Human-centered design places humans at the center of the design process, seeking to promote their health, support their behaviors, and embrace their motivations.

I was just out of college when I opened my residential design practice. One day, a lady named Lucy came in looking for curtains for her living room window.

While this should have been an easy project, the normal approach wasn’t working, so I suggested to Lucy we go to her house and see the space. I wasn’t prepared for what I experienced when I got there.

The house was dark and gloomy, and there were sheets covering the furniture. Honestly, it felt like a tomb.

Over a cup of tea, Lucy told me her story. She had recently survived a heart attack, and just before that, her husband had taken his own life. I realized Lucy was now waiting to die, and she had allowed her home to become a reflection of that.

I helped Lucy decide on some curtains — and I kept going. We did a lot in Lucy’s house to make it bright and sunny and the kind of place where someone could feel alive.

As Lucy’s home changed, she changed, too. She started working as a nurse and connected with her kids again. Essentially, she came back to life.

That was my first experience with human-centered design. From that moment on, I was hooked.

What is human-centered design?

Human-centered design focuses on how we are impacted by a built environment. It places humans at the center of the design process, seeking to address our needs, capabilities, and behaviors. Its goal is to give us a more efficient, engaging, and enjoyable experience.

Patient-centered design is a subset of human-centered design that can be traced back to the work of Florence Nightingale in the early 20th century. She emphasized the importance of providing holistic healthcare that considered the emotional as well as physical needs of those receiving treatment.

Nightingale’s beliefs began affecting patient-centered design in the 1990s when design firms, led by Planetree International, started advocating for human-centered design in the healthcare environment.

Appreciating human-centered spaces

When we walk into a human-centered structure, we quickly notice the differences. The first thing that strikes us is the views. Human-centered designs strive to connect us with nature, utilizing large windows looking out on green spaces to reduce stress and foster wellness.

Human-centered spaces are also quieter than typical spaces, as these designs use sound-absorbing materials, layouts, and technology to reduce unwanted noise. This promotes relaxation and a greater sense of peace.

If we stay long enough, we notice the lighting is different in a human-centered space. Dynamic, color-changing lights are used to support healthy circadian rhythms and sleep-wake cycles.

Behind the scenes, a number of other elements are utilized in human-centered design to improve our experience. Air quality sensors that monitor pollutants like radon and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) ensure air quality remains high, while advanced heating and air conditioning systems help filter allergens and circulate fresh air.

The materials used when building human-centered spaces are also carefully chosen to avoid toxic materials such as VOCs and flame retardants. Advanced water filtration systems remove contaminants from drinking and bathing water.

Human-centered design also prioritizes areas that promote a healthy lifestyle. Kitchens provide plenty of space for storing, preparing, and enjoying healthy foods. Space for exercise, such as workout rooms and walking paths, are included to promote physical fitness.

All of these components and more come together to create a living environment that safeguards and enhances our physical, mental, and emotional health.

The challenges to human-centered design

One of the most obvious challenges to human-centered designs is cost, as it takes more time to consider the impact of each design element on human inhabitants. It also takes more money to build with materials that are human-friendly, but concerns over cost are often overshadowed by skepticism over the value and effectiveness of human-centered design.

I’ll never forget the time I stood before the board of directors for a major hospital and presented plans for an interior renovation for the whole hospital. As I was explaining how the use of light was an element of patient-centered design that promoted health, the chairman stood up, pounded his fist on the table, and warned me not to waste his time with “this California stuff” unless I could present some research that supported it.

His response inspired me to become a devoted student of patient-centered design. Since then, I’ve found plenty of research supporting the positive impact of human-centered design.

Taking steps toward human-centered design

There are a number of steps we can take to bring a higher level of human-centered design to the spaces we inhabit every day. For example, simply letting sunshine in by cutting back on drapery can make a huge difference. Letting windows be windows connects us with nature and natural rhythms.

We can avoid toxins by using water and air filters and by ensuring we clean regularly with non-toxic cleaning products. Decluttering can also make spaces more human-friendly by mitigating or eliminating dust and tripping hazards.

The most important step we can take in our own space is to identify our happy place, celebrate it, and engage in it regularly. In our homes, we not only seek refuge, but find solace, rejuvenation, and a sense of purpose and inspiration. Thus, prioritizing human-centered design is a critical step toward health and well-being.