AR final.indd - Nova Scotia College of Art and Design

D E S I G N F O R H E A LT H
Design students are collaborating with staff at a Halifax hospital to generate
innovation and improvement in the health care field. The ongoing project
with Capital Health is making hospital equipment more practical and physical
environments more welcoming, for the benefit of both patients and health care
professionals.
Since January 2003, students have consulted with health professionals
in the Memory Disability Clinic at the Camp Hill Veterans’ Memorial site,
with NSCAD design professor Ludwig Scharfe, design advisor Carlo Testa
and Dr. Kenneth Rockwood, Director of the Geriatric Medicine Research Unit.
In June 2004, the hospital hosted an exhibition of student prototypes for a vast
array of health products, including three now ready for production: an improved
reflex hammer, a safer patient lifting belt, and a drinking cup for patients with
failing hands. The joint project is an impressive start for our first Product Design
course. NSCAD is now developing an undergraduate Minor in Product Design,
as well as a Masters in Design program. We’re also working with Capital Health
to create Design for Health Inc., an entity that will coordinate commercialization
of viable student designs and ensure they reach the global health marketplace.
Other prototypes this year included an electronic pill dispenser, a support
stand for acupuncture treatments, a hand-washing stand, caregiver uniforms,
a wheelchair/gurney, linen carts, reclining physiotherapy exercise chairs
and a complete redesign of two patient consultation rooms.
1. Untitled (from The walls have ears and their lips talk
of mischief), intaglio on canvas with colour
transformations, Elly Irvine
2. Reflex hammer from Design for Health,
D. Grant Bagnell and Alejandro Palacio
3. One-handed Drinking Device (for people with poor
hand control), digital rendering, Jully Wang, Stephanie
Geml, Sarah Rosairus, David Bynoe Design for Health
P R O G R A M H I G H L I G H T S
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People are attracted to the colours and the
response from patients has been quite positive.
We have a lineup of professionals and patients
wanting to use a specific room, and this was
never an issue before this change occurred.
Dr. Kenneth Rockwood,
Director of the Geriatric Medicine
Research Unit,Capital Health
regarding patient consultation
rooms redesigned by NSCAD students
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