Engagement Session

Our last participant-oriented exercise was an
interactive architectural model activity. The
engagement session was held in late October,
and included a presentation of the team’s
findings based on research to that date. The
model itself is a large-scale floor plan showing
the hospital’s current layout under a plexiglass
sheet. (imace 3) Colour-coded acrylic cubes
represent the various services available, and
can be moved around on the floor plan to
create different space configurations. Dry-erase
markers are used directly on the plexiglass

to denote any desired custom re-working of
the structure itself. This game environment
allowed LGH stakeholders to contribute
physical suggestions about how the space could
potentially work better.

FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS /

By analyzing the findings of these various
research methods, the Emily Carr team was
able to make ten concise recommendations for
the Lions Gate Hospital foyer renovation. Some
examples of recommendations based on data
analysis include:

> Ethnographic research combined with data
from the door counters suggested suggests that
re-locating Mehri’s Place Café, the coffee shop
in the foyer, should be a high priority in order to
reduce congestion at the north entrance.

> Based on survey results and statistical analysis,
the Emily Carr team concluded that certain
service areas, including the gift shop and the
cafeteria, could be reallocated to make better
use of the space.

> Results from the nine images and Post-

it exercises highlight the importance of
incorporating a sense of community into the
space.

> Feedback from volunteers at the information
desk prompted the team to develop a new
way-finding map for the information desk to
hand out.

Because the nature of the research allowed for
a high level of stakeholder engagement, the
results and recommendations are likely to be
well received. Not only that, but the findings
can be conclusively verified with documented
data and a comprehensive understanding

of the specific needs of Lions Gate Hospital
foyer users. This kit of methodologies can be
applied to almost any design problem, and is
of particular use in architectural design. The
evolving diversity of human-centred research
methodologies will undoubtedly propel the
field of design forward, allowing for improved
communication with users and a higher quality
of designed artifacts, systems and spaces.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

| thank the Emily Carr
design research team,
including Irene Schmid,
Jesse Mah and Solveig
Johannesen, as well as
Emily Carr, Vancouver
Coastal Health, Lions
Gate Hospital and |BI
Group Architects.

REFERENCES

Swann, Cal. “Action
Research and the
Practice of Design.”
Design Issues 18.2 (2002):

49-61.

“We Meet Design
Challenges with a Simple
Yet Powerful Process.”
frogdesign.com. Frog
Design Inc., 2011. Web. 8
December 2011.

“Healthcare Now.”
frogdesign.com. Frog
Design Inc., 2011. Web. 8
December 2011.

Schmid, |., |. Mah and
J. Carson. Research &
Methods for Medical
Design, (2011), 33.