The question of international
design quality
13 November 2007
The 8th of November saw the International Academy for Design and Health hold the Design Quality Standards UK Global Summit.
Supported by lead partner Nightingale Associates, the event inspired the exchange of knowledge, expertise, best practice and ideas around design in healthcare.
The summit was chaired by Richard Saxon, Vice President of the Royal Institute of British Architects, joined by a panel which included; Paul Mercer, secretary Architects for Health; Mairi Johnson head of enabling, Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment; and Doug Murray, director Ministry of Health and Long Term Care, Canada.
Nightingale’s Research and Development Director, Richard Mazuch sparked the debate with a presentation on the development of healing pods (hPOD's, illustrated above). Richard introduced the idea of creating not simply an optimum healing space for patients, but improved working environments through better use of lighting, colour and materials. This highlighted the need for an improved understanding of end-user requirements and a central vehicle to allow architects and doctors/nurses to develop environments that assist them in creating better care for their patients.
Other topics that were introduced during the debate included international procurement comparisons and benchmarking the availability and quality of design guidance.
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