Iterative Design in Care Settings

From Museums to Memory Care

Iteration has always been central to my practice. In museums, it meant putting prototypes on the floor, observing how visitors actually engaged, and then refining until an exhibit created the right spark of curiosity and connection. No amount of planning on paper could replace what happened when real people interacted with the work.

That same principle shapes my current work in dementia care. With the Memory Care Experience Station, we tested early ideas in over 190 sessions with residents, families, and staff. Each cycle revealed something new—sometimes a sensory element that worked beautifully, sometimes a piece of content that needed adjusting, sometimes a logistical detail that made the experience easier for staff to deliver. Iteration here was not only about improving a product; it was about building trust and ownership among the people who would ultimately use it.

Working iteratively in care environments requires patience and humility. Prototypes need to be safe, approachable, and respectful. Feedback comes not only in words, but in body language, mood, and subtle shifts in attention. Iteration becomes a form of listening.

The result is a design process that produces more than an object or installation. It produces relationships—between staff and residents, families and loved ones, and between designers and the communities they serve. In both museums and memory care, iteration ensures that what is created is not just for people but with them.