Abstract
This research aims to design and test a game that involves a wide range of stakeholders in the complex task of creating healthcare gardens catering to multiple health needs. Healthcare gardens are green spaces designed for patients with specific health requirements, staff, and caregivers. The game, “Mosaic Landscapes,” guides the design process to create well-planned outdoor spaces for patients, staff, and visitors. This study presents a board game to engage stakeholders and local communities in the design process. Using personas representing various health conditions, players consider each persona’s unique needs and select landscape elements. These elements, derived from literature, describe their potential health benefits. By simulating hospital garden designs, the game promotes empathy, creativity, and collaborative problem-solving, leading to thoughtfully designed gardens. Healthcare gardens have the potential to enhance physical health (through fitness and rehabilitation facilities), cognitive and affective health (by alleviating mental fatigue via natural environments), social health (by creating shared spaces), and innovative healthcare products (like growing materials for staff scrubs or edible plants for patient meals). “Mosaic Landscapes” will be tested with a treatment centre in Scotland. Community members will play the game to foster positive conversations about transforming the grounds to support various users. Participants can add their own personas and landscape elements, with data collected through these additions, photographs, and discussions. The game serves as a practical design tool, educational resource, and facilitation tool, contributing to the field of design-for-health by creating environments that support diverse health and well-being needs.
Presenters
Laura Mac LeanResearch Associate, Design Manufacturing Engineering Management, The University of Strathclyde, Glasgow City, United Kingdom
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Architectonic, Spatial, and Environmental Design
KEYWORDS
Healthcare, Healthcare Gardens, Greenspace, Sustainable Design, Collaborative Problem Solving, Co-Design
