Projects at the interface of design and health are our core competency.

January 2026-December 2027

A design- and evidence-based practice project on the participation of parents of origin in the context of the foster care system

Parents who cannot care for their children themselves live in great ambivalence. Shame, guilt, anger, sadness and fear are common feelings. Together with the parents of origin, the project is developing a participation tool that supports them in contributing to the successful upbringing of their children- despite physical distance.

Research collaboration
Funding: Palatin Stiftung
Lead: Bern University of Applied Sciences / Department of Social Work / Division of Social Intervention, Fachstelle Kinderbetreuung Pflegekinder-Aktion Zentralschweiz

May 2025-May 2026

Participatory further development

kwer is a crockery set that enables or simplifies independent eating for older people and people with disabilities. It was developed together with the users and combines aesthetic design with high functionality. As part of a BRIDGE proof of concept, the existing prototypes are being further developed at the SCDH in collaboration with the users and a possible expansion of the product family is being considered.

Forschungskooperation
Funding: Swiss National Science Foundation, Innosuisse
Lead: dversa.studio / Noëmi Burkhalter

April 2025

Checking the accessibility and ergonomics of working conditions

The Humanitas Stiftung in Horgen is planning to build a new residential home. In order to ensure that it optimally meets the requirements of the residents and care staff, parts of the new building are being reviewed as part of a simulation workshop with the client's representatives, the architects and users.

Service
Client: Stiftung Humanitas

2025-2029

Evidence-based architectural design of emergency departments for greater communication, collaboration and care delivery

How does the spatial design of emergency rooms influence interactions between medical staff, and what measurable effects does the quality of communication have on job satisfaction, the frequency of burnout, staff turnover and patient care? Emergency rooms are central points of contact in hospital environments, and understanding these relationships is key to evidence based and people-oriented future designs.

Research collaboration
Funding: Swiss National Science Foundation
Lead: ETH Zürich, Northumbria University, University of Cambridge

2024-2026

Simulation workshops

With the help of projections, lightweight construction walls, context-specific furniture and mock-ups, teams from the hospital Spitalzentrum Biel, the fsp Architekten AG, the Steiger Concept AG and experts from the SCDH evaluate the floor plans for the planned new building in SCDH’s Extended-Reality Simulation Area. The objective: to identify architectural and construction challenges with regard to patient safety or the smooth workflow and delivery of care, and to avoid construction errors.

Service
Client: Spitalzentrum Biel AG

January 2025-December 2025

Development and implementation of ten half-day training programmes for the Alters- und Pflegezentrum Bruggwiesen

The individual needs, habits and abilities of residents in a retirement and nursing home are central to the design of the premises. The SCDH has developed a training programme for the Alters- und Pflegezentrum Bruggwiesen. In the realistic test rooms in the Living Lab, the entire staff is sensitised and trained in needs-based room design.

Service / professional development
Kunde: Alters- und Pflegezentrum Bruggwiesen

January 2025-December 2025

Coordination of care and assistance services for in-home dementia care

New care models are needed for the growing numbers of older persons living with dementia. To facilitate the provision of long-term care for people with dementia in their own homes, the interfaces between different providers of care and assistance services have to be identified and optimised. This is where this project comes in.

Research collaboration
Funding: Bern University of Applied Sciences
Lead: Swiss Center for Design and Health

December 2024-September 2025

Colour and material concept

Stiftung Dessaules offers assisted living units. The SCDH is developing a design concept for a new apartment, with the involvement of all user groups.

Service
Client: Stiftung Dessaules

December 2024-May 2025

Participatory and iterative development of an inclusive booking process

The aim is to optimally tailor the procedure for booking the «Accessible Tour of Switzerland» to the needs of customers with disabilities. To this end, the non-profit Claire & George Stiftung and the SCDH are collaborating to develop aspects of the user experience on the website through a participative and research-based approach as part of a project of the Swiss Innovation Agency «innovation cheque» grant programme.

Research collaboration
Funding: Swiss Innovation Agency / Innovation cheque
Lead: Claire & George Foundation

November 2024-December 2024

Examination of the shell construction

The Genolier Innovation Hub is planning to build a 450 m² «operations block». The space is slated to serve as a hub for research, development, education and training, as well as a venue for events. The primary focus, though, will be on its use as a training environment for surgeons and specialist medical personnel – as a space for practitioners to learn new techniques and test medical products.

Service
Client: Genolier Innovation Hub

6 November 2024

Workshop on developing new approaches with IKEA Switzerland

IKEA has three major focus areas for its commitment under its sustainability strategy: «Healthy & sustainable living», «Climate action & circularity» and «Fair & equal». IKEA Switzerland has chosen to focus on the housing situation of refugees and would like to contribute to its improvement.

Service
Client: IKEA Schweiz

October 2024–December 2024

Development of a mock-up and a prototype

The Commune of Muri-Gümligen near Bern would like to make their public spaces more attractive to older members of the population. Among the elements people would like to see are age-friendly walking circuits and seating options. The SCDH developed a prototype of an age-sensitive seating option, based on designs by komform GmbH; it will be one of the options in a vote by the local population.

