Applying the Stanford d.
school Design
Thinking Process to a Smart Water Bottle
The Stanford [Link] design thinking process is a human-centered approach to solving
problems. It consists of five steps: Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype, and Test (Brown,
2009). This method can be used to create a smart water bottle that helps people develop better
hydration habits.
1. Empathize – Understanding the Problem
The first step is to understand why people do not drink enough water daily. Many individuals
forget to drink water, do not realize how much they need, or only drink when they feel thirsty,
which can already indicate dehydration (Mayo Clinic, 2023). This problem is common among
students, office workers, and athletes who have busy schedules (Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention [CDC], 2023).
To gather insights, researchers can:
Conduct surveys and interviews to understand daily hydration
habits.
Observe people’s routines to see how often they drink water.
Analyze medical studies on dehydration and its effects on cognitive
function and energy levels.
A study found that smart water bottles helped users improve their daily hydration and maintain
better fluid balance (Cohen et al., 2022).
2. Define – Clearly Stating the Problem
Once enough data is collected, the problem is clearly defined. The main issue is that people do
not drink enough water because they forget or lack an easy tracking system. This can cause
dehydration, leading to headaches, fatigue, and reduced concentration (Harvard T.H. Chan
School of Public Health, 2022).
Key challenges include:
Forgetting to drink water due to distractions.
Not knowing how much water is needed daily.
Lack of a simple and convenient tracking tool.
Using reminders and tracking tools has been shown to help people develop better hydration
habits (Borofsky et al., 2018).
3. Ideate – Brainstorming Possible Solutions
Now that the problem is clear, creative solutions are brainstormed to help people drink enough
water daily.
Some possible solutions include:
1. A smart water bottle with light reminders – The bottle flashes at
set intervals.
2. A smart bottle connected to a mobile app – It tracks water intake
and sends notifications.
3. A bottle with temperature sensors – It suggests drinking warmer or
cooler water based on weather conditions.
4. A bottle with vibration alerts – Instead of lights, the bottle vibrates
as a reminder.
The goal is to design a simple, effective, and user-friendly solution.
4. Prototype – Creating a Working Model
After selecting the best ideas, a prototype is developed. This is a working version of the smart
water bottle that can be tested and improved.
The prototype may include:
Water level sensors to monitor intake.
LED lights to provide visual reminders.
Mobile app integration for hydration tracking.
Rechargeable battery to power the device.
Advanced prototypes might include voice notifications, temperature control, or built-in
filtration systems. A study comparing different smart water bottles found that reliable sensors
are essential for accurate tracking (Cohen et al., 2022).
5. Test – Getting Feedback and Improving the Design
The final step is to test the prototype with real users, such as students and office workers, to
collect feedback.
During testing, researchers assess:
Effectiveness of reminders – Do users drink more water?
Ease of use – Is the bottle convenient to carry and use?
Technical performance – Are the sensors accurate?
Possible design improvements – Should the bottle be lighter or
have customizable reminders?
A study found that using a smart water bottle significantly increased daily water consumption
and helped maintain hydration levels among young athletes (Mintzer et al., 2024).
Based on user feedback, necessary adjustments are made before launching the final product.
Conclusion
The Stanford [Link] design thinking process helps solve real-world problems by focusing on
users' needs and feedback. Applying this method to a smart water bottle ensures that the final
product is useful, easy to use, and encourages better hydration habits. This structured
approach allows designers to create solutions that truly benefit people’s health and well-being.
References
Borofsky, M. S., Dauw, C. A., York, N., Terry, C., & Lingeman, J. E. (2018). Accuracy of daily
fluid intake measurements using a "smart" water bottle. Urolithiasis, 46(4), 343-348.
[Link]
Brown, T. (2009). Change by design: How design thinking creates new alternatives for business
and society. Harper Business.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Water and health: Hydration and
dehydration prevention. CDC Health Information. [Link]
Cohen, R., Fernie, G., & Fekr, A. R. (2022). Monitoring fluid intake by commercially available
smart water bottles. Scientific Reports, 12, 4402. [Link]
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. (2022). The importance of hydration. Harvard
Health Publications. [Link]
Mayo Clinic. (2023). Water: How much should you drink every day? Mayo Clinic Health
System. [Link]
Mintzer, D. N., Lehmann, M., Kodesh, E., & Berkovich, B.-E. (2024). The effect of smart bottle
use on drinking habits and hydration status among young elite athletes. Medicine & Science in
Sports & Exercise, 56(10S), 649. [Link]
Travers, S., Prot-Bertoye, C., Daudon, M., & Courbebaisse, M. (2023). How to monitor
hydration status and urine dilution in patients with nephrolithiasis. Nutrients, 15(7), 1642.
[Link]
