Collaborating with Imperial College Medical students, University of Westminster Architecture students undertook a project to design a healthcare space for children with autism and neurological impairments. This collaboration emphasised the importance of considering diverse opinions to reach conclusions through a range of ideas and equal input. Processes include brainstorming, user research and understanding, sketching, communicating, mapping, Photoshop visuals, InDesign Files, and ProCreate Sketches.
Final Proposal ‘The Cloud’.
THE FINAL PROPOSAL
Using research collected as a group along with the knowledge of Imperial College Medical Students, our final proposal consisted of a temporary hub located in Hyde Park London.
Within two sessions collaborating, we were able to produce a proposal for autistic and neurological development for children. ‘The Cloud’ was a four section space.
- An entrance space and communal area for parents (yellow).
- A calming zone (green).
- A painting zone (blue).
- A tactile zone (pink).
We had several requirements that we came up with in which we needed to consider throughout. Safety and security both for the parents and children emotionally. We needed to understand how autistic children would need a higher level and consideration of care than regular children. We needed to find a conclusion about how to subtract the idea of this being a children’s play area, and more of an inviting space for autistic children to feel secure and calm.
Location.
Senses and Features.
Brief Overview.
Transport Research.
DEVELOPMENT
The above images are evidence of our research into autism in children and factors that we considered when creating the proposal.
We looked into the journey to the location, including trains and public transport. We figured that this type of travel would be stressful, so we needed an environment that would take all of that away when they got there. Choosing Hyde Park as our final location was beneficial because it is a quiet, outside, free space whilst being in the centre of the city.
REVIEW
The co-production workshop with Imperial College was very valuable and many skills, as well as ways of working have come out of such a unique opportunity. With two architecture students and three medical students, overall I think the experience was far more beneficial than the outcome of the neurological project.
It was interesting to see the medical students as a client or a potential stakeholder in a project and it was valuable to have some input into what specific features are needed for autistic younger children. As completely differently driven students, it was nice to be able to combine mindsets and academic skills to come up with solutions together. We would formulate brainstorms and create mood boards with different points of views and focuses, and it was accomplishing to see all of our well-researched design come together as one.
In terms of the design, it was useful to work quickly to create ideas and it challenged us, as creative students, to think on our feet. I would like to have
the chance to have a similar opportunity to this to continue to practice this fast-paced thinking. It has shown me that the needs of the client or user need to be heavy considered and the design should be focused about what they need, rather than what you want as the designer.