Patient-Centered Design in Cancer Care: Making it Personal
Cancer has a way of touching all of us—either directly or through someone we love. With the National Cancer Institute projecting more than 2 million new cancer diagnoses in the U.S. this year alone, healthcare systems are under pressure to deliver not only advanced treatment but also compassionate, human-centered care.
I joined Taylor Design a little under a year ago, and one of the things that drew me here is how the firm contributes to this mission through a philosophy that consistently puts the patient, their family, and their care team at the heart of every cancer care environment we help shape.
From the firm’s design of the Ideal Cancer Center (ICC)—a theoretical cancer facility born from the deeply personal cancer diagnosis, treatment and recovery experiences of two Taylor Design colleagues—to the multiple other cancer diagnostic and care facilities the firm has been involved with over the years, Taylor Design’s team is committed to continuously asking the ambitious question—What should a cancer center be? And how can we as designers improve the experience of those using these facilities today and in the future?
Designing Through the Eyes of the Patient
Our approach starts early, in the strategic planning phase. We ask, What will the patient feel? What will they see, hear, and need—at every moment of their journey?
At Stanford’s Comprehensive Cancer Center, our team didn’t rely on assumptions—instead we utilized experiential research techniques where one of our team members personally underwent the “gurney journey.” From check-in to check-out that included receiving a mammogram, she experienced firsthand what it meant to stand at the machine, interact with the technician and navigate the space as a patient would. The insights gained from this immersive exercise enhanced our ultimate design solutions. In response to what was learned, patient sightlines were adjusted away from clinical staff zones, calming visual cues were introduced, and privacy was enhanced where it mattered most.
Applying Evidence-Based Design and Lean Principles to Inform Design
We also turn to evidence-based design (EBD) for principles that improve mental health, reduce anxiety, and promote healing for a faster recovery. Utilizing a lean tool known as a “Gemba walk,” we walk the existing space with end users to both listen and observe the current state and also discuss ideal state, with the goal of eliminating incorrect assumptions in the planning and design of the resulting project.
At an outpatient Hematology and Oncology Clinic, we focused on visual and physical access to nature, as one takeaway from our Gemba walk. By carefully positioning infusion chairs along the gardens with access to views and natural daylight, we created intentional moments of respite. While this may seem like a small design choice, it was an intentional decision that was not made in isolation—the result of a patient-centered design process that made a positive difference for patients, their families, and caregivers spending long hours in this space.
Enhancing Comfort by Providing Agency
Comfort is more than aesthetics—it is rooted in a sense of safety, control, and self-agency. At the UCI Chao Cancer Center, this translated into creating patient and family spaces that feel like sanctuaries. Using rich natural materials and biophilic design elements to encourage a sense of calm, the new space reduced visibility to the more clinical zones to protect patients, visitors, and caretakers from sensory overload. Where possible, nourishment stations, smart lighting and flexible controls were also incorporated so patients were empowered to make the space their own.
These thoughtful details stem from a belief that every patient’s journey is unique—and the spaces that support them should reflect this. Our research has found that during a time when patients and caregivers are often feeling worried and powerless, allowing some degree of control over their physical environment can restore a semblance of normalcy and autonomy – and the importance of this impact on their mindset cannot be overstated.
Looking Back, Designing Forward
Even as we draw from past projects, we continue to look ahead. Cancer care is evolving rapidly. More care is moving to an outpatient setting. New therapies require different equipment and infrastructure. Our work—whether it is through strategic master planning, comprehensive design research or bringing elements of the Ideal Cancer Center concept to reality—needs to meet these changes with empathy, creativity, and consideration.
It is inspirational to see how deeply these values are embedded in the Taylor Design culture, especially in our cancer care projects. This is how design really can empower people.
As a Project Director with Taylor Design, Heather Kampa, CID, WELL AP, EDAC develops and strengthens client relationships in the Greater Sacramento area. Heather is president of CREW-Sacramento, the local chapter of the global organization that advances women in commercial real estate through business networking, industry research, leadership development and career outreach initiatives.
