This post is in a series where we talk to healthcare interior designers about their work in the healthcare market.

Deirdre Pio is the Director of Interior Design at Gawron Turgeon Architects.

What is one book, person, or talk that has been most influential in your career?

My grandfather has been the most influential person in my career. This is not because he was in the design industry but because he believed in me, supported my education, and knew I would be successful in whatever profession I pursued. Observing and learning from his strong work ethic gave me the drive to persevere through college while working full-time. I love being a designer, and that passion was fostered because one man believed in me and influenced me to pursue my dream.

What products have you been excited about recently?

I am most excited about the new Altro Tegulis hygienic wall panels product. My firm designs a fair amount of European style shower/restrooms in senior living, and this new product will allow us to have the “aesthetic” of a residential wall tile while providing us with the non-porous, hygienic, easy to clean environment we need.

Do you have any go-to design solutions or techniques for creating healing environments?

First and foremost, you should always start with a solid design concept! I know it sounds simple, but knowing and understanding who you are designing for up-front and the specific needs of the environment you are creating will help guide you through the entire design process. Creating home-like, residential scale interior spaces is what I am tasked to do for most of my senior living communities where natural daylight and connectivity to the outdoors is always in the forefront as a design tool in creating a healing environment.

If you could tell your younger self one thing, what would it be?

1. Start saving for your future sooner. 2. Always believe in your capabilities and push yourself as a designer, even if you are met with resistance. 3. Your voice is a valuable tool – speak up!

What is one product that doesn't exist but should?

It would be great if we had self-sanitizing surfaces that disinfected themselves after every touch.

We've also talked to Elisha Lorenzi (EML Interiors), Sarah Tetens (Baskervill), Becky Trybus (Forum Architecture & Interior Design), Kari Allen (Guidon Design), Crystal McCauley (CallisonRTKL), Jennifer Bahan (Hoefer Wysocki), Char Hawkins (DesignGroup), Pete Agnew (Perkins Eastman), Jessica Whitlock (RS&H), Amber Williams (KDA Architecture), Jenny Manansala (Stantec), Andrea Kingsbury (FreemanWhite), and more.

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