Design as Care
This series examines how design should be regarded as a fundamental aspect of care. By drawing from museum practices and applying them to the contexts of aging and dementia, I focus on approaches that enhance quality of life today. These reflections emphasize how thoughtfully crafted, interactive experiences can foster participation, joy, and engagement, particularly in Memory Care, benefiting residents, families, and staff alike. In a world filled with innovative devices and environments, it is essential to extend these considerations to all, especially as many individuals in care facilities face inadequate support or resources. Meaningful care can and should be integrated into our current practices, rather than waiting for future solutions.
How Museum-Grade Design Can Transform Dementia Care
Image: Baltimore Museum of Art. Source: BMA
Contextual Design
Above: Memory Care Experience Station pilot, designed into a lounge.
Images used with approval from the San Francisco Campus for Jewish Living. All individuals depicted have been de-identified in accordance with facility policy.
Below: Children’s Creativity Museum Early Childhood Gallery
Delight as a Design Tool
A life enrichment staff member testing out a question I had: reminiscence is powerful, but what about phenomena? Could that also shift people into a state of delight?
Images used with approval from the San Francisco Campus for Jewish Living. All individuals depicted have been de-identified in accordance with facility policy.
Iterative Design in Care Settings
This image shows a grid of residents, families, and staff participating in early test sessions of a project called the Memory Care Experience Station. Over 190 sessions like these informed its design, with each interaction offering feedback—through words, gestures, and shared moments—that shaped the final experience.
Images used with approval from the San Francisco Campus for Jewish Living. All individuals depicted have been de-identified in accordance with facility policy.
Participation Is Not Optional Decoration
Created for the Walker Art Center’s Internet Cat Video Festival, this tongue-in-cheek interactive turned the act of watching cat videos into something new: people watching themselves imitate cats on a giant scale. A mobile recording booth roamed the Minnesota State Fairgrounds, capturing playful clips that were later edited together and screened before 11,000 festivalgoers.
Let’s Talk About VR.
Exploring advanced dementia engagement and the current state of VR.
Illustration: Mortati Image: Shutterstock
