Our efforts are not confined to websites and printed literature. This interesting collaboration between Siemens Medical and Edinburgh’s Sick Kids Hospital saw us create a calming graphic environment for the new MRI and CT units.

In responding to the brief, we recommended that floor to ceiling permanent panels be installed in the anaesthetic, scanning and recovery rooms. A hospital visit can be a frightening experience for young children. To counter this, we proposed to transform what was an austere interior into a welcoming environment where children embark on a ‘journey’ from ocean floor to a tranquil desert island as they pass through the rooms. The choice of the imagery was influenced by the psychology of colours and imagery, and the feel-good factor they can evoke. The predominance of the colour blue in the panel images was no accident. Blue, being the colour of the mind, is known for its ability to sooth. Strong, dark blues are known to stimulate clear thought, while lighter shades are calming. Water, as everyone knows, has similar qualities.

In addition to the psychological benefits, the panels had the additional bonus of making the units appear larger - the three dimensional quality of the installation gives the rooms an open, airy feel. This, coupled with colour co-ordinated floor tiles, creates the illusion of space in cramped conditions. It is planned to apply the concept to other areas of the hospital - a sure sign that project expectations were exceeded.