Researcher ORCID Identifier

0009-0009-7250-8384

Graduation Year

2026

Date of Submission

4-2026

Document Type

Open Access Senior Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Reader 1

DR. SHANNON GRAY RANDOLPH

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Rights Information

© 2026 JOHN H BEGLEY

Abstract

Medication adherence is usually framed as a problem of patient behavior, but this thesis argues that it is equally a problem of design. Children who take daily medication face barriers that adults often do not: developing executive function, dependence on caregivers, shifting school and home routines, privacy concerns, and stigma around being perceived as different. The standard prescription bottle, by contrast, was designed primarily for dispensing efficiency, safety, and accidental ingestion prevention—not for sustained daily use by a developing child.

This thesis proposes PillPetz, a smart pill case and digital companion that uses routine, play, dose confirmation, and caregiver-connected support to make medication-taking more understandable and emotionally positive for children ages six to fourteen. Drawing on historical research, adherence literature, developmental psychology, primary interviews, persona development, market analysis, and five iterative CAD prototype cycles, the project explores how human-centered product design can help transform medication from a moment of stress and stigma into a small, repeatable act of care. The central design insight—borrowed from the behavioral logic of the Tamagotchi—is that children are motivated not by clinical obligation but by reciprocal care: if taking medicine also means caring for something that depends on them, they will show up.

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