Aesthetics, Inc., and Children’s Hospital and Clinics of Minnesota win international award for therapeutic art program Evidence-based program cited as a model for other children’s hospitals On the first of July, Aesthetics, Inc. of San Diego received the top international award for “Use of Art in the Patient Environment” at the 8th World Congress of the International Academy for Design & Health in Kuala Lumpur for its Arts & Healing and Urban Renewal program, designed for Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota (Children’s). Read the article here.

At the Congress, researchers and practitioners from around the world and across multiple disciplines gathered to discuss how to reshape global excellence in designing healthy environments.

The Arts & Healing and Urban Renewal program, a research-based visual and performing arts collaboration between Aesthetics and Children’s, was selected out of almost 100 submissions from organizations representing more than 30 countries. The award honors teams and individuals whose professional excellence and outstanding efforts have contributed to the progress of global knowledge while demonstrating vision and leadership in exemplary research and design initiatives that influence the international field.

Children’s multi-pronged  program creates a warm, creative atmosphere that promotes healing and enhances the child’s and family’s experience, engages patients in hands-on art projects, and forges partnerships with community arts and cultural organizations.

The Arts & Healing and Urban Renewal program was guided by Annette Ridenour, president of Aesthetics, Inc., a well-known health care design firm, based in San Diego. Annette, co-author of Transforming the Healthcare Experience Through the Arts, is a former president of the Society for the Arts in Healthcare and has been an international leader in promoting evidence-based arts programs in health care.

“Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota implemented a research-based healing arts program that is both broad, innovative and possesses salutagenic qualities,” said Prof. Alan Dilani, director-general at International Academy of Design and Health. “This program has made a positive difference for children dealing with medical issues and is an international model for other children’s hospitals.” From the first moment that one enters Children’s Hospital in Minneapolis or St. Paul, through diagnosis, treatment, and discharge, patients and families are immersed in an environment designed to support healing and promote inner resilience. Annette explained, ”The program having won this international award shows how important it is to be very strategic when designing arts programs, and is a mandate for us to design them to contribute to patient care.” Aesthetics has experience in guiding clients through the process of designing goals and evaluation programs for their arts programs.

Children’s Arts & Healing and Urban Renewal project, launched in January 2010, has been entirely supported by the generosity of the surrounding community, through individual, corporate, and government grants. The program has been well received by patients and families—80 percent indicated in a survey that they stop and personally interact with the art in the hospital. In addition, for children participating in the hands-on art projects, 41 percent said they felt better after the project.

“A growing body of evidence suggests the integration of arts positively contributes to health outcomes and the health care experience for patients, families and staff,” said Theresa Pesch, RN, executive director, Children’s Foundation, and VP, Development, Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota. “We believe that the experience of art is healing and designed an integrated program where our patients and families can view and interact with art, make art and watch live performances.”

To bring the arts program to life, Children’s partnered with leading community organizations: COMPAS, MacPhail Center for Music, the Children’s Theatre Company, Minneapolis Institute of the Arts and the Minneapolis Children’s Museum. Children’s recently added partnerships with the Guthrie Theater and the Science Museum of Minnesota.

About Aesthetics, Inc.
Aesthetics is a holistic healthcare design firm whose team of multidisciplinary designers brings simplicity, order, and beauty to wayfinding programs, interior architectural design, regional arts programs and interpretive displays. Annette Ridenour founded Aesthetics in 1980. The team's innovative work has since transformed built environments and created healing experiences by using evidence-based, patient-centered and holistic design principles. In partnership with clients, the team co-creates customized, unique spaces that inspire the human spirit, promote health and wellness, and respect human dignity. Please visit www.aesthetics.net.

About Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota
Serving as Minnesota's children's hospital since 1924, Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota is one of the largest pediatric health care organizations in the United States, with 347 staffed beds at its two hospitals in St. Paul and Minneapolis. An independent, not-for-profit health care system, Children's of Minnesota provides care through more than 12,000 inpatient visits and more than 200,000 emergency room and other outpatient clinic visits every year. Children's is the only Minnesota hospital system to provide comprehensive care exclusively to children. Please visit www.childrensmn.org.

