“How we work”: Why our clients are looking for Evidence Based Design direction.

In this age of endless content consumption on both social media platforms and search engines, our clients are seeking clear-sighted design direction that focus on patient experiences.

Evidence-based design is the process of using the scientific method when making design decisions.  Statistics and facts help us better understand why we gravitate to the things we do.  Utilizing evidence based design enables our designers to create more functional and long lasting spaces. Psychology can also play a role in evidence-based design and our firm is fascinated in the study of healing.

“Healing starts with your environment”

Evidence-based research can help us understand a variety of design choices. For example, color theory has helped us begin to understand that certain colors have different psychological effects on people’s moods. Blue is a more calming color, while red is more mentally stimulating and has even been found to increase a person’s appetite. This is why many fast-food restaurants use red in their dining rooms and branding. 

“Good design makes staff happy”

Evidence-based design began in the healthcare industry when designers wanted to learn about the way color and furniture placement may affect a patient’s long term healing process. It was found that patients who had a window, interacted with upbeat staff, and were in rooms with thoughtful furniture placement recovered significantly faster than those who did not. These studies and continued research have made a large impact on the design community.  The biggest impact is building trust with patients and staff.  

As a client, it is important to know what to look for in a commercial interior designer. An educated interior designer should be able to back up every design decision with an explanation of why that choice was made. Having an interior designer who practices and understands evidence-based design can be so beneficial for the project as a whole.

Client experience is a top strength in our firm.  When we approach a new project, these are the key experiences we hope to attain with evidence based design research in mind:

• Inspire engagement

• Practice empathy

• Tell a story

• Redefine inclusion and diversity

• Community focused design

• Reduce anxiety through robust way-finding

• Respect privacy

• Holistic approach

• Nourishment and thermal comfort

• Movement including process flow

• Biophilia: through natural light, sound and nature

• Innovation

• Technically Robust: including material selections, power/USB, with modern functional appliances

The interior of a space can have a drastic impact on productivity of staff and the healing, moral, and overall experience of patients. Color theory, use of line and space planning, and the incorporation of nature in a space has been proven to have positive effects on staff and patients - all of which fall under the umbrella of evidence based design.