I chose to concentrate on how interior design can relate specifically to psychology. The field of health care design has many different concentrations. Ranging from color affecting people, to Universal design. I love the union of the design aspects and the psychology/science side. Through researching, i found interest in how a patients environment affects their healing time and quality of the experience in whatever facility they are in. My sister is an oncology nurse, and in school she was taught about "whole person care", not just treating the symptoms with medication, but really getting down to the cause, and the root of the sickness. Alot of healing is mental and starts with the person's spirit, so my quest is to figure out how, as a designer, i can help create spaces and environments the stimulate theses inner processes to begin. I think successs would be helping patients heal more quickly, or have a better experience, and in turn rely less on drugs and the use of medicines.
Maggie's Centre in Dundee was designed around this idea and it's been studied from the perspective of how the design of the space contributes to healing or well-being. Talk to Nicola Shirkey in level 4, as she's been looking at this for her dissertation!
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