A Review of concepts, characteristics, and guidelines of the supportive design of healing environments
Background Background: Supportive design is a medium of communication for healing environments to maintain and enhance individual’s health from the perspective of user-centered design. This concept is necessary to improve the healing effects of individuals in healthcare design. The aims of this study were to (1) review the concept and characteristics of supportive design and (2) propose guidelines including factors that should be considered for supportive design. Method For this study, previous literature on healing environment, theory of supportive design, and healthcare design were reviewed and analyzed. Results Factors of supportive design, based on the nature distraction design intervention proposed by Cooper Marcus (2007)are categorized by three factors such as human factors (individual needs), spatial factors (physical environment), and behavioral factors (interaction behavior). Guidelines for supportive design, therefore, present three factors and 36 items. Each item reflects users psycho-social, cognitive, functional, and public aspects. Conclusion The guidelines presented in this paper have the following characteristics. First, comfortability enhances the effect of healing by providing a user-friendly environment. Second, positive distraction increases the effect of healing by reducing stress and pain. Third, the role of design intervention is a communication medium in order to connect with healing environments.