We recently connected with Deepika Gopalakrishnan and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Deepika, thanks for joining us today. Can you walk us through some of the key steps that allowed you move beyond an idea and actually launch?

With a shortage of masks, PPE, and a lack of effective disinfection systems in place, hospitals in India were facing a massive challenge. COVID was rapidly spreading in hospitals, and 14% of all COVID patients were healthcare workers. Being very close to the problem since my father is a healthcare professional, I really wanted to contribute and use my skills as a designer to solve a real-world problem. If not me, who? If not now, when?

I found other engineers and designers who shared my vision and started collaborating with them. We first conducted user research to understand the challenges that frontline healthcare professionals were facing. Following our user research with over 30 doctors, my team identified a need for better disinfection systems in hospitals. A literature review also showed that confined spaces such as hospital elevators were a hotspot for cross-contamination of pathogens. Hence, our goal was to design a product that could integrate within hospital elevators and autonomously disinfect the space.

Existing disinfection systems were ineffective against a range of pathogens. Through interactions with our stakeholders, we also learned that disinfecting elevators with alcohol wipes was damaging PCB circuits, causing rust and failure within two months. Replacing each of these boards cost over ₹50,000 (~$600). Hence, we decided to leverage UV-C light (200-280 nm wavelength), a technology that damages the nucleic acids of pathogens and inactivates them. Exposure to direct UV-C light is harmful to human skin and eyes; hence, our device had to be activated only in the absence of humans. We needed to incorporate a robust sensor system that could detect human presence and ensure the lights turned on only when no people were present.

We made quick, hacky cardboard prototypes and tested different sensors in my apartment elevator. This rapid prototyping helped us identify the right sensor system for our device. We then found relevant vendors and built our first alpha prototype. We ran three unpaid pilots in a hotel, university, and hospital. The pilot studies helped us prototype our business model and validate value propositions across market segments. We found that hospitals prioritized reducing pathogen counts, while hotels focused on creating a visible sense of safety for guests. Since our product turned off when guests were present, hotels suggested keeping the lights on, but this was unsafe. We explored safer alternatives but ultimately shifted our focus to hospitals.

Through our pilots, we also gained valuable feedback from various stakeholders. Elevator technicians who helped us install our pilots gave us advice regarding the installation process and the electrical system, while hospital administrators wanted more proof of disinfection. We incorporated their feedback and made design changes to improve the installation experience. We also got our device certified by CSIR to prove that it disinfects common touchpoints in the elevator within five minutes. Additionally, we designed an app where hospital administrators could track disinfection cycles.

Given the urgency of the pandemic, we went from research in March 2020 to our first pilot in November 2020 and launched our first paid unit in February 2021. UVfy has since been installed in 15+ elevators across India and has completed over 10,000 sterilization cycles, protecting over 5,000 patients and 500 healthcare workers every day. And while we haven’t been selling UVfy since May 2022, the insights I gained through the process continue to shape how I approach healthcare innovation today.

Deepika, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am a product designer, engineer, and healthcare innovator passionate about creating inclusive and accessible solutions that address critical gaps in healthcare. With a Master’s in Design Engineering from Harvard, I specialize in designing human-centered medical devices that enhance patient outcomes and improve healthcare experiences.

My work sits at the intersection of design, technology, and healthcare, and I thrive on solving complex challenges that require empathy, creativity and technical rigor. One of the projects I’m most proud of is Alba, an accessible period wipe designed for blind and low-vision individuals to independently detect the onset of their period. This innovation has been recognized globally, winning the iF Design Award 2024, the Harvard President’s Innovation Challenge Ingenuity Award, and the Interaction Awards (IxDA) 2024. Alba represents my commitment to designing for inclusivity and addressing gaps in healthcare accessibility.

Prior to Harvard, I co-founded Dverse Labs, a healthcare innovation startup focused on infection control. Our team successfully developed and launched an autonomous disinfection device specifically designed for high-traffic confined spaces in hospitals across India. This experience gave me firsthand insights into implementing healthcare solutions in developing countries.

What sets me apart is my ability to merge deep user research, rapid prototyping, and technical execution to create meaningful solutions. I enjoy working in the early stages of product development—understanding user needs, uncovering insights, and translating them into tangible, scalable innovations. I firmly believe in the transformative power of user-centered design and systems thinking to revolutionize healthcare systems, particularly in developing countries.

I enjoy working with teams who are driven by impact, whether that’s early-stage startups, hospitals, or organizations looking to bring human-centered thinking into their healthcare solutions.

At the core of everything I do is a simple belief: design has the power to make healthcare more accessible, intuitive, and dignified for everyone. That’s what drives me, and that’s the kind of work I’m excited to keep building.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My creative journey is driven by my commitment to designing inclusive and accessible healthcare innovations that empower people and improve patient outcomes. My approach combines design, engineering, systems thinking and business perspectives to address unmet needs in medical products and services.

At the heart of my work is a human-centered approach, where I prioritize understanding the lived experiences of patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers. I aim to create solutions that are not only functional but also approachable, empowering, and easy to integrate into real-world healthcare systems.

My mission is to challenge the status quo of healthcare design by pushing for solutions that go beyond usability and truly consider accessibility, affordability, and cultural relevance.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being a designer and creative problem solver is the ability to turn complex challenges into meaningful, tangible solutions that improve people’s lives. There’s something incredibly fulfilling about seeing my idea evolve from a sketch on paper to a prototype and into something functional that can actually be tested and experienced in the real world. Whether it’s a healthcare product that enhances patient independence or a game designed for zero gravity, I find immense joy in bringing ideas to life.

I enjoy the process of discovery—immersing myself in research, uncovering unmet needs, and reframing problems in ways that lead to innovative solutions. But what truly excites me is seeing the impact of my work on real people. When someone interacts with a product I’ve designed and feels a sense of safety, dignity, or empowerment—that’s the ultimate reward.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.deepikagk.com/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deepika-gopalakrishnan-6b2481154/