MiniMed - RKS Design

MiniMed 507

A breakthrough insulin pump designed to destigmatize diabetes care—styled like a pager to empower users with discretion, confidence, and ease.

Despite technical excellence, MiniMed pumps struggled with adoption as users avoided carrying devices that visibly identified them as sick. RKS aimed to reposition the pump as a symbol of autonomy, not vulnerability.

Transforming stigma into strength with empathetic design

Client

Markets

What We Did

Delving beyond features, RKS designers immersed themselves in user life by wearing pumps in public, uncovering a stigma that discouraged use—even when life depended on it. Armed with emotional insights, our Psycho‑Aesthetics® framework positioned MiniMed as a device of respect and capability.

Research Insights & Discovery

KEY OUTPUTS

Full-day field studies

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.

We reimagined the pump as a personal pager—sleek, familiar, and discreet—complete with a belt clip. The design downplayed its medical function, reinforcing a confident lifestyle rather than illness visibility.

Industrial Design Concept Development

KEY OUTPUTS

Compact industrial design reflecting pager form factor

Belt-clip integration for easy, public wearability

Color and style refinements to mirror personal electronics aesthetics

User interface and interaction mirrored common personal electronics: simple controls, clear display, intuitive navigation—all aimed at maintaining privacy and ease. The device felt friendly, not clinical.

UI/UX Design Development

KEY OUTPUTS

Controls and icons that aligned with pager-like use

Readable LCD display optimized for on‑the‑go visibility

Tactile keys and discreet form-factor usability

We translated form and function into a reliable device, balancing pocket-sized dimensions with insulin delivery performance. From internal component packaging to assembly procedures, technical precision supported emotional impact.

Engineering Validation

KEY OUTPUTS

Engineering drawings supporting compact packaging

Prototypes validated for reliability, usability, and comfort

Tooling specifications for production-ready manufacturing

RKS’s empathetic, insight-driven transformation of the MiniMed pump is a masterclass in design impact: boosting adoption, revenue, and brand value through emotional connection. The MiniMed 507 turned an essential medical device into a symbol of strength, reshaping both product and industry.

Key Outcomes and Results

Key Accomplishments

MiniMed was acquired by Medtronic for $3.6 B

80% share of physician-prescribed insulin pumps

Annual revenue grew from $45 M to $171 M

Strategy

Design

Development

MiniMed 507

Transforming stigma into strength with empathetic design

Client

Markets

What We Did

Research Insights & Discovery

KEY OUTPUTS

Industrial Design Concept Development

KEY OUTPUTS

UI/UX Design Development

KEY OUTPUTS

Engineering Validation

KEY OUTPUTS

Key Outcomes and Results

Key Accomplishments

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