ISO.POD
ISO.POD
ISO.POD
Transforming high-risk isolation into psychological safety through modular spatial storytelling in safety-critical environments.
Transforming high-risk isolation into psychological safety through modular spatial storytelling in safety-critical environments.
Overview
During the height of the COVID-19 crisis in India, mass quarantine facilities became synonymous with trauma: overcrowded dormitories, zero privacy, and rising escape cases. These settings not only perpetuated the spread of infection but also amplified stigma, claustrophobia, and psychological breakdowns.
At Rubenius, I led the design of ISO.POD, a modular, portable isolation unit, to reframe these environments—not just as medical containment zones, but as spaces of dignity, autonomy, and hope.
Overview
During the height of the COVID-19 crisis in India, mass quarantine facilities became synonymous with trauma: overcrowded dormitories, zero privacy, and rising escape cases. These settings not only perpetuated the spread of infection but also amplified stigma, claustrophobia, and psychological breakdowns.
At Rubenius, I led the design of ISO.POD, a modular, portable isolation unit, to reframe these environments—not just as medical containment zones, but as spaces of dignity, autonomy, and hope.
Iso.pod- Instant Isolation Pods
Iso.pod- Instant Isolation Pods
Deliverables
Material & Sustainability Strategy, Structural Iterations Based on Behavioral Feedback, Empathy-driven Design Strategy, Patient Experience Mapping, User Interaction Features, Multidisciplinary Fitment Analysis, Product Lifecycle & Adaptability Narrative
Role
Role
Design Researcher & Strategist
Design Researcher & Strategist
Duration
Duration
2 Months (Design Sprint during Pandemic)
2 Months (Design Sprint during Pandemic)
Tools
Tools
Trimble Sketchup, Enscape, Otter.ai, Wix
Trimble Sketchup, Enscape, Otter.ai, Wix
Deliverables
Material & Sustainability Strategy, Structural Iterations Based on Behavioral Feedback, Empathy-driven Design Strategy, Patient Experience Mapping, User Interaction Features, Multidisciplinary Fitment Analysis, Product Lifecycle & Adaptability Narrative
Research & Design Methods
Research & Design Methods
To address both infection control and behavioral well-being, we followed a looped process of:
Problem immersion through frontline research: Interviews with recovered patients, asymptomatic cases, and healthcare workers
Environmental analysis of stadiums, converted rail coaches, and emergency COVID shelters
Rapid prototyping and testing of multiple ISO.POD iterations for airflow, psychological feedback, and ease of assembly
Material exploration prioritizing sustainability, reusability, and psychological impact
To address both infection control and behavioral well-being, we followed a looped process of:
Problem immersion through frontline research: Interviews with recovered patients, asymptomatic cases, and healthcare workers
Environmental analysis of stadiums, converted rail coaches, and emergency COVID shelters
Rapid prototyping and testing of multiple ISO.POD iterations for airflow, psychological feedback, and ease of assembly
Material exploration prioritizing sustainability, reusability, and psychological impact
Material Exploration
Material Exploration
Material Exploration
Material Exploration
Rapid Prototyping
Rapid Prototyping
By immersing in lived experiences, testing in extreme contexts, and prioritizing behavioral comfort alongside infection control, we proved that empathy and systems thinking aren't opposing forces—they’re essential partners in designing for public health.
By immersing in lived experiences, testing in extreme contexts, and prioritizing behavioral comfort alongside infection control, we proved that empathy and systems thinking aren't opposing forces—they’re essential partners in designing for public health.
Strategic Insights
Strategic Insights
Fear thrives in ambiguity: The absence of privacy, information, and basic autonomy fuels escape attempts, anxiety, and patient-nurse breakdowns.
Visual and spatial stimuli regulate mood: Transparent flaps, access to light, and curated signage help reduce feelings of confinement and helplessness.
Mobility is mental: Spaces that feel easy to personalize also feel easier to tolerate—even in crisis.
Behavioral safety is inseparable from physical safety: Managing emotion and perception reduces infection-spreading behavior more effectively than infrastructure alone
Fear thrives in ambiguity: The absence of privacy, information, and basic autonomy fuels escape attempts, anxiety, and patient-nurse breakdowns.
Visual and spatial stimuli regulate mood: Transparent flaps, access to light, and curated signage help reduce feelings of confinement and helplessness.
Mobility is mental: Spaces that feel easy to personalize also feel easier to tolerate—even in crisis.
Behavioral safety is inseparable from physical safety: Managing emotion and perception reduces infection-spreading behavior more effectively than infrastructure alone
Patient Experience with respect to spatial environments
Patient Experience with respect to spatial environments
Quarantine isn’t just containment—it’s an emotional landscape shaped by space. Our patient mapping framework visualized how features like isolation, clutter, and light access affected mood and behavior, guiding ISO.POD’s human-centered design.
Quarantine isn’t just containment—it’s an emotional landscape shaped by space. Our patient mapping framework visualized how features like isolation, clutter, and light access affected mood and behavior, guiding ISO.POD’s human-centered design.
