Where does innovation come from?
Where does innovation come from? How do we leap beyond the path of predictability into new territory?
Historically, design competitions have accelerated change. They present an ideal venue for challenging the status quo with fresh, new visions. Once these new visions are recognized for their contribution, a new benchmark becomes established for higher levels of excellence to be achieved in subsequent competitions.
The Center for Health Design's vision is to encourage and accelerate the widespread development of life-enhancing environments. The reason we pursue this vision is our conviction that the physical environment can improve peoples' health and well-being.
The development of life-enhancing environments is pioneering work. Few useful models exist in the United States, particularly since World War II. Where models do exist, rarely is there scientific documentation available that credibly establishes the relationship between the environment and the outcomes.
We initiated the annual Healthcare Design Competition nine years ago to stimulate pioneering efforts in the quest for creating sound, practical strategies for the development of life-enhancing health care environments. During these nine years, more than $50,000 in cash and awards have been given to recognize the visionary ideas of interior design, architecture and industrial design students and professionals, as well as design educators. Winning submittals have included product design ideas, environmental design ideas, research projects, built furniture and artwork and built environments.
The Healthcare Design Competition is approved by the Interior Design Educators' Council (IDEC) and is developed in partnership with the American Institute of Architecture Students. Each year, the center receives financial support for this competition from several product manufacturers who want to encourage the exploration of new territories in design. In 1995, these sponsors were Armstrong World Industries, Columbus Coated Wallcoverings, Guard Contract Wallcoverings, Kimball International/ Kimball Healthcare, Masland Carpets and Satinesque Contract Wallcoverings.
The judging criteria is intended to stimulate new thinking. Entrants are asked to submit innovative design ideas that solve problems. Entries are evaluated according to their contribution to life-enhancement in a healing environment, level of innovation, aesthetic value, ease of manufacture and response to competition requirements.
There is no entry fee for the competition. Each year, the center receives between 50 and 100 submittals. In the case of students, sometimes a class will work on a project and the entire class will submit this project. Often, students will develop projects for their thesis and submit them. Occasionally, projects are submitted by teams of individuals.
All of this aside, the real question is what is different as a result of the Healthcare Design Competition? For one thing, many innovative ideas have been brought to the attention of thousands of individuals. This exposure has enabled many to stand on the shoulders of the winners by sharing in the implementation of new ideas.
In addition, scores of winners have managed to promote their ideas and advance their careers as a direct result of this exposure. This is particularly true in the case of students, who so much need a distinguishing advantage as they enter the job market.
You are invited to step in to the shoes of a pioneer. Perhaps your idea will contribute to the further development of life-enhancing health care environments and bring you global recognition.
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