Design that aims to promote or maintain health should always be informed design. In this context, consistent and transdisciplinary research plays a significant role. Meanwhile, a wide range of scientific and popular sources is available, both web-based and in print. To get a rough overview of exciting sources, you will find a first selection here.

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Concepts & Approaches

SEA-Ansatz-Designinstitut-fuer-Gesunde-Gestaltung

Systemic evidence-based approach of health-promoting design (SEA)

The model presented here describes an evidence-based interdisciplinary approach to the evaluation, design and optimization of spaces, products and systems in the context of health promotion. Its application is not limited to explicit areas of therapy and health promotion (e.g. clinics and medical practices). It can also be used in other contexts (e.g. schools, urban spaces, workplace health promotion) to systematically address the influence of the built environment on health and to optimize these contexts in this respect.

Tools & Templates

Patient Persona Template

This template is intended to serve as a guide for developing patient personas. However, it should always be considered which benefit the personas should fulfill and for which project the method is used. Therefore, it can often be useful to adapt available templates.

Patient Journey Map Template

A schematic framework such as this template can be useful for developing the Patient Journey during workshops or initial conceptual phases. As is often the case with templates, it is important to ensure that the structure and design meet the requirements of the project in question.

Touchpoint Inventory Template

In order to develop coherent multi-channel experiences, it is of enormous importance to systematically record the relevant channels, stages, and touchpoints. Such a touchpoint inventory can be very helpful, especially for patient experience design. The template presented here is intended to facilitate this process.

System of health-promoting design

This table describes a rough overview of relevant topics and methods of health promoting design. It represents a starting point for research and conception.

Publications of the "Designinstitut" and its employees

Müller, H. & Rehn-Groenendijk, J. (2024). Der unkalkulierte Gewinn – Wie bedürfnisorientierte, wissenschaftlich informierte Gestaltung biopsychosoziale Potentiale des gebauten Raums erschließen kann. Zeitschrift für Wohnmedizin und Bauhygiene, 62(3), 124-128.

Systemic Evidence-based Approach of Health-promoting Design
Müller, H. & Rehn-Groenendijk, J. (2024). Systemischer Evidenz-basierter Ansatz der Gesunden Gestaltung (SEA): Die Arbeitsweise des Designinstituts für Gesunde Gestaltung auf der Grundlage eines biopsychosozialen Gesundheitsmodells. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.23057.20322.

A process to foster pathology-related effects of design primes
Rehn-Groenendijk, J., Schuster, K., Müller, H. & Chrysikou, E. (2023). A process to foster pathology-related effects of design primes – how orthopedic patients might benefit from design features that influence health behaviour intention. Frontiers in Psycholology, 14, 1211563. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1211563

Das Unbekannte als Lösungsstrategie (PDF)
Rehn, J. (2020). Das Unbekannte als Lösungsstrategie. Designmethodologische Betrachtung von Prozessen in Richtung einer nachhaltigen Entwicklung. sofia-Diskussionsbeiträge zur Institutionenanalyse Nr. 20-3, Darmstadt. ISBN: 978-3-941627-80-2 <>

Clinic Design as Placebo (PDF)
Rehn, J. & Schuster, K. (2017). Clinic Design as Placebo – Using Design to Promote Healing and Support Treatments. Behavioral Sciences, 7(4), 77. DOI: 10.3390/bs7040077.

Design primes to change health behaviour
Rehn, J. & Schuster, K. (2021). Design primes to change health behaviour – Using aesthetic features for health behaviour change. European Journal of Public Health, 31 (Supplement_3), ckab164.344. DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckab164.344.

Gesunde Gestaltung
Rehn, J. (2019). Gesunde Gestaltung. Priming- und Placebo-Effekte als gesundheitsverhaltenswirksame empiriegestützte Gestaltungsmethodik. Wiesbaden: Springer Fachmedien.

Ecopsychosocial environments for health and mental health
Chrysikou, E.; Rehn, J.; Savvopoulou, E.; Petelos, E. (2020): Ecopsychosocial environments for health and mental health. In: European Journal of Public Health 30 (Supplement_5), Artikel ckaa165.974. DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckaa165.974.

The bigger picture for healthcare design
Jonas Rehn (2021): The bigger picture for healthcare design – Using evidence-based design and co-creation to develop more effective concepts for the healthcare system.

Empirische Designforschung und gesundheitsfördernde Gestaltung
Rehn, Jonas (2019): Empirische Designforschung und gesundheitsfördernde Gestaltung. In: Gabriel Dörner (Hg.): Ästhetik der heilsamen Orte. Positionen zur Gesundheitsarchitektur. Weimar: LUCIA-Verlag, S. 156-170.

Design model for health behaviour change
Rehn, Jonas (2018): Design model for health behaviour change. In: Christer Kirsty, Claire Craig und Dan Wolstenholme (Hg.): Proceedings of the 5th European International Conference on Design4Health. Sheffield, UK, 4th – 6th September 2018: Sheffield Hallam University. <>

Everyday objects as therapeutic elements
Rehn-Groenendijk, J., Chrysikou, E. & Müller, H. (2022). Everyday objects as therapeutic elements in psychiatric wards – A theoretical design framework to strengthen patients’ valorization and control. Design for Health, DOI: 10.1080/24735132.2022.2143157.

Urban design interventions
Müller, H., Rehn-Groenendijk, J., & Wasmer, A. (2022). Urban design interventions for fostering mental health and mental health literacy, European Journal of Public Health, Volume 32, Issue Supplement_3, ckac129.394, https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckac129.394

Risk factors and potentials for fostering mental health and wellbeing in urban space
Müller, H.; Rehn-Groenendijk, J.; Wasmer, A. (2022): Risk factors and potentials for fostering mental health and wellbeing in urban space. In: European Journal of Public Health 32 (Supplement_3), Artikel ckac129.395. DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckac129.395.

System Innovations in Design for Aging
Rehn, J. (2020). System Innovations in Design for Aging. A Research-Driven Multi-Stakeholder Framework for Transforming Health Systems. International Academic Forum (Hrsg.): The European Conference on Aging & Gerontology 2019. Official Conference Proceedings. EGen 2019. University College London, 08.12.2019. Naka Ward, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan, S. 13-20.

Research sources