Design is not just making something visually appealing. When done well, design results in a product that is both purposeful and beautiful. Good design can improve clinical spaces immensely, which is something we and our clients have experienced firsthand. Our mobile infusion carts for University of Minnesota Health and our headwall for Advocate Lutheran General Hospital both took a product…
As extravagant and luxurious as they’ve become, locker rooms aren’t just there to make a statement and look pretty. Their functions aren’t limited to acting as a changing room and storage space, either. As players and coaches will attest, locker rooms play a big role in team building. They’re the place where everything pre- and post-game…
Entry 1Hi, I’m Shelfie. I assume you’ve heard about my adventures in the miserable outdoors from my owners at Shield. It probably sounds super cheery and not horrible. Well, not everything you read on the internet is true. A lot of things—such as, just as a random example, the Shieldren’s account of what happened to…
Global warming has been part of a public conversation for years, but it’s lately become much less of a two-sided debate. Amidst increasing evidence of climate change, the push for sustainable practices has risen, especially in architecture. But it’s not just buildings that are designed with the environment in mind. Everyday goods like shoes, bikes and…
Wake up, go to school. Study for tests, raise your hand to answer questions. Wear appropriate clothing. Say the right things, behave the right way.Education is so important for children, and schools are the best places to foster a love of learning. But sometimes they’re too good at standardizing students—at producing students who are great…
At Shield, sustainability is important. We aim to promote sustainability and create a better world with every action we take. “Going green” is just part of who we are. We take steps each day to promote sustainability, both in the office and in the shop. Here are 4 ways Shield goes green every single day.In the…
White isn’t the new black, but it’s pretty close. Easily accessorized, clean and space enhancing, white is a great color for many environments. If you couldn’t tell from our work, we love white—especially white casework. There are a lot of reasons for our love of this color, but here are just 5 reasons to love white…
Our president Stephen Hopkins will soon be co-presenting an AIA Trends in Healthcare lecture on the future role of mass-customization in healthcare design and construction. Using the The Cambridge Tower as a case study of mass-customization implementation, Stephen and his co-presenters will discuss how this new technique works in practice.We interviewed Stephen on his source of…
Do a quick internet search of the best ways to boost creativity and you’ll find thousands of articles and posts bursting with suggestions. Everyone, it seems, has a different approach to channeling creative thinking, but there are a few repeated pieces of advice that always come to the forefront. We read through some of our recent creativity…
Many of today’s healthcare facilities look like they jumped right off the page of a 1992 design catalog. They just aren’t that pretty. But they don’t have to be unappealing and, in fact, they shouldn’t be–at least for the benefit of the patients. Guest blogger Angela Mazzi explains the faults of most healthcare designs and…