Description
An accessible system to safely manage unused and expired medicines.
EcoMed is an accessible system to safely manage unused and expired OTC medicines.
Client
Thesis, Pratt Institute
Year
2026
Services
Product Design · UX · Design Thinking
Problem (The Why)
How might we make responsible medicine management more accessible and understandable?
Unused and expired medicines are often thrown in the trash or flushed down the drain. These practices can introduce pharmaceutical compounds into the soil and water systems, affecting ecosystems, wildlife and potentially human health.
Research (The How)
The research combined user surveys, user interviews, observational research, case studies, academic research and expert interviews to understand behaviors surrounding unused medicine and environmental implications.
Solution (The What )
EcoMed connected information, medicine management and physical handover through Packaging Inserts, EcoMed App, and Drop Off Locations. It offers credits of drop offs to encourage safe management. This system integrates responsible management into everyday experiences of using and purchasing medicines.
Impact
The system was tested with users to understand how they responded to the interactions. Testing showed positive engagement with the experience, particularly the process of managing medicine felt more approachable. The findings suggested that responsible medicine management can be integrated into everyday routines through improved accessibility and simplified user experience.
