1. Understand your user and target audience
2. Create an intuitive user interface
3. Choose the right components
4. Integrate useful sensors
5. Test your device thoroughly

Did you know…?
In 2022, there were an estimated 1.1 billion connected wearable devices globally. Considering that the world’s population is just over 7.5 billion, this really puts wearable’s widespread usage and popularity into context.

Key design considerations for wearable devices

Tip 1: Understand Your User

The first step to designing any successful product is understanding who your user is and what their needs are. Do your research to define your target audience, ask questions about what features they value most, and find out how your product fits into their lifestyle. Once you understand these things, you can create an experience tailored specifically for them.

Our free product/market fit template will help you determine whether the device you’re developing is suited to the audience you’re targeting.

Tip 2: Create an Intuitive User Interface

No matter how many features you pack into a wearable device, it won’t mean anything if users can’t figure out how to use them. Crafting an intuitive user interface (UI) that’s understandable and easy to navigate should be one of your primary goals when creating a design. Look at existing products in the market to get ideas but make sure yours stands out with unique aesthetics and features that truly bring something new to the table.

Read our guide on Design Thinking for more information on observing and understanding user behaviour to ensure that you’re developing impactful solutions to real problems.

Using a product testing survey to gain user insights and customer feedback can also be helpful. This will help you test your product’s usability with real users, reduce risk, increase your product’s market fit, and strengthen your brand’s market positioning.

Tip 3: Choose the Right Components

Choosing the right components when designing a wearable device is essential for success. There are many factors to consider, such as battery life, power consumption, sensor accuracy, and network connection type. Make sure all components are reliable and compatible with each other so users have positive experiences with your product.
Also, remember that the components and platform used in your prototype design might differ from the final product. Making the transition requires further consideration to ensure you haven’t missed anything.

Tip 4: Integrate Useful Sensors

Sensors play a significant role in making wearables work properly. Ensure you include useful ones that collect data accurately and securely so that users reach their goals faster or easier than ever before. Consider the data types that would be helpful for specific activities and choose the appropriate sensors accordingly. This list of 10 essential sensors for body sensor networks will help you better understand the available options.

Tip 5: Test Thoroughly

Testing is essential when building wearable products since real-world scenarios differ significantly from simulated ones used in labs. Test prototypes on actual users as much as possible during the development stages so any issues can be identified early on and addressed before launching your product. Failure to do so could result in negative feedback or product recalls, potentially causing irreparable damage to your brand and reputation.

Both our failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA) and product risk assessment templates will help in this regard.

Final thoughts on designing wearable technology

Designing wearable technology comes with its own set of challenges. Still, anyone can succeed by following these five tips – understanding users’ needs, choosing appropriate components, crafting intuitive UIs, integrating useful sensors, and thoroughly testing designs!

Better still: these design considerations can be applied across the board. Regardless of whether you’re designing solar-powered devices, an electric toothbrush, or goggles for swimmers: replace ‘sensors’ with ‘features’, and the tips remain the same.

Good luck!