Testimonials

“It is very clear that Aesthetics knows their business — including a growing body of research that indicates a healing environment with positive distractions that stimulate the imagination can substantially reduce anxiety, perception of pain and potentially decrease the time spent in hospital. As a result, we are confident that our institution will be a world-leader in the patient healing experience and, through the help of Aesthetics, will be an inspiring place that heals the mind, body and spirit. We unreservedly and enthusiastically recommend Annette Ridenour and Aesthetics Inc.”

Debora Sweeney, Vice President & Chief Strategy Officer
BC Children’s Hospital Foundation, Vancouver, BC

“Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford has been working with Annette Ridenour from Aesthetics Inc on developing an art program for their 521,000 square foot expansion since the start of the project back in 2009. We were fortunate enough to have her expertise on board in the design phase so we could incorporate architecturally significant art into the project. From the beginning, Annette and her team have been instrumental in guiding the development of the arts program.

Annette quickly assimilated the vision of Lucile Packard into the overall art program. The connection to nature, focus of family centered care and improving the patient and family experience was reflected in the ideas that she put forth to the leaders at the hospital. The ideas brought forward and executed in the art plan were innovative, current and in some instances incorporated technology in to the plan. Annette also led the effort to obtain both family and children feedback on key aspects of the plan.”

Jill Ann Sullivan, Vice President Hospital Transformation and Space Planning
Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford, Palo Alto, CA

“Aesthetics played a key role in our successful Guild Hall of Fame project – from concept to project close they have been the perfect partner. The collaboration, the attention to detail and the follow through, have been excellent. So, much so, we are now using Aesthetics extensively.”

Jessie Hudgins, Vice President of Facilities
Valley Children’s Hospital, Madera, CA

“Every single day as I walk the halls of this hospital, I am grateful for the beautiful work Aesthetics provided for us. It is such a blessing to so many patients, employees, family members, physicians and visitors each day. The signage is effective and beautiful, the music is refreshing, the artwork is soothing and the overall feel is very special. To this day, I love giving tours of our wonderful healing place.”

Sandy Cavanaugh, Vice President of Community Development
Exempla Good Samaritan Medical Center, Lafayette, CO

“The architect gave us the beautiful building and Aesthetics put our face on it.”

Bob Wiley, Associate Director of Facilities
Biogen Idec, San Diego, CA

“I have had the pleasure of working with Aesthetics, Inc., in my capacity at LLUMC and previously during my work at Exempla Good Samaritan Medical Center in Colorado. It was their practice of evidence-based design, their experience in complex healthcare design environments, and their commitment to excellent service that prompted me to recommend them to work with our design and delivery partners when I joined LLUMC. Their involvement has been invaluable in developing a strategic wayfinding program, interior design master plans and an arts program, to be phased in over the next several years of extensive facility upgrades. Their approach utilizes tools to reinforce institutional branding, improve customer service and the hospitality feel, and tell stories of our hospital’s innovations in science and caring, while reflecting our institution’s faith-based mission.”

Jesse Mock, VP of Facilities and Environment
Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda, CA

“Aesthetics is unique. They listen to what the client wants, and then creatively develop and implement the project. Their ability to assist in developing an organization’s vision is wonderful! Working with them on Wayfinding Systems and Art Programs for over fifteen years, I rely on their consistent ability to meet our needs.”

Blair Sadler, Past President
Rady Children’s Hospital, San Diego, CA

“There are many wonderful parts of the building such as the gardens, colors, artwork, lighting, quietness and furniture that complement each other to create such a caring environment. Aesthetics and the artists it engaged brought a new kind of energy to interior design, one I think we all felt and which raised our awareness of the many ways that healing takes place. The beauty of the facility and the sense that we all had some part in creating it rubs off on your day-to-day attitude toward working here.”

Tim Jacoby, Vice President of Facilities
Rady Children’s Hospital and Health Center, San Diego, CA

“This beautiful new facility doesn’t just bring happiness and comfort to patients, families, and visitors; it brings these same feelings to staff as well. Because it was created so collaboratively, we can each feel a sense that we had a hand in creating a healing environment. The amazement and happiness that we saw in the parents’ faces when their children were moved into their rooms in the new building was incredible and reinforced our perception that a healing superb environment was created.”

Tim Jacoby, Vice President of Facilities
Rady Children’s Hospital and Health Center, San Diego, CA

“I am very pleased with the work Aesthetics has done on this project. They have captured the essence of our values.”

Stephanie Weber, Executive Director, Friends of Mercy
Mercy Hospital Bakersfield, Bakersfield, CA

“When we first met the Aesthetics team, we were a hospital with a 100-year history of expansion and no idea how to help our patients and customers find their destinations. In a few short months, Aesthetics produced a cohesive and graphically exciting wayfinding plan to accommodate not only the older hospital facility, but also our new 200,000 sq. ft. advanced medicine pavilion. I marvel at their ability to assess the problems and provide solutions in an organized, efficient, and cost-effective manner. I can’t imagine anyone better in the business.”