Decision Making Moments
Decision Making Moments
Tarp tents → Self-standing isolation units: Enabled dignity and autonomy—no longer “wards,” but personal zones of control
Tarp tents → Self-standing isolation units: Enabled dignity and autonomy—no longer “wards,” but personal zones of control
Opaque fabric → Transparent flaps + windows: Reduced claustrophobia, enabled psychological connectedness without contamination
Opaque fabric → Transparent flaps + windows: Reduced claustrophobia, enabled psychological connectedness without contamination
Standard fit → Modular kits with DIY install: Achieved ultra-fast, low-skill deployment across diverse geographies
Standard fit → Modular kits with DIY install: Achieved ultra-fast, low-skill deployment across diverse geographies
Medical minimalism → Behavioral storytelling: Motivational quotes, bright color schemes, and tech adaptivity transformed patient experience
Medical minimalism → Behavioral storytelling: Motivational quotes, bright color schemes, and tech adaptivity transformed patient experience
Modular kits with DIY Install
Modular kits with DIY Install
Behavioral Storytelling
Behavioral Storytelling
Decision Challenges: One of the most unpredictable challenges we faced during the pandemic was the volatile rise and fall of COVID-19 waves—particularly in India. It pushed us to reimagine ISO.POD as more than a comfort unit. It became a scalable, portable crisis-response solution—offering psychological support and greater sustainability than conventional emergency tents.
Research Challenges: Limited access to competitor apps meant relying on screenshots, YouTube demos, and blogs for analysis. Participant recruitment delays were observed due to coordination with Delhivery’s internal teams.
Design Approach
Design Approach
Structure: 9′×7′×8′ collapsible unit with antimicrobial-treated PET fabric and recycled aluminum frames
Ventilation: Ceiling air vents and strategic inlets maintained airflow + negative pressure
Psychological UX: White-yellow calming palette, inspirational interior cues, and adjustable personal utility zones
Setup Time: 15 minutes using “plug-and-play” velcro assembly
Sustainability: Each pod reused up to 50 times; made from 208 PET bottles per unit
Structure: 9′×7′×8′ collapsible unit with antimicrobial-treated PET fabric and recycled aluminum frames
Ventilation: Ceiling air vents and strategic inlets maintained airflow + negative pressure
Psychological UX: White-yellow calming palette, inspirational interior cues, and adjustable personal utility zones
Setup Time: 15 minutes using “plug-and-play” velcro assembly
Sustainability: Each pod reused up to 50 times; made from 208 PET bottles per unit
Iso.Pod in a nutshell
Iso.Pod in a nutshell
Outcomes & Impact
Outcomes & Impact
Metric & Outcome
Details
Rapid Deployability
ISO.PODs could be installed across indoor arenas and emergency sites in under 20 mins.
Positive Behavior Shift
Early testing showed reduced reported anxiety, increased cooperation with protocols, and decreased escape attempts.
Award-Winning Impact
Recognized by Lexus Design Award, TechBriefs, and D'source for scalable, human-centered design innovation.
Post-Pandemic Adaptability
ISO.POD evolved into a viable shelter unit for events, disaster zones, and field medical applications.
Metric & Outcome
Rapid Deployability
Details
ISO.PODs could be installed across indoor arenas and emergency sites in under 20 mins.
Metric & Outcome
Positive Behavior Shift
Details
Early testing showed reduced reported anxiety, increased cooperation with protocols, and decreased escape attempts.
Metric & Outcome
Award-Winning Impact
Details
Recognized by Lexus Design Award, TechBriefs, and D'source for scalable, human-centered design innovation.
Metric & Outcome
Post-Pandemic Adaptability
Details
ISO.POD evolved into a viable shelter unit for events, disaster zones, and field medical applications.
Reflection
Reflection
ISO.POD taught me that healing doesn’t begin with medicine—it begins with space. I discovered that transforming crisis environments required more than usability or hygiene. It required compassion, sensory intelligence, and spatial storytelling. This project redefined my understanding of behavioral UX by grounding it—literally—in steel frames, fabric walls, and dignity by design.
ISO.POD taught me that healing doesn’t begin with medicine, it begins with space. I discovered that transforming crisis environments required more than usability or hygiene. It required compassion, sensory intelligence, and spatial storytelling. This project redefined my understanding of behavioral UX by grounding it, literally, in steel frames, fabric walls, and dignity by design.
Success of Iso.pod
Success of Iso.pod
Open to new roles- Seattle & Remote
Looking for research and strategy roles where the insight
actually shapes what gets built, not just validates it after the fact.
Nitya Jois | Seattle WA
Open to new roles- Seattle & Remote
Looking for research and strategy roles where the insight
actually shapes what gets built, not just validates it after the fact.
Nitya Jois | Seattle WA
Open to new roles- Seattle & Remote
Looking for research and strategy roles where the insight actually shapes what gets built, not just validates it after the fact.
Nitya Jois | Seattle WA