2011 - RISD Senior Studio
I spent my last few months at RISD designing a series of medical furniture pieces that work together to take into account both the emotional needs of the patient, and the funtional needs of nurses during blood tests.
Throughout my research, I conducted several experiments to try to get to the source of the anxiety revolving around blood tests. The main concerns for the nurses were efficiency and timing, while the patients focused on their lack of control and need for emotional support.
The chair is sturdy, comfortable, and the patient can adjust it to his/her liking. An ottoman provides a seat for a companion who attends for emotional support. The armrest is both a visual shield and an organization device for the nurse's tools. My end result was a system of furniture that, I believe, would help make this process both more comfortable and more efficient.
This project was very personal to me, and I would love to re-visit healthcare design in the future.