About the International Academy for Design & Health
Founded in 1997, the International Academy for Design & Health is dedicated to the stimulation and application of research concerning the interaction between design, health, science and culture. Providing a highly visible global forum for an ongoing exchange of research findings among scientists, designers and industry, the Academy works in close partnership with an international network of governments, leading universities, health providers and commercial organizations to promote human health, well-being and quality of life through environmental design. The Academy organized the 8th Design & Health World Congress in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from June 27  to July 1, 2012, and is the publisher of World Health Design. For more information on the Design & Health International Academy Awards 2012, visit http://www.designandhealth.com/Advocacy/Awards.aspx

CCA Founder Laura Davick and CCA President & CEO Harry Helling are all smiles at the
ribbon-cutting ceremony for the donor recognition display created by Aesthetics, Inc.

A Step Back to an Oasis in Time
Crystal Cove is a preserved, restored, sliver of California coastal history along the Pacific Coast Highway just north of Laguna Beach. Prized as a quintessential California place for decades, it can be seen in Hollywood films, captured by Impressionist painters and in countless vacationers’ photos. The stretch of beach, restored cottages and educational programs are part of the State Parks system, and their survival is a real success story that you can visit and explore.
 
To preserve the legacy of Crystal Cove, the Alliance created a campaign to support cottage renovations funding. When phase two of the renovation was complete, they decided to create a donor recognition display and place it in the visitor’s center. Aesthetics, Inc. was selected as a project partner for its ability to create a design that integrates seamlessly into the interior environment of the seaside cottages.

Aesthetics completed the inventive donor recognition display in November 2011. The team incorporated found objects and materials from the original Crystal Cove cottages. The background is a collage of weathered wood that is predominant throughout the community. Three niches feature a variety of objects: authentic prohibition-era bottles, driftwood and sea glass that washed up along this section of shoreline, architectural hardware and more. In addition, a historical timeline became part of the visitor experience. It features many of the plein-air artists who were residents of the cove’s cottages and have captured segments of time in their work.

Crystal Cove Alliance Founder and President Emeritus, Laura Davick, had this to say about Aesthetics’ work: “Aesthetics, Inc. did a wonderful job creating our new donor recognition board. From the initial concept to completion, Kortney [Schemidt, director of interpretive displays and interior design] and her professional team were able to capture the uniqueness of Crystal Cove and produce a functional and engaging visual display. With the incorporation of found objects and historic images illustrating the history of Crystal Cove, the new display appears to have been part of the Historic District all along.”

To view the Crystal Cove case study, click here.

To learn more about Crystal Cove, click here: www.crystalcovealliance.org.

NASHVILLE, TN—At the recent Planetree Conference in Nashville, Aesthetics Inc. was honored to become a certified member of the Planetree Visionary Design Network. This certification further establishes Aesthetics as a specialist in evidence-based health care design, as it officially recognizes the firm for following the Planetree patient-centered philosophy and its core components of healing design.

Aesthetics CEO Annette Ridenour is a founding certified member of the Visionary Design Network and is gratified that her has been added to the network, and can help Planetree affiliates — hospitals, long-term care, and Veterans Administration facilities — to successfully align their comprehensive care of both hospital patients and long-term care residents with the Planetree model.

Connecticut-based Planetree is an international organization, recognized as a leader in patient-centered, holistic approaches to health care. The Planetree model advocates that physical environments can enhance healing, health and wellbeing, and be welcoming and accessible to patients and families.

How do you maximize healthcare outcomes?
Aesthetics, Inc., provides designs that engage the senses and break down barriers, and encourage healing partnerships with caregivers. Aesthetics uniquely implements the Planetree philosophy in maximizing positive health care outcomes. The firm’s expertise includes multiple disciplines, such as wayfinding, interior design, values and donor displays, healing arts programs, and music programs. It brings art and nature into the healing environment as healing gardens, sculpture gardens, and labyrinths.

“Members of Planetree Visionary Design Network are leaders in the field, serving as catalysts for change in healing design. They fully embrace Planetree’s philosophy of building and designing healing environments that provide the greatest opportunity for caring of the body, mind and spirit from the perspective of the patients, families and caregivers who utilize the facility,” said Planetree Director of Design Consultation Kim Montague, AIA, EDAC, LEED AP. “Additionally, the certified firms exhibit a healing environment within their own organizations through the integration of sustainable practices and staff-friendly working environments.”

Aesthetics currently is the interior designer and Planetree specialist on a large project for the VA San Diego, which has been on a Planetree journey for the past several years. Ridenour explained, “The project involves bringing Aesthetics’ multiple years of expertise with the Planetree principles to the design of a new addition that will house the Spinal Cord Injury Program and a new Community Living Center.”

