Designing with Empathy: Insights from Lauren O’Donnell

We spoke with Lauren about her approach to designing healthcare environments that are as empathetic as they are functional. With extensive experience leading diverse projects across Australia, she shares how she blends innovation with human-centred design to create spaces that genuinely support recovery and care.

Designing with Empathy: Shaping the Future of Healthcare Spaces

I’m passionate about pushing the boundaries of health architecture. With a focus on innovation and forward-thinking design solutions, I’m dedicated to meeting the ever-evolving needs of both healthcare users and providers. Through my leadership on a diverse range of projects across Australia, I’ve developed a broad, multi-faceted expertise, allowing me to deliver designs that are as functional as they are transformative.

Designing for Patient Experience

Central to my philosophy is the idea that architecture and interiors work together to shape the human experience. While the exterior of a healthcare facility is often experienced from an eye-level view, typically as you move from the carpark to the entrance, it’s the interior that truly influences how people feel. The time spent in interior spaces is where patients, staff, and visitors engage most deeply. From the colours and lighting to the materials and details, every aspect plays a role in how a space makes you feel.

In healthcare design, the ultimate goal is to create environments that foster recovery, spaces that nurture both the physical and emotional well-being of those within them.

A Holistic Approach to Acute and Mental Health Spaces

Whether designing for acute care or mental health, my approach is rooted in empathy and a deep understanding of the users' needs. I emphasize the importance of considering the emotional journey that patients and users undergo when they enter a healthcare facility.

For acute care, I envision the experience of a patient anxiously awaiting a procedure in a pre-surgical holding bay; someone unfamiliar with the process and perhaps apprehensive about undergoing an aesthesia. How can the clinical environment be softened to make the space less sterile and more reassuring?

In mental health facilities, the scenario might involve a patient who is anxious about their first visit to the shared dining area. The challenge is to create a space that feels familiar, encourages natural conversation, and fosters a sense of connection with others, making people feel welcomed and supported during vulnerable moments.

Our Philosophy

At the core of HSPC’s design philosophy is the belief that the size, scale, materials, colours, and lighting of a space all play crucial roles in shaping the patient experience. For example, there’s a growing trend towards incorporating warm timbers into healthcare design to introduce a natural element into spaces that are often perceived as cold or sterile. However, it's essential to balance this with practical considerations, such as infection control, cleanability, and robustness, ensuring the materials meet the strict requirements of healthcare environments.

Every design decision I make is driven by a single question: How can this space support the people who use it and enhance their experience, whether they are patients, caregivers, or staff?

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