“The evolving diversity of human-centred research methodologies

will undoubtedly propel the field of design forward,”

Coffee shop (Mehri’s Cafe)
Hand sanitizer dispenser
Cafeteria

Gift shop

Information desk
Temporary vendors

Bank machines

Patient location telephone
Admissions

Collective parking meter

All other responses*

*Other responses includes:
Cashier

Candy vending machine
Newspaper vending machine
Chapel or Chaplain’s office
Public telephone

Food and drink dispensers
Courtesy telephone for taxis

30 40

Number of Respondents

IMAGE 2 / A survey was designed to investigate
the way the foyer space is used, estimate user
categories and establish a hierarchy of uses.

Visioning Sessions

Visioning sessions were held twice with groups
of LGH stakeholders. During the approximately
two-hour long sessions, participants were
asked to complete two exercises. In the first
activity, participants were given a collection of
130 evocative 1mages.(imace 1)

They were asked, in some cases individually
and in other cases working in groups, to select
nine images from the collection that most
represent what a hospital should be and to
provide a word or phrase corresponding to
each selected image. Results from this exercise
gave the Emily Carr team visual clues as to
colour palette and general feeling that most
stakeholders find important in a healthcare
setting. The second activity in the visioning
sessions, the Post-it exercise, involved placing
colour-coded Post-it notes on large-scale, wall-
mounted panoramic images of the foyer space
and surrounding outdoor areas. Orange Post-it
notes represented negative elements within the
space, green notes represent positive elements
and blue notes represented elements necessary
to the functioning of the space. Participants
were also asked to write specific comments on
each note they placed. This exercise generated
a wealth of specific comments that overlapped
extensively in both sessions.

Space study

Conducting video walk-through exercises with
targeted participants highlighted key problems
with way-finding and physical navigation in the
foyer space. This exercise was carried out with
multiple participants including those participants
using wheelchairs, those over 65 years of age, and
those who spoke English as a learnt language.
Each participant was given a problem scenario,
such as finding a patient on a particular floor,

and had to attempt to carry it out. With cameras
attached to their chests, participants narrated their
experiences aloud, making comments when they
encountered problems or when things were going
smoothly. This observational narrative allowed
the Emily Carr team to capture screen shots and
commentary during relevant moments.

Five different entrances provide access to the foyer,
and assumptions had been made about which
entrances were used most often. To determine

if the assumptions were correct, the Emily Carr
team produced custom door counters using
magnetic sensors and Arduino microprocessors
and installed them over a four-day observational
period. The data from the door counters produced
interesting results, dispelling assumptions as

well as providing insight on where to locate the
information desk within the space.