This post is in a series where we talk to healthcare interior designers about their work in the healthcare market.
Char Hawkins is a Senior Interior Designer at DesignGroup.
What is one book, person, or talk that has been most influential in your career?
People that I have worked and collaborated with have been the most influential to me. I have been fortunate in my career to have worked with immensely talented people within my own firms and expert consultants that we’ve collaborated with. One thing I firmly believe is that everyone possesses a knowledge or skill that I can learn from. People have unique experiences and perspectives that can be invaluable knowledge gained, if we just invest the time to listen and ask questions.
What products have you been excited about recently?
Products that multitask are very interesting and exciting to me. Examples are drywall or millwork reveals that also house LED lighting or any product that adds acoustic value. And of course with Covid-19 spreading like wildfire, anything antimicrobial is pretty darn exciting these days!
Do you have any go-to design solutions or techniques for creating healing environments?
To truly design a healing environment, a deep understanding of the internal processes as well as the experience created for the staff and patients is essential. I utilize techniques like journey mapping and experience mapping to understand not just function but emotion. Understanding what causes staff and patients stress or anxiety as well as what they find relaxing or stress relieving is just as important as understanding function and efficiency. When you ask a patient about their experience, they may forget the details of their doctor’s visit, but they never forget how they felt. Asking questions that uncover why an end user experienced anger, joy, confusion, or stress will help us as designers to create truly healing environments.
If you could tell your younger self one thing, what would it be?
I’d say, “Atta Girl!” Early in a designer’s career, there’s so much to learn. It can be frustrating. I still remember feeling overwhelmed by how much I didn’t know. I could have used a visit or two from my future self to pat the younger me on the back and say, “Char, you’re doing great. Just keep being curious, ask questions, and experience and knowledge will come with time.”
What is one product that doesn't exist but should?
Oh my gosh, it seems like in every project there’s a point in construction where something just doesn’t come together the way you planned it. You think, “If only X existed!” I wish every finish I specify could be beautiful, affordable, acoustic, cleanable, and snap into place perfectly. That’s why we have to work magic sometimes, isn’t it? But if I had to be more specific, I wish there was a product or machine that rerouted existing mechanical, electrical, and plumbing effortlessly! We’re seeing more and more renovation of space than new build, and some projects have me daydreaming about moving a shaft or a series of existing pipes! Oh, and beautiful yet affordable light fixtures that don’t take up any plenum space!
We've also talked to Shelby Frye (Pulse Design Group), Elisha Lorenzi (EML Interiors), Sarah Tetens (Baskervill), Becky Trybus (Forum Architecture & Interior Design), Kari Allen (Guidon Design), Crystal McCauley (CallisonRTKL), Jennifer Bahan (Hoefer Welker), Pete Agnew (Perkins Eastman), Deirdre Pio (Gawron Turgeon), Jessica Whitlock (RS&H), Amber Williams (KDA Architecture), Jenny Manansala (Stantec), Andrea Kingsbury (FreemanWhite), and more.