Kim Williams, Director of Marketing & Public Relations
St. Mary’s Hospital & Regional Medical Center, Grand Junction, CO

“It is a pleasure to recommend Aesthetics. They are an outstanding team. Their work is excellent and the outcome superb.”

S. Vita Gray, F.A.C.H.E. Senior Vice President (Retired)
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA

“In less than a year and a half, Annette led the effort to create a road map for and implement a phenomenal Arts & Healing Project that has become a cornerstone of our family-centered model of care and our brand. Drawing upon her vast knowledge of the arts and patient-focused care methodologies, Annette helped us establish a community task force, create a project mission and guidelines, and establish formal partnerships for arts programs throughout our hospital campuses with our local arts community, including the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Children’s Theatre Company and MacPhail Center for Music. For each program, Annette is working with our research team to conduct studies that we believe will demonstrate the positive contribution art programs can make to health outcomes, patient safety, and the quality of the healthcare experience for patients, families and staff.”

Theresa Pesch, RN, Executive Director, Children’s Foundation and Vice President, Development
Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota

“It wasn’t until we brought in the expertise of Aesthetics that we were able to move from lofty vision to strategic implementation of our Arts & Healing and Urban Renewal initiative at Children’s of Minnesota. Moreover, the team from Aesthetics has been embraced by every facet of our organization as they work to help bring our vision to reality.”

Mark P. Heymans, Senior Major Gifts Officer
Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN

“The donor wall is a huge, huge success. Everyone loves it and some have told me it is the best-looking donor wall they have ever seen. It is modern, colorful and easily readable. People stop me in the hall and tell me how much they like it. Everyone is happy and I thank you for all of your help.”

Myrna Shields, CO, Director of Admin.
Community Foundation of the Jewish Federation of Orange County, Irvine, CA

“Transformational is a word that we frequently use in fundraising because philanthropic dollars have the ability to deepen, enhance, and yes, literally change a program or an organization. Transforming is also a word that I would use to describe the Healing Arts Program at Cottage Health System. It was a journey that started with a bold idea and grew into a program that our hospital and our community has embraced and will sustain for generations to come.”

Carla Long, Director of Planned Giving
Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital

“Aesthetics, Inc. has been the wayfinding design consultant of choice for AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, both the Mainland and City campuses. I have trusted Annette Ridenour and her team of talented designers, architects, and artists to guide and inform projects in wayfinding, donor and the arts. Working with our architects, interior designers and consultants, Aesthetics was the wonderful thread that made the project beautiful and meaningful. Each facility has its own image, brand, clientele and staff. Aesthetics, in its assessment process, developed wayfinding, donor and art that is individual for each campus. Aesthetics’ strong commitment to regional arts programs not only engaged the community, but garnered praise and attention for our facilities from local and regional media.”

Glen Ann Stoll, CFRE, Director of Community and Cultural Enrichment
AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center

“Wayfinding provides a greater community presence within MMC through the use of local images, icons and scenes familiar to residents of Springfield (capitol of Illinois) and its surrounding communities. Aesthetics’ creative and innovative design provided our facility with a newfound visual link that removed physical boundaries without having to implement major alterations to the structure. From a project management perspective, Aesthetics’ professional support, knowledge and guidance throughout the entire process was extremely valuable. We’ve eliminated the visual clutter in our public areas, thus reducing approximately 90% of the sign requests. The response received from the staff, community, patients and visitors has been a very positive one with many compliments.”

Luisa Van Roekel, during her tenure as Director of Facilities, Design & Construction
Memorial Medical Center, Springfield, IL

“There have been attempts in the eighty-year history of Holy Name Hospital to provide a workable system of signs directing patients and visitors throughout the facility. With each addition, this task became more difficult. Consistent with the vision of the hospital, where customer satisfaction is a top priority, Aesthetics, Inc. developed a comprehensive wayfinding program integrating signs with architectural finishes and features. Numerous positive comments from visitors and staff are proof of the success of this project and the expertise and vision of Aesthetics, Inc.”

Wayne Kinder, Vice President, Facilities Management
Holy Name Hospital Teaneck, NJ

“I just want to tell you how wonderful the grand opening was—our donors and community members were absolutely in awe of our new wing. The signage is just beautiful, and adds that extra special touch for all to see. …I’ll always go to Aesthetics with a new project because there isn’t anyone else in the industry as creative, fun and professional.”

Pamela Davis
Heritage Pointe, Mission Viejo, CA

“Aesthetics’ ability to work with our organization, our associates and volunteers, as well as community members of our committees, was extraordinary and resulted in a project that has been universally accepted by all stakeholders in our organization. The most interesting result of the project was the uncovering of an exceptional base of local artists, who now have their work permanently displayed in the organization and take pride in the fact that they are supporting their local health care system. We continue to get positive comments on this project, and for the coordination and professionalism that was demonstrated in creating this project with the art community.”

Jack Weiner, President and CEO
St. Joseph Mercy Oakland, Pontiac, Michigan.

“Aesthetics has been an invaluable partner and collaborator on the exciting and complex Lucile Packard art program – skillfully coordinating an art program that seamlessly supports and extends the architectural design.”

Robin Guenther, FAIA, LEED Fellow
Principal, Perkins + Will