In this Tech for MedTech episode of Inside MedTech Innovation, I talk with Dennis Lenard, CEO of Creative Navy, about how user interface complexity affects the real-world performance of medical devices.
Dennis shares the story behind Compass, a tool his team developed to measure and reduce visual complexity in device interfaces. We explore why reducing cognitive load is critical for clinicians, how evidence—not intuition—should guide design decisions, and where regulatory thinking is starting to evolve.
We also talk about the persistent gaps in how MedTech companies prioritize usability, and why simplifying a device’s interface is often a financial advantage—not just a user experience improvement.
00:00 Introduction to MedTech Innovation
00:44 Meet Dennis Lenard of Creative Navy
00:57 The Importance of User Interface Design
01:41 Introducing Compass: Measuring UI Complexity
02:31 The Role of Evidence-Based Design
04:08 Challenges in User Experience Design
06:11 Real-World Examples and Lessons Learned
08:26 Understanding Complexity in Clinical Settings
12:46 Compass in Action: Success Stories
17:50 The Future of Design in MedTech
20:16 Overcoming Industry Challenges
22:08 The Value of High-Quality Design
26:31 Challenges in MedTech Adoption
27:22 Working with Startups vs. Larger Companies
30:32 Regulatory Approval and Design Process
34:51 Sales Cycle and Acquisition Process
44:14 FDA's Medical Device Development Tools (MDDT) Program
49:24 Final Thoughts and Advice
Follow Shannon and Dennis:
Connect with Shannon:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonlantzy
Website: https://www.shannonlantzy.com
Connect with Dennis:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dennislenard/?originalSubdomain=uk
Website: https://creativenavy.com/