Unveiling Innovation: Inside the 2024 Healthcare Design Expo with Kim
Hi there! I’m Kim, an interior designer at OEX, and I just returned from the Healthcare Design (HCD) Conference and Expo in Indianapolis. My mind is freshly buzzing with inspiration and ideas for my upcoming design projects thanks to the Expo. There is something truly invaluable about experiencing different types of furniture up close—seeing, touching, and feeling it in person rather than just scrolling through a catalog… a game changer in my line of work.
We saw a wide range of healthcare furniture, from behavioral health options to patient reclining and gliding chairs. Many had fold-down arms to ensure safe transport, eliminating pinch points for patients while enhancing safety. Midmark even featured a slick new examination chair that boasted more accurately collecting blood pressure data based on optimal patient posture.
My biggest takeaway from the Expo? The tactile experience of sitting in and using the furniture. I found that essential for my design approach. As I explored, I thought, these products and materials would be perfect for the lobbies and patient rooms in my upcoming healthcare project! I even stumbled upon some intriguing new wall-mounted cabinets from a manufacturer we’re just starting to collaborate with. These clever designs allow nurses to tuck away their computers, maximizing workspace while keeping everything neat and secure. Genius, right?
The beauty of events like this is the opportunity to share and gain new perspectives. One fellow attendee, a furniture sales rep, asked what I found most interesting. While she found the aspect of furniture sales most intriguing, I shared how (as a designer) I was captivated by textures, colors, arrangements and flooring layouts. It’s amazing how we can learn from one another at these expos—every conversation is a chance to expand our horizons and improve ourselves as professionals.
Do you have a healthcare space in need of a makeover? We’re ready and thrilled to offer you tailored healthcare furniture and interior design solutions to transform your environment into one of functionality, safety and timeless beauty. Let’s create something extraordinary together!