Annette Ridenour

Annette has been a leader in health care design for 30+ years as president and founder of Aesthetics, Inc., her multidisciplinary design firm. She has been described as a practical visionary for her ability to combine explorative thought with strategic thinking focused upon implantation. She is a natural group leader with healthcare organizations, assisting them in their processes to create physical facility development, which reflects their institutional mission and goals.

Annette was one of the pioneers of the field of art and healthcare. She served as one of the original board members and is a past national president of the Society for the Arts in Healthcare. In 2002, she co-founded the Blair L. Sadler International Healing Arts Awards to recognize exemplary arts projects that have measurably improved the quality of healthcare.

Annette and Blair Sadler coauthored Transforming the Healthcare Experience through the Arts in December 2009, a book that provides the business case for arts and healthcare, an overview of research and evaluation, best practices and award winning case studies.

Numerous articles by and about her have appeared in such publications as Healthcare Design, Health Facilities Management, Healthcare Building Ideas, and Spirituality & Health. As early as 1998, an article of hers on art and healthcare was published in JAMA.

In the early 90s, Annette expanded Aesthetics’ practice to interior design, wayfinding and interpretive displays, providing a breadth of tools for the design of cohesive physical environments meant to enhance and sustain healing.

Annette is also cofounder of Aesthetics Audio Systems, a national firm providing evidence-based sound and music solutions for healthcare environments. She is a member of the Planetree Visionary Design Network and provides holistic design services to Planetree members.

Her design leadership assists clients in maintaining the original vision and values of the project through the long and complex stages of design and construction.

AWARDS

2014 Generative Space Award
The St. Joseph Mercy Oakland South Tower was awarded the 2014 Generative Space Award to recognize it as A Place to Flourish ®. The Tower was designed by HKS Architects, with Generative Space Consulting by Annette Ridenour. This award was presented to Annette at the Healthcare Facilities Symposium and Expo in Chicago, IL 30 September 2014

2012 Use of Art in the Patient Environment
Winner: Arts & Healing and Urban Renewal Program
Commissioned by CHCMN
Designed by Aesthetics, Inc

2012 President’s Award
Santa Barbara Beautiful Recognizes New Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. 48th Annual Awards Event

2012 Academy for Design & Health
Aesthetics won first place for Art in the Patient Environment from the International Academy for Design & Health

2012 Founders Award
2012 Founders Award from the Healthcare Facilities Symposium & Expo. “For Dedication and Service to the Ideals of the Healthcare Facilities Symposium and Expo.”

2011 SAH
Society for the Arts in Healthcare Award of Recognition as Distinguished Fellow
For outstanding vision, leadership, and commitment to excellence in the field of arts in healthcare.

2006 Janice Palmer Award
SAH – Annette was the recipient of the Janice Palmer Award for Lifetime Achievement. She is also an Ambassador of the Society for the Arts in Healthcare, now called the Global Alliance for Art & Health.

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

Healthcare Facilities Symposium and Expo
Orlando, FL
September 19-21, 2016
“Generative Space Intensive”
“Museums- A Hospital’s best friend?”

Healthcare Design Conference
San Diego, CA
Nov. 15 – 18, 2015