RKS Product Design Firm and Product Development Company
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RKS Product Design Firm and Product Development Company

Life Technologies - Ion Proton™ Sequencer

Next-gen semiconductor sequencing platform.

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About

Research

Design

UI/UX

Outcomes
Life Technologies needed to unify fragmented instrument platforms and elevate its visual brand identity ahead of acquisition—while pioneering a radical next-gen sequencer. RKS worked to develop a scalable global design language and intuitive product industrial design for the Ion Proton™, balancing emotional resonance, lab integration, and corporate positioning.

Democratizing sequencing through design and clarity

Client

Life Technologies

Markets

Life Science
Commercial

What We Did

UI/UX Design
Industrial Design
Innovation Consulting
Psycho-Aesthetics®
Ethnography Research
“Creativity + Strategic Thinking = RKS. Atypical of many design firms, Ravi and Lance have brought together a team of passionate, talented designers, researchers, strategists, and experience experts that deliver quality results.”

— Chief Design Officer of Life Technologies

Early drawings of Life Technologies DNA sequencer
We conducted immersive user research across global scientists, lab directors, and technicians to understand pain points in sequencing workflows and existing brand disunity. Leveraging our Psycho‑Aesthetics® method, we defined an opportunity zone emphasizing empowerment, clarity, and visual familiarity.

Research Insights & Discovery

KEY OUTPUTS

User Personas
Psycho-Aesthetics® 2.0 Map
Benchmarking
Opportunity Areas & Design Criteria

How We Used Psycho-Aesthetics™ to Identify Unique Opportunities in the Project.

Using our proprietary Psycho-Aesthetics® 2.0 framework, we conducted in-depth interviews and ethnographic observation in diverse lab settings. We identified key emotional and usability pain points — such as intimidation with complex interfaces, workspace clutter, and trust in precision. These insights guided both the form and interface strategy, ensuring approachability and confidence in operation.

PA Map of RKS Design's project for Life Technologies.
Design language maps and persona insights showing P/A-driven brand unification for Life Technologies instruments.
The Ion Proton™ chassis was designed to consolidate new semiconductor sequencing technology into a cohesive, bench-forward form. The architecture supports front access, simplified servicing, and a unified aesthetic that signaled next-gen capability.

Industrial Design Concept Development

KEY OUTPUTS

Form Factor Concepts
CMF Strategy
Refined Industrial Design Language
Side-by-side comparison of two lab instruments; on the left, an older, boxy blue-and-white Life Technologies machine labeled Before, and on the right, a modern, sleek white device with a touchscreen labeled After.
LifeTech Product Detail Shots
RKS developed a global instrument design language to visually elevate Life Technologies across device lines—balancing technical precision with emotional impact. The system reinforced profile clarity, lab trust, and brand coherence.

UI/UX Design Development

KEY OUTPUTS

Information Architecture
Touchscreen Interface Design
Custom Iconography & Visual System
Interactive Prototypes
Sideways Hero Shot of RKS Design's Project for Life Technologies
Hero shot of RKS Design's project for Life Technologies
The collaboration on the Ion Proton™ Sequencer showcases RKS’s ability to transform complex life-science tools into emotionally powerful, globally unified offerings. Through strategic user insight, cohesive branding, and refined industrial design, we helped Life Technologies bridge innovation and investor readiness—playing a pivotal role in its transformation into Thermo Fisher’s multi-billion valuation entity. Let me know if you’d like to include user testimonials, design iterations, or acquisition narrative visuals.

Key Outcomes and Results

Key Accomplishments

Became a flagship for Life Technologies instruments
Received industry acclaim and major design awards
Elevated global brand trust and coherence across multiple products
Logo for Life Technologies, a Thermo Fisher Scientific Brand, highlighting its US$5 billion valuation at program start and acquisition for US$15.6 billion, just 4 months after Life Technologies launched a new sequencer.

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