Interior Design Commons^™

Exploring Spatial Arrangements And Smart Technology To Manage Cognitive Load In Kitchens For Aging In Place, Monique Chabot

Full-Text Theses & Dissertations

Older adults undergo natural physiological changes in various physical and cognitive functions, including balance, strength, memory, attention, and executive functioning. Memory, attention, and executive functioning integrate to form functional cognition, a skill that allows people to safely and efficiently complete daily tasks. Functional cognition is integral to the ability to age in place and is sensitive to demands in the environment. While a decline in some cognitive functions is expected with age, it is not typically observable except in the presence of pathological conditions or situations of cognitive overload from complex tasks or high environmental demands.

Older adults have identified …

Designing Sensory Adaptive Environments To Enhance Participation In Healthcare For Autistic Children, Lady Rios-Vega, Amy Carroll, Rachel Dumont, Diane Treadwell‑Deering, Matthew Fields, Roseann Schaaf

Jefferson Autism Center of Excellence Faculty Papers

Purpose: Many autistic individuals experience sensory features that impact participation in healthcare. In this study, we aimed to identify the needs of autistic children during healthcare participation and, based on the findings, generate solutions to improve participation in healthcare. Methods: A design-thinking approach with qualitative methods was used. First, observation of the environment and journey mapping were completed as part of the empathy stage of design thinking. Next, six parents of autistic children completed semi-structured interviews. The interviews were transcribed, and thematic analysis was used to identify themes. Next, healthcare providers participated in a group session to discuss experiences caring …

Understanding Indian Interior Design Education: From The Indian Design Professionals' Perspective, Darshi Mody

Full-Text Theses & Dissertations

Higher design education in India is not recognized as one of the major educational pathways, which has led to a system in which both public and private institutions offer design degrees without reference to fixed standards of curriculum and uniformity. There is also a lack of publicly available information and knowledge about design schools along with the immense complexity and diversity within the offerings of different design programs at various institutions (Coyle, Lotten, & Dubber, 2015). Prospective design students are at risk of pursuing courses of studies that neither adequately prepare nor credential them for professional work or graduate studies. …