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

Marianne Graffam is an architect at Sizeler Thompson Brown Architects. She is certified by the American Academy of Healthcare Interior Designers (AAHID).

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

The Gap by Ira Glass. Even though this talk was about writing, it still resonates with me and applies to the design process.  This assured me that I’m on the right path, and the sometimes hard, dirty, tedious work is all a part of the process to get to where I need to go.

What products have you been excited about recently?

I feel that the quality of light has such a significant impact on a space and can not only be functional but can also elevate the design. LED technology is advancing so quickly. I’m excited about the flexibility that it will lend to a project. A few LED products that I’m excited about are the LED Reveals by Fry Reglet and T-Bar LED lights.

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

A few of my design go-to's when I hit a design stumbling block is to reference the initial programming meeting notes with the users, charrette design problems with the design team, and always lead with an open and empathic mind.

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

Communication is the key, both listening and keeping the people involved informed of both good and bad things that come up in a project.

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

Voice-activated nurse call.

We've also talked to Michelle Clark (REES Associates), Jennifer Fink (BDA Architects), Lindsay Hampton (Pulse Design Group), Melinda Avila-Torio (THW Design), Lilliana Alvarado (UPHEALING), Ashleigh Pfluger (TJNG Partners Inc.), Jane Rohde (JSR Associates), John DuBard (Boulder Associates), Lisa Cini (Mosaic Design Studio), Susan Clark (Clark Patterson Lee), Crystal Hill (Odell Associates), Dr. Debra Harris (RAD Consultants), Libby Laguta (L2D.Design), Kristin Ellingsen (Office Furniture Group), Kimberly Bernheimer (PF&A Design)‍, and more.

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