In early 2010, the ‘Design for Patient Dignity’ programme, sponsored by the Design Council and the Department of Health, invited Slider to contribute user-centred designs for the improvement of hospital toilets and washrooms. Our innovative proposal, the Smart Mirror, can be retrofitted into existing hospital toilet rooms to reorganise and improve wash basin space and use.
Before committing remotely to design solutions, our team visited different hospitals to study typical design and operational problems in these areas, speaking with patients and nurses to better understand the processes and their experiences. A large portion of our research highlighted not only a process failure relating to assisting patients to and from washrooms and toilets, but also the organisation and maintenance of washroom space and how user experience of the destination could be improved. Focusing on the specific area of the wash basin, we examined how to solve the basic existing problem of locating a mirror above the basin, bringing some order to what is otherwise a visually cluttered space with various soaps, towels, posters, leaving no space to store a patient’s personal belongings.
The Smart Mirror seeks to bring domestic familiarity to the hospital environment, slim line wall-hung storage, integrated lighting, a shaver socket, a waste bin and a grab rail that can also function as a towel hanger. Storage for soap, conditioner and paper towels is integrated and an electronic indicator tells cleaning staff what needs refilling. Integrated monitors can deliver patient specific communications in different languages. Subsequently, we are developing a technology platform for integrating similar patient-centred smart appliances into Ward environment as part of a separate long-term research project.
To learn more about the programme visit the Design Council website.
