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

Jennifer Bahan is a Vice President and the Director of of Healthcare Interior Design at Hoefer Welker.

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

I attended a talk by Bob Chapman, the Chairman and CEO of Barry-Wehmiller, titled “Truly Human Leadership.” It was enlightening and truly from his heart and revolved around a people-centric approach to leadership. His talk was filled with so many moments, but the one quote that hit home for me as a mother of two teenagers was this (and I’m paraphrasing): “Every employee is someone’s child. Treat them like they are your own.” This rings through my consciousness often and guides my leadership approach using dignity, respect, kindness, empathy, and understanding.

What products have you been excited about recently?

There are so many amazing large format porcelain wall panels on the market. They create such a natural and beautiful feel in a space along with a strong visual impact.

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

It is important to study the world around the project location. Pull inspiration from the local and natural surroundings. This grounds the design in familiar images, colors, hues, tones, and textures. If a patient and their family feel at home in a space, their comfort and healing are always positively affected.

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

Stay on top of technology! I would be so much more self-sufficient if I was faster at Revit and more knowledgeable of the Adobe Creative Suite. If you need a hand sketch, I am your woman!

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

A product that a few in our studio were just recently looking for was slip-resistant flooring with a good visual that is less institutional looking. The options are few and far between.

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), Char Hawkins (DesignGroup), Pete Agnew (Perkins Eastman), Deirdre Pio (Gawron Turgeon), Jessica Whitlock (RS&H), Amber Williams (KDA Architecture), Jenny Manansala (Stantec), Andrea Kingsbury (FreemanWhite), and more.

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