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Week 11 - Healthier at Work

Since we are designing for healthcare, it is important for us as designers to create a space that promotes health and wellness in the employees. Today’s leaders are taking an interest in the holistic wellbeing of their employees, from a physical, cognitive, and emotional standpoint. Steelcase’s article “How to Make 2017 Healthier at Work” focuses on five key ways we can promote healthy environments within the workplace.


Get on your feet
Sitting for such long periods of time is dangerous to your health, so Steelcase suggests getting up every once in a while. Take a quick walk around your office, visit others, simply stand and stretch. If you can, change to a standing desk so you can change your posture throughout the day.


Get moving, seek out nature
It has been proven that nature helps refocus, reset, and lessen stress, so it is very important to be exposed to it throughout your workday. Take quick breaks to walk outside, do laps around the parking lot, or even take meetings outside to get some fresh air. If you can’t go outside, work near windows so you can get a view of the outdoors.


Get social
Too many employees eat meals at their desk – instead, take your lunch in a collaborative area and socialize a little. These connections you make encourage a sense of belonging and leads to a sense of purpose in your work.


Get focused
While socializing is important to wellbeing, it is important to balance those moments with time to focus. This individual, focus time helps you concentrate and come up with new ideas. It is so important to focus because it allows you to absorb information, generate your own point of view and become a better collaborator.


Get rejuvenated
Take some time to unwind! Working less can increase productivity and lead to a healthier lifestyle. There’s a reason your best ideas come to you while you’re in the shower or driving to work.

There are many different aspects to consider when designing spaces, from the furniture you chose and where you place it, to the views of nature and who gets first dibs, to how you create intimate places within a large space. Elevations and perspectives are crucial when showing how you’ve thought the design through in three dimensions. Since we are only allowed a maximum seven perspectives and a required two elevations what we can show is very limited, so it is important to show views that best portray your concept in designed form. I will likely focus most on the Open Office as well as the WorkCafe, but I will also focus on the Reception and Exam Room because of the impact these spaces have on the patients.

Comments

  1. UnknownNovember 1, 2017 at 10:26 AM

    Catie,
    I like that you took some time to research how we can create a healthier work environment. I found all 5 suggestions very relatable. I specifically found the first one about 'getting up and moving around' very relevant. I so often find myself stuck in the same position when I am doing my homework or working on studio. I hunch over a desk and stay in that exact position for what feels like an eternity. I should really make it a priority to get up and move around!
    I am looking forward to seeing how this research impacts your overall design, and how this portrays itself in your elevations and perspective views!

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  2. Professor VanderNoordaaNovember 1, 2017 at 2:08 PM

    Catie,
    “How to Make 2017 Healthier at Work” was a great perspective for this week's focus. Making sure our spaces encourage views of nature, getting up and moving, socializing, focusing and rejuvenating! Wow that is a tall order but...I think your NEXT space has accomplished this goal. I am very excited to see how your design is moving forward. I also am glad you are beginning to contemplate what spaces to focus on for your limited number or elevations and perspectives.

    ReplyDelete
  3. UnknownNovember 5, 2017 at 7:51 PM

    Since we're designing a health clinic, it's definitely important that we spend time researching ways to create healthy spaces. I was very interested to read about all of the methods of creating healthy spaces. I think it's interesting to create spaces that allow for people to get moving, because we typically think of interior design as just putting in places for people to sit. Additionally, it's also important to design places to socialize, focus, and rejuvenate, just as the article suggests. I'm interested to see how these ideas materialize in your design!

    ReplyDelete

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