For more information about bringing the experience and benefits of healing design to your organization, send an email to info@Aesthetics.net, or contact Aesthetics Marketing and Communications Manager, Claudia Previn, at 619-683-7500 ext 255.

11/01/2010
The Spirit of Excellence at Aesthetics
When you love what you do, the challenges you face do not seem as daunting. That's why when we were hired to help Carolinas Medical Center - Mercy in their journey in becoming a Planetree facility, we embraced the challenge. The planning for the $95.5 million renovation and expansion was a collaboration of numerous consultants and engaged all employees and included all the elements. We are proud to be a part of the team that helped CMC-Mercy win the Planetree Spirit Award for Architectural and Interior Design - Large Project.

11/01/2010
A Reflection of Thanksgiving
It may not seem significant to some, but recently one of our designers received an encouraging email from a vendor who said, "We still work for everyone of the hospitals we have done through Aesthetics to date. It has kept us going through these hard times the past year or so. I'm very glad our two organizations have come to work together over the years."

At Aesthetics, we pride ourselves on how we collaborate with our vendors to bring the right solutions to our clients. It is nice to know that through our work, we are establishing solid relationships that endure even the toughest of times.

10/01/10
Aesthetics Attends 2010 Planetree Conference
Aesthetics will be attending the 2010 Planetree Annual Conference (Denver, CO) as an exhibitor and invited presenter. Duane Fisher (Director of Wayfinding) will be presenting The Aesthetics Approach to Successful Planetree Wayfinding, Wednesday, Oct. 6th at 8:30am, room 210. Annette Ridenour (President) will be signing copies of her new book Transforming the Healthcare Experience through the Arts at their booth.

10/01/10
Rady Children’s Hospital Acute Care Pavilion
The Rady Children’s Hospital Acute Care Pavilion is scheduled to open October 10th, 2010. Aesthetics, Inc., through a coordinated interior design, wayfinding and art program, brought a wealth of color, light-hearted artwork and beauty to an important San Diego landmark, in a collaborative effort with Rady Children’s design and construction teams, Anshen + Allen Architects and McCarthy Building Companies.

To read the press release click here.

09/30/10
Aesthetics Attends 2010 AHP Conference
Aesthetics will be attending the 2010 Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP) Conference on October 20-23 (San Antonio, TX) as an exhibitor. Come visit our booth and learn more about our capabilities in designing custom and technology enabled donor recognition displays.

08/24/10
Heritage Pointe Interior Wayfinding Directional Signage Installation
Aesthetics designs and installs wayfinding signage system for Heritage Pointe, located in Mission Viejo, CA. Heritage Pointe is a senior living community that has been providing a continuum of care to deserving seniors throughout Orange County and Long Beach since 1980.

08/23/10
Tacoma General New Milgard Pavilion Exterior Sign Installation
Aesthetics designs and installs free standing and building signs at Tacoma General’s Milgard Pavilion – New ED Department. This is Milgard’s first phase of a multi-phase new wayfinding and signage system implementation.

08/23/10
St. Joseph’s Mercy - Oakland Art Installation
Aesthetics completes a Call for Art and art installation at St. Joseph’s Mercy Hospital in Oakland, MI. Over 150 original pieces of art was installed. This totals about 281 pieces of art in the past five years.

06/30/10
YMCA of Newport Beach Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
Melissa Schramm, Project Coordinator for the Interpretive Display team, attended the YMCA of Newport Beach Ribbon Cutting Ceremony honoring the new 2010 Partners Campaign display, which was designed and installed by Aesthetics. Aesthetics was honored to be a part of this wonderful event, and proud our work has such a positive impact on our clients and their environments.

To learn more about the YMCA of Newport Beach, click here.

06/30/10
Dedication Ceremony at Sharp Coronado
Sharp Coronado had a dedication ceremony in April to honor Capt. Richard and Mrs. Barbara Sewall with a plaque created by Aesthetics, for their generosity over the years. The dedication ceremony was for the upgrade of two brand-new, state-of-the-art elevators at Sharp Coronado.

For information on Sharp Coronado, visit http://www.sharp.com/coronado

06/16/10
The Channel City Club
Annette discusses her book "Transforming the Healthcare Experience through the Arts". The Channel City Club was founded over 60 years ago in Santa Barbara, California, to provide the community with a local venue for outstanding speakers on state, national, and international issues.

For more information, visit http://channelcityclub.org/