Big trees grow from tiny seeds. That’s a fact that doubles as a metaphor, of course, reminding us that even fledgling ideas may have a huge impact if fueled with time, attention, and money.
At HGA, we’ve noticed that some of the tallest trees spring from the seeds of research, even if the studies and investigations have no immediately obvious application. And we’re not the only organization that sees value in supporting exploration. At Google, for example, employees are encouraged to spend 20 percent of their time on projects that lie outside their core expertise—a practice that ultimately led to the development of the company’s lucrative AdSense product. Similarly, the World Bank provides microgrants of modest amounts to entrepreneurs in developing countries—with an aim to fuel economic growth.
In both cases, small investments—of time and money—are intended to reap creative and financial dividends.
A wide range of research interests
In 2015, HGA launched a company-wide program that provides employees with resources to explore a topic that relates to our business. The annual program allows employees to conduct research, develop innovative tools and processes, and delve into areas of interest outside their typical domains.
Staff can apply for either a nano-grant, which gives them 20 hours over the course of a year to research a topic, or a micro-grant, which provides 60 to 80 hours to dig into an idea. Awards are made by a committee made up of employees from across the company.
Staff have leveraged the program to explore such topics as:
- Design optimization through AI
- Remote work and cross-office collaboration
- Pathways to net-zero lab design
- Sustainable practices in tenant-improvement projects
- Inclusive restroom design
- Water-pipe sizing in healthcare projects
Proposals are evaluated based on overall strength and relevance, as well as methodology and approach. Participants are expected to share their findings once the research is complete. Micro-grant recipients must make a formal presentation that HGA staff can attend. Nano-grant recipients must produce a five-minute video recording of the resulting insights and outcomes.
To date, HGA has awarded more than $300,000 in funding to nearly 130 projects.
Benefits that Extend to Clients
Some research projects are done in collaboration with HGA’s clients and may provide them with valuable insights.
One recent micro-grant-funded study examined the performance of two orthopedic surgery centers at Bellin Health in Green Bay, Wisconsin. A team of HGA designers compared a universal layout to a traditional layout to discern where there were overlaps and efficiencies. Through this research, both the client and research team gained a deeper understanding of the pluses/deltas of both care models. The findings also informed the design of a new ambulatory surgery center for the same healthcare facility.
Another micro-grant-funded research effort focused on the impact that visual art in healthcare facilities can have on staff, patients, and visitors. The research involved collaboration with MetroHealth, whose new Glick Center, an acute care hospital designed by HGA in Cleveland, Ohio, is filled with artwork, much of it reflecting the culture and landscape of the city’s West Side neighborhood, where the facility is located. One large piece, for example, shows Cleveland from the air, with its structures and landscapes clearly recognizable. A series of portraits in the facility’s trauma unit depicts past patients. Rather than the biophilic images of farm fields and lush forests that comprise the artwork at other facilities, the MetroHealth artwork is a mirror of the people and place it serves.
HGA staff wanted to know how people reacted to the artwork, so in 2023, funded by a micro-grant, they conducted a survey of 230 individuals, including caregivers, patients, family, and community members. Overall, the survey found that respondents described the environment as colorful, nice, and unexpected. Recorded comments suggest that the artwork provoked a positive reaction and met the hospital’s goal to reflect the Cleveland community.
Survey participants said:
- “The artwork displayed at Glick is very unique and awe inspiring.”
- “I think we’re used to seeing hospital artwork as very blah. But this artwork is electric, exciting, and colorful. It provokes happiness.”
- “The art was more reflective of the community and not just nature. I feel welcome and seen for who I am as a person, as a member of the community and as a patient in this hospital.”
As noted in the comments, the precedent for artwork in healthcare facilities has been largely focused on nature-based imagery. But MetroHealth’s approach suggests alternative ideas for other healthcare systems considering or implementing an arts program. Linda Jackson, director of the Center for the Arts in Health, says HGA’s micro-grant-funded study helped reinforce the organization’s decision to emphasize local art. It also adds to the growing body of research that explores the measurable impact of art in healthcare settings.
“It reaffirmed and validated that we are on the right track.” Jackson says. “This does have a positive impact in supporting our patients, caregivers, and community.”
HGA has long supported a culture for innovation across market sectors and disciplines. Through the Design Insight Group, the firm engages in a broad-based approach to research to develop new knowledge through exploration. For more information, visit HGA Research & Innovation.
About the Author
Terri Zborowsky
As an Evidence-based Design Researcher, Terri focuses on the intersection of user experience and human interaction within the built environment. Beginning her career as a registered nurse, she then obtained a PhD and master’s degree in interior design.