Harmonize

A Tailored Music Therapy Program for Neonates

The Challenge

In Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU), premature infants are exposed to noise levels often exceeding 50dB, well above the womb’s 20-30 dB, posing a risk to their development and stress levels. These environments lack the specificity and personalization needed in auditory interventions, underlining a critical need for tailored music selection, staff training, parental involvement, and real-time monitoring to improve neurodevelopmental outcomes.

Problem statemet

The primary concern revolves around the high sensitivity of very premature infants to their environment, with harmful noise levels and lack of suitable sensory inputs being significant issues. These conditions can lead to increased stress levels, disrupted sleep patterns, and potentially hinder neurodevelopmental outcomes.

Solution

An application specialized in music therapy program aimed at enhancing the neonatal care environment in NICUs. This program focuses on developing personalized soundscapes, integrating soothing music, white noise, and recordings of parental voices. Decreasing stress levels, anxiety and improve sleeping patterns to each infant’s gestational age and developmental needs.

The process

Research

- Primary research - Trends Matrix - Publication research - Field work - Interview - Questionnaire

Define

- User persona - Empathy map - User journey map - Whishlist

Ideate

- Concept sketch - Concept ideation - Value hypothesis - Storytelling - Project statement

Iterate

- Low fidelity prototype - High fidelity prototypes - User flow diagrams - Usability test - A/B testing - Semantic differencial

Meet Laura

A dedicated and compassionate NICU nurse with a decade of experience in neonatal care. Living in Lawrence, Laura has spent the last seven years in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, where her passion for providing exceptional care to the youngest and most vulnerable patients shine.

Site map

User flows

Keep updated with automation

The melodic features of Harmonize allows each infant to have a personalized music playlist that’s more than just a set of tracks; it’s a therapeutic tool. It includes music, white noise, and nature sounds, all chosen for their calming properties. This can be scheduled and aligned to the patient’s natural rhythms, soothing them into sleep or gently welcoming them back to wakefulness.

The magic of lullabies

And here’s the best bit – babies get to hear their mom or dad singing to them through Harmonize. Nurses can interact with this because it makes the little ones and their parents feel close, even in the hospital. It’s all about making sure these babies have the coziest start to life.

Colors

Typography

References

  • White, R. (2016). The next big ideas in NICU design. Journal of Perinatology: 36, 259–262. https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2016.6
  • Dunn, M.S., MacMillan-York, E., & Robson K. (2016). Single Family Rooms for the NICU: Pros, Cons and the Way Forward. Newborn and Infant Nursing Reviews: 16(4), 218-221. https://doi.org/10.1053/j.nainr.2016.09.011
  • Yáñez-Araque, B., & Ugarte Gurrutxaga, M. I. (2020). Developing a Family-Centered Care Model in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU): A New Vision to Manage Healthcare. International journal of environmental research and public health, 17(19), 7197. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17197197
  • Szymczak, S. E., & Shellhaas, R. A. (2014). Impact of NICU design on environmental noise. Journal of neonatal nursing: JNN, 20(2), 77–81. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnn.2013.07.003
  • Domanico, R., Davis, D. K., Coleman, F., & Davis, B. O., Jr (2010). Documenting the NICU design dilemma: parent and staff perceptions of open ward versus single-family room units. Journal of perinatology: official journal of the California Perinatal Association, 30(5), 343–351. https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2009.195

Prototype