ABSTRACT
Design in healthcare faces a challenge similar to the practice of plastic surgery. Design is viewed by the general public and healthcare decision-makers as purely aesthetic. Plastic surgeons problem solve by understanding the principles of how tissue behaves and how it will interact with the ecosystem of the human body. Designers can create tools and toolkits to empower community members to serve medical needs. With human resources accounting for a large proportion of healthcare costs, it is increasingly important to identify resources to support patients outside of the formal care team. Fable Hospital was created as a novel way to present evidence in support of the business case for better physical spaces as a key component of better, safer and less wasteful healthcare. The HELIX Centre challenged itself to explore ways to promote physical activity in children that was low-cost, sociable and fun, all outside of the traditional healthcare walls.