Service
Client: Commune of Muri-Gümligen near Bern
Partner: komform GmbH

May 2024-December 2024

Promoting health literacy of patients, family members and specialist staff

There are numerous Care@home initiatives running independently of each other in Switzerland. Their aim is to facilitate cost-efficient care at home and reduce the load on the hospital infrastructure for the long term. The interactions between the various service components being planned are highlighted in a visual situation analysis for stakeholders. The project lays the groundwork for a subsequent project – the development of a learning platform.

Research collaboration
Funding: Bern University of Applied Sciences
Lead: Swiss Center for Design and Health

May 2023-December 2024

Development and implementation of an interprofessional Care@home service

Timely access for people affected by perinatal mental illness is to be improved. To this end, an interprofessional Care@home service is being developed and implemented for the period after the birth.

Research collaboration
Funding: Bern University of Applied Sciences
Lead: Universitäre Psychiatrische Dienste Bern / Universitätsklinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie

8 December 2023

Visit to a best-practice example and introduction to the topic for the Rehaklinik Hasliberg

One-day event at the SCDH for the people involved in the construction process at the rehab clinic in preparation for the refurbishment and new construction work to be undertaken at Rehaklinik Hasliberg. The group visits an example of best practice and receives an introduction to the subject of health-promoting architecture.

Service / Professional development
Kunde: Michel Gruppe AG

June 2023-October 2023

Simulation workshops

Joint evaluation of the floor plan for the new outpatient clinic in the Extended-Reality Simulation Area, with the use of projections, lightweight construction walls and context-specific furnishings and mock-ups, by the team from Bülach Hospital (Spital Bülach), the architect responsible and the SCDH’s experts. The objective: to identify architectural and construction challenges for patient safety and for the smooth flow of work and care services and to avoid construction errors.

Service
Client: Spital Bülach AG

May 2023

Development of a prototype

The mayors and representatives of Switzerland’s ten largest cities put forth a concept for the next national exhibit, calling for the «NEXPO – The new Expo» to explore new approaches: it should be sustainable, future-oriented and, above all, decentralised. The SCDH was charged developing the prototype of seating and presentation furniture piece for the concept’s launch.

Service
Client: Krauthammer & Partner

April 2023-January 2024

Design analysis and recommendations for improving the website

What does a user-friendly website look like? With this question in mind, experts from the SCDH, the Academic Society of Oncology Nursing (Akademische Fachgesellschaft Onkologiepflege), Eastern Switzerland University of Applied Sciences, the Insel Gruppe network of hospitals and the Cantonal Hospital of St. Gallen evaluate the website of the Swiss professional association for oncology nursing, Onkologiepflege Schweiz. In line with the SCDH’s participative approach, users from a variety of care settings and regions of Switzerland are involved in the evaluation.

Service
Funding: Swiss Association for Nursing Science / Akademische Fachgesellschaft Onkologiepflege
Lead: Hochschule für Gesundheit Freiburg

9 March 2023

Presentation of research results from ETH Zurich

Presentation of the results of ETH Zurich research concerning the architecture of emergency wards using the Extended-Reality Simulation Area in the Living Lab and their evaluation by participants and students using defined scenarios.

Service
Client: ETH Zürich

14 and 15 March 2023

Presentation and evaluation of the plans in the SCDH Living Lab

Evaluation of the new spaces at the Bern University of Applied Sciences (BHF) using the Extended-Reality Simulation Area. Display of planning materials, models and presentations in the Living Lab.

Service
Client: Bau- und Verkehrsdirektion Kanton Bern

March 2023

Simulation workshops

Joint evaluation of the floor plan for the surgery unit in the Extended-Reality Simulation Area, with the use of projections, lightweight construction walls and context-specific furnishings and mock-ups, by the team from Bülach Hospital (Spital Bülach), the architect responsible and the SCDH’s experts. The objective: to identify architectural and construction challenges for patient safety and for the smooth flow of work and care services and to avoid construction errors.

Service
Client: Spital Bülach AG

March 2023

Simulation workshop

Joint evaluation of the floor plans of the new outpatient clinic by the team from MEDIN Biel/Bienne and the SCDH’s experts using the Extended-Reality Simulation Area. The objective: identify architectural and structural challenges relating to patient safety or to smooth workflow and care processes and prevent construction errors.

Service
Client: MEDIN Biel/Bienne

November 2022-March 2023

Design and further development

Part children’s hospice part care facility part residence – envisaged is a multigenerational centre in which people of all ages and with a variety of support needs can receive temporary or long-term professional care and support. Experts from the SCDH and the Bern University of Applied Sciences gather information about the needs of future centre’s users and submit a report to the centre to serve as the basis for the competition brief.

Service
Client: dandelion Pflegezentrum für Menschen mit Demenz

March 2022

Analysis and recommendations for further development

WISE is a web-based patient interview tool used by the interdisciplinary pain unit at the University of Zurich’s Center for Dental Medicine to record and evaluate orofacial pain. The unit wants to increase user-friendliness in the next iteration of the tool.