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/