DSNI 410

DSNI 410: Studio: Health + Wellness I

Prerequisite: Senior standing in the program

Credit Hours: (3) Six hours studio.

A studio application of the interior design process for health and wellness spaces with an emphasis on interior design programming used as the foundation for decision-making and problem solving. 

 

Detailed Description of Content of Course

A studio application of the interior design process for health and wellness spaces with an emphasis on interior design programming used as the foundation for decision-making and problem solving. Various ways in which design-decision making is informed is discussed, and students learn that design solutions are based on different forms of rigor. Information-gathering techniques used as the foundation for decision-making and design problem-solving to accommodate physiological, sociological, psychological, and environmental needs are emphasized. Concepts of wellness are integrated in project selection.  

Topics include: 

• Programming (user needs, space requirements, wellness trends, relevant codes and wellness standards, sustainability, wayfinding, color, lighting) 
• Data collection (e.g., information gathering, observations, surveys, site visits) 
• Evidence-based design and research-informed design 
• Theories related to wellness 
• Design process for wellness project (e.g., programming, adjacency diagrams, prototypicals, blocking, space planning, ideation drawings, concept development, perspectives, FF&E, digital boards, etc.) 

 

Detailed Description of Conduct of Course

Instructional Strategies to include:  

• Studio format 
• Lecture on programming and theory 
• Project based 
• Programming document 
• Small wellness project  

First half of semester is focused on a wellness project (e.g., any project that relates to the physical, mental, emotional, or social aspects of wellness). Second half of the semester entails programming for Wellness 2 studio (DSNI415). 

 

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the course, students will be able to: 

1. Explore design approaches to a range of health and wellness spaces including live-in and outpatient healthcare spaces, wellness practice and retail spaces, and health services settings. 
2. Understand theories related to the impact of the built environment on human experience, behavior, and performance.
3. Understand the relationship between the designed environment and human experience, wellbeing, behavior, and performance to inform design solutions.
4. Interpret requirements (standards and guidelines) related to sustainability and wellness for interior design solutions with both functional and aesthetic considerations.
5. Gather human-centered evidence to inform design solutions
6. Execute the design process of pre-design, schematic design, and design development with the ability to explore and iterate multiple ideas.
7. Interpret federal, state/provincial, and local codes including occupancy group and load calculations, movement, travel distance, means of egress, barrier-free, and accessibility regulations and guidelines for interior design solutions.
8. Express ideas and rationale developed in the design process through ideation drawings, preliminary sketches, and completed orthographic drawings.
9. Produce visual and verbal presentations to communicate interior design solutions using the elements and principles of design.

In addition to the learning outcomes stated above, Interior Design studios will comply with the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) learning outcome standards pertaining to “Design Process,” “Communication,” “Collaboration,” “Human-Centered Design,” “Building Systems and Human Wellbeing,” “Construction,” “Products and Materials,” and “Regulations and Guidelines.” The map of those standards as they relate to the above listed may be furnished upon request. 

 

Assessment Measures

This is a studio-based class. Assessment will include the following: 

Drafts for all sections of Programming document  

Final Programming document 

Projects 

Pin-ups of Iterative work for Projects (checkpoints) 

 

Other Course Information

None

 

Review and Approval

March 14, 2024