Space Experience

Redesigning Children’s Hospital Waiting Spaces.

This project explores how spatial design can transform hospital waiting experiences—using sensory mapping to identify stress triggers. The redesigned environment focuses on creating a more calming, child-friendly, and inclusive atmosphere for both patients and caregivers.

Prolonged waiting times, compromised quality of care, and overburdened healthcare professionals are prevalent issues. Additionally, 80% of hospital areas are not designed for patient comfort or to reduce stress for patients and caregivers.

According to Richard Larson, Professor of Data, Systems and Society at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology,

“The real problem isn’t just the duration of a delay. It’s how you experience that duration.”

Identifying the Problem

Waiting rooms = The first emotional contact in a healthcare journey

  • Overcrowded seating and chaotic flow.

  • Harsh lighting and constant noise heightened anxiety.

  • Children lacked safe, engaging spaces.

  • Caregivers showed fatigue and worry.

  • Staff distracted by environmental chaos.

Research Methodology

Should Space Design be integrated with a Digital Kiosk?

Spatial Redesign: A Continuation of the Hospital Waiting Area Project

Using the same research process — observations, interviews, personas, empathy, and sensory mapping — I designed both the digital kiosk and the waiting space. While the kiosk addressed information and interaction pain points, the spatial design addressed environmental triggers such as noise, lighting, seating, and inclusivity. Together, they create a holistic experience.

Design Goal

Creating a Calming, Inclusive Hospital Experience

  • Support Caregivers
    Provide a calm, stress-reducing environment.

  • Engage Children
    Safe, playful zones that ease anxiety and boredom.

  • Improve Flow & Zoning
    Organized layouts to reduce overcrowding and confusion.

  • Ensure Inclusivity
    Accessible design that accommodates all users.

Proposed Solution

Building on the Design goals, the proposed solution is a holistic Redesign of Hospital Waiting Areas.

The waiting room experience extends beyond screens and aesthetics — it’s about enhancing comfort, inclusivity, and functionality for everyone.

  • Theme board

Designing with Nature’s Wisdom – The 5 Elements as Healing Spaces

The Pancha Bhuta are associated with the overall health and well-being of a human being.

  • Mood board & Color board

Final Solution

A walkthrough of the redesigned children’s hospital waiting area, paired with meditative music to reflect the calming, supportive atmosphere envisioned in the design.” Best experienced with sound

Observations- Sensory Mapping

Harsh or dull lighting,

Cluttered walls

Unclear signage

Less greenery

Ringing phones

Crying children

External noises

Printing machine

Announcements

Strong antiseptic & chemical odors

Poor ventilation

Unpleasant Odors affect appetite.

Hard, cold, non-ergonomic seating.

Awkwardly placed equipment.

  • Participants: 3 Peers & 2 Parents

Usability Testing & Feedback

As per the feedback provided

✅ Positives

  • Check-in flow felt intuitive and quick

  • Navigation with QR handoff appreciated

  • Space redesign seen as calming & child-friendly

⚠️ Improvements Needed

  • Feedback form too long → prefer quick inputs

  • Text-heavy screens → harder for low-literacy/elderly users

  • To avoid image or text over image

🔮 Next Steps

  • Formal usability testing with real caregivers, patients, and staff

  • On-site validation of spatial redesign

  • Iteration of kiosk UI for simplicity & accessibility

✨ “Early peer testing guided refinements — the next step is real-world validation.”