Designing the da Vinci Xi

Learn about the design process of the latest da Vinci, created by Anson Cheung:

"While at Bould Design, I had the opportunity to collaborate with Intuitive’s user experience and engineering teams to develop the latest generation of Intuitive Surgical's flagship product and execute on a completely new design language.

The previous generation of Intuitive’s was clearly defined by the standard look of medical devices – functionally driven blocky forms with a blue and gray color scheme. Intuitive wanted the design of the new Da Vinci Xi to reflect the user centric nature of the system while also emphasizing its advanced technology and exceptional quality.

Working with lead designer Scott Waters (formerly of Segway), Intuitive had the key tenets of a new design language developed in-house when Bould Design was brought into the project. With these ideas in mind, our goal was to apply a rigorous approach of simplification and reduction to the product, removing visual complexity while allowing parts of the system to shine and overall evoke quality, precision, and refinement. I was heavily involved on the project, working on parts of the system in all phases from concept development to manufacturing support.

The final result of a rigorous design process is a clean, minimal design that greatly reduces the feeling of overwhelming complexity the last generation system suffered from while stepping up the level of refinement to emphasize the advanced technology and Intuitive’s position as a leader in the field of robotics assisted surgery.

The Da Vinci Xi System represents a huge step forward in technology and usability for Intuitive Surgical’s products. Every effort was made to communicate this through the design by using the highest quality materials and finishes. The precision nature of the system is expressed through the implementation of clean, considered parting lines and a crisp form language. A stark white color scheme breaks from past Intuitive products and gives a hint of science fiction.

Subtly streamlined forms and carefully sculpted surfaces help to reduce the visual weight and complexity of an intricate machine by masking underlying machinery and creating clean lines that lead the eye through the system, enhancing the simplifying effect of a unified design. Every effort was also made to design out visible fasteners, creating smooth unbroken surfaces that are also easier to clean."
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Source: Anson Cheung