Mobili-T
Redefining Rehabilitation Therapy

Each year, 1 in 6 adults experiences a swallowing disorder.

It disrupts the most basic human functions: eating, speaking, and social connection.

Surface electromyography (sEMG) is the clinical gold standard for swallowing therapy, using muscle signals to provide real-time feedback. 

Traditional systems are large, expensive, and limited to clinical settings. They require (error prone) precise electrode placement under the jaw, and rely on wired connections that can be uncomfortable, prone to dislodgement, and susceptible to signal interference. 

We improved access, cost and convenience for an extremely prevalent disorder that is exceptionally underserved.

We did this by immersing ourselves in the lives of patients, the responsibilities of clinicians and the challenges facing administrators when adopting new technologies.

I spent time learning about their needs, wants, motivations and limitations to guide and inspire our multi-disciplinary team. Some of the ways I did this included cultural probes and patient interviews, which are described in more detail in Design Methods.  

In the clinical testing version of the product, I designed the branding element affectionately named “The Cyclops”, to improve electrode placement. The “eye” aligns with the ground electrode which situates at the jawbone, while the “smile” maps to the swallowing muscles.

This visual pattern simplifies placement, addressing a key challenge with traditional sEMG systems, while doubling as a playful, recognizable symbol used across Mobili-T’s product, packaging, and brand.

It brings a sense of warmth and humanity to an experience previously viewed as difficult and intimidating. 

Hands-on feedback and user testing shaped the product at every stage - from storyboard walkthroughs to functional testing of both hardware and software.

This ongoing involvement kept the team grounded in the realities patients face every day. It meant making space for those who had lost the ability to speak to still be heard, and scheduling sessions around the demands of treatment.

More than validation, it deepened our empathy and strengthened our commitment to creating a system that meaningfully supports their needs.

As Mobili-T moved through R&D and clinical testing into commercialization, improvements were made to the hardware, software and business model.

You can read more details of designing the Mobili-T app here.

You can read about the design of the Clinician Portal here. 

You can read about the design of the Onboarding experience here. 

And you can read about the conceptualization of a new product offering (Core), here.