A collaboration between NUS Division of Industrial Design (DID) and Mount Elizabeth Hospital (MEH).

(held) reimagines the standard phlebotomy chair as a gentle embrace. What was once a cold, clinical object that evoked fear and discomfort now offers a sense of warmth and reassurance, crafted to hold each person with care.

Stripped down to its bare frame, we transform the chair through intricate weaving—a reflection of the delicate balance of precision and compassionate care that phlebotomists at MEH bring to their work. Each continuous strip flows along the chair's frame in a seamless, protective embrace, softening the chair’s rigid appearance.

YEAR
2024

TEAM
Madeline See
Ang Sze Ern
Guidance from Hans Tan

TIMEFRAME
13 weeks

CATEGORY
Service and Transformation Design

WHAT I DID
Ideation of concepts
Narrative building 
Prototyping 
Liaising for outsourcing
Design of final product
Logo design

OUTCOMES
Featured in a book by Couple (Coming Mid-2025)
Projected to be featured in an exhibition at MEH

Cold, Clinical, Utilitarian

Exposing the bare frame, now reminiscent of an ordinary chair