News and Events
Public Guided Tours SCDH
At regular intervals, we open our doors to all interested parties.
Read MoreVirtual Workshop Hospital Design and Patient Safety
by Nora Colman MD, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta
Read MoreSymposium Design and Health – Practice, Research and Social Relevance
From July 10 to 12, 2023, the symposium "Design and Health - Practice, Research and Social Relevance" and the fifth International Advisory Board Meeting took place at the Swiss Center for Design and Health. We would like to thank all participants of the Scientific and International Advisory Board of the SCDH as well as the speakers for the very exciting exchange and the many valuable inputs for the further development of the Center.
Read MoreProf. Dr. Thomas Zeltner: Love Is in the Center of Healthcare
Public lecture by the President of the Swiss Red Cross, Prof. Dr. Thomas Zeltner.
Read MoreOnline presentations on the occasion of the Symposium ‘Design and Health – Practice, Research and Social Relevance’
The Symposium on 'Design and Health - Practice, Research and Social Relevance' will feature three presentations that can be shared online by all interested parties.
Read MorePublic-Lecture about «Simulation-based Hospital Design Testing»
Nora Colman from Atlanta is currently staying at the SCDH as a visiting professor of HKB. On 3 May, she spoke about Simulation-based Hospital Design Testing.
Read MoreBook-Launch «Design & Science»
The Swiss Center for Design and Health invites all interested parties to the Book-Launch «Design & Science» at the Living Lab.
Read MorePublic Lecture «Love is in the Center of Health Care»
As part of the fourth International Advisory Board Meeting, the Swiss Center for Design and Health invites all interested parties to the public lecture by Prof. Dr. Thomas Zeltner (Professor of Public Health, University of Bern, Former Director Swiss Federal Office of Public Health).
Read MorePublic-Lecture on «Simulation-based Hospital Design Testing»
Invitation to the Public Lecture in the context of the Research Wednesday of the Bern University of the Arts HKB.
Read MoreErich Fehr, Mayor of Biel/Bienne visiting the SCDH.
The mayor of the city of Biel/Bienne, Erich Fehr, visited the SCDH on February 15, 2023. In addition to the tour of the largest extended reality simulation area in Switzerland in the Living Lab, exciting discussions took place on the further development of the urban region of Biel in the field of health and design. Thank you very much for the interesting exchange!
Read MorePartnership Puzzle ITC GmbH and Swiss Center for Design and Health
The Swiss Center for Design and Health is very pleased to announce the partnership with We Are Cube³, the User Experience Studio of Puzzle ITC GmbH. As one of the leading user experience studios in Switzerland, it will support the SCDH as a competent partner with many years of experience in the user-centered development of needs-based digital solutions. We are very excited about this partnership and future projects!
Read MoreExtended reality simulation site simXR
Switzerland's largest extended reality simulation site for architectural purposes has been set up.
Read More
«Design Strategies for Planetary Health»
Im medizinischen Alltag gilt es die Keimbildung bestmöglich zu verhindern, um Infektionen zu vermeiden. Einwegprodukte sind eine hygienische und effektive Lösung. Die Kehrseite sind enorme Mengen an Abfall. Die konzeptionelle Auseinandersetzung in dieser Arbeit zeigt, wie bestehendes Material weiterverwendet werden kann. Der Paravent ist eine funktionale und exemplarische Anwendung. Die Folie besteht ausschliesslich aus recyceltem Polypropylen von Einwegkleidung.




Switzerland’s biggest mixed-reality simulation site for architectural purposes
Testing our prototype at the Swiss Center for Design and Health. Up to 600 sqm will be available for simulations from the beginning of 2023.

Read More
Crafting futuristic E-textiles & Ansätze für eine nachhaltige Materialgestaltung
Chhail Khalsa is an E-textile Designer, Design Researcher and the founder of Anuvad – An initiative to bridge futuristic e-textiles with traditional craft techniques. Anuvad, which means «Translation» in Sanskrit, is her brainchild, with its conception post her graduation at the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad.




Panel discussion on design and health
Prof. Dr. Minou Afzali and Dr. Jan Eckert in conversation; moderated by Prof. Dr. Arne Scheuermann. On the occasion of the Portes ouvertes of the Swiss Center for Design and Health in the summer 2022.
VideoThe Swiss Center for Design and Health