovation is complex—sometimes it’s about making everyday products better. Our work includes thoughtfully designed items like bottle and towel holders and slip-resistant straps, as well as more unexpected ideas like a hybrid waffle-pancake system. Each reflects our focus on practical, user-centered design.
Advancing Lighting and Industrial Design
We’ve also contributed to advancements in lighting and industrial design, including LED systems, roadway fixtures, and mounting solutions. These projects improve efficiency, performance, and ease of installation across a variety of applications.
The Design Interface Approach
We partner with clients from early concepts through final production, combining design, engineering, and manufacturing insight. This end-to-end approach helps turn ideas into viable, patentable products.
Why Patents Matter
Patents represent innovation in action. They protect new ideas and highlight meaningful progress. At Design Interface, they also reflect our commitment to helping clients bring impactful products to life.
If you’re ready to move from idea to reality, Design Interface is here to help every step of the way.
Design Interface Inc. can show you what is possible. Our forward-thinking solutions for tradeshow booth design, product design, package design, medical device design, graphic design, and photography unlock the value of your ideas as we communicate your message and goals. See more here: https://designinterface.com/
What AI Can And Can’t Do For Designers
At Design Interface, we’re deeply invested in the craft of design—whether it’s product development, medical devices, packaging, or visual identity. So when a client walks in asking how AI can “improve” an existing design, our response isn’t defensive—it’s practical, curious, and grounded in experience.
AI is a powerful tool, but it’s not a designer. The real opportunity lies in how it’s used within a thoughtful, human-centered design process.
What We Say When Clients Ask About AI
We start by reframing the question. Instead of asking whether AI can replace or fix a design, we explore how it can support the process. When used well, AI becomes a fast, flexible extension of the creative workflow—not a substitute for it.
What AI Actually Does Well
When applied to an existing design, AI excels at speed and scale:
• Rapid iteration: Generates multiple concepts and variations quickly
• Performance insights: Flags usability issues and suggests improvements
• Efficiency: Automates repetitive tasks to speed up workflows
Where AI Falls Short
But speed doesn’t equal strategy, and this is where human designers remain essential:
• Generic results: Often produces safe, “cookie-cutter” designs
• Lacks context: Misses human insight, empathy, and real-world nuance
• No strategy: Can’t define purpose, function, or user needs
• Needs refinement: Outputs require expert design input to be production-ready
Important Considerations for Clients
• Copyright risks: Fully AI-generated work may lack protection
• Best as a collaborator: Most effective when paired with human expertise
Our Approach at Design Interface
We don’t see AI as a threat to design—we see it as another tool. Like any tool, its value depends on how it’s used.
Our role is to guide that use:
• Knowing when AI can accelerate progress
• Knowing when it introduces risk or noise
• And most importantly, knowing how to turn raw outputs into meaningful, effective design solutions
Because at the end of the day, great design isn’t just generated—it’s understood, shaped, and delivered with intention.
Design Interface Inc. can show you what is possible. Our forward-thinking solutions for tradeshow booth design, product design, package design, medical device design, graphic design, and photography unlock the value of your ideas as we communicate your message and goals. See more here: https://designinterface.com/
Photo source: https://www.bulbapp.io/p/4b121fde-fad7-454a-bc44-4cdb2e51ab99/inside-big-techs-underground-race-to-buy-ai-training-data
Streamlining the Design Workflow
Recently Design Interface acquired a new 3D printer that comes with major improvements. Compared to our Form 3 printer, the new Form 4 significantly accelerates the product design workflow by dramatically reducing print times, typically under two hours and overall speeds about 2–5× faster. This enables multiple design iterations in a single day which allows us to prototype, test, and refine concepts more quickly, shortening development lead times and improving responsiveness to design changes. Also the Form 4’s pixel-based imaging improves part quality and creates better-fitting parts with consistent dimensional tolerances. It also has a larger build envelope so we can get more done in less time.
Design Interface Inc. can show you what is possible. Our forward-thinking solutions for tradeshow booth design, product design, package design, medical device design, graphic design, and photography unlock the value of your ideas as we communicate your message and goals. See more here: https://designinterface.com/
Choosing the Right Color for Medical Devices in 2026
Sherwin-Williams provides an interesting article about how colors for medical devices are chosen in 2026. It explained that selecting the right color is more complex than most people think. Designers must consider safety, usability, patient comfort, branding, and strict regulatory standards. Color isn’t just about appearance—it helps improve functionality, build trust, and make devices feel less intimidating. The process often includes user research, industry guidelines, and careful testing to ensure the final product supports both performance and patient experience.
The article highlighted the latest color forecast from the Sherwin-Williams General Industrial Coatings division, titled “V: Colors, Finishes and Effects Evolving and Emerging in Industrial Design.” The report recommends warmer, calming tones for medical devices, including soft greens like “Minted” and “Lenity,” gentle blues such as “Constant,” warm neutrals like “Meta-Mineral,” and even a comforting red-orange called “Take Care.” The overall theme behind the forecast is authenticity — creating products that feel more human, sustainable, and connected to real-world needs. If you’re interested in learning more about how color trends are shaping medical and industrial design over the next few years, the full report from Sherwin-Williams is a great resource to explore.
Sherwin-Williams full report: https://www.medicaldesignbriefs.com/component/content/article/49459-from-the-editor-mdb-1123
Design Interface Inc. can show you what is possible. Our forward-thinking solutions for tradeshow booth design, product design, package design, medical device design, graphic design, and photography unlock the value of your ideas as we communicate your message and goals. See more here: https://designinterface.com/
Imagine Your Ideas in Motion
Design Interface can transform concepts into dynamic 3D animations, helping you explore and perfect your products long before they hit the market. For instance, this concept video features a next generation high-flow and CPAP interface designed to improve respiratory support and reduce the need for mechanical ventilation. With our computer-generated product animations, you can visualize, test, and refine ideas to impress stakeholders and accelerate development.
Design Interface Inc. can show you what is possible. Our forward-thinking solutions for tradeshow booth design, product design, package design, medical device design, graphic design, and photography unlock the value of your ideas as we communicate your message and goals. See more here: https://designinterface.com/
Bridging Practice and Education
For more than 40 years, Carla Blackman and Adrian Slattery have led Design Interface Inc., building a respected practice rooted in innovation and industrial design expertise. In addition to serving as principals of the firm, both are dedicated educators at the Cleveland Institute of Art (CIA), where they teach in the Industrial Design Department. Carla teaches Ergonomics and Design, while Adrian leads courses in Materials and Processes.
Their active roles as design firm owners uniquely position them to bring real-world experience into the classroom. By sharing current industry knowledge, emerging technologies, and practical design challenges, they provide students with insights that extend well beyond theory. This professional engagement also keeps Carla and Adrian closely connected to evolving design processes and business practices, creating a mutually beneficial exchange between academia and industry.
This year, their CIA classes will expand beyond traditional studio settings into the Interactive Media Lab (IML) building. There, students will explore virtual reality technologies and investigate new ideas in design through immersive, hands-on experiences. The IML offers next-generation tools that support experimentation, collaboration, and innovation—helping students develop the skills needed to lead in the rapidly evolving arts and design workforce.
Design Interface Inc. can show you what is possible. Our forward-thinking solutions for tradeshow booth design, product design, package design, medical device design, graphic design, and photography unlock the value of your ideas as we communicate your message and goals. See more here: https://designinterface.com/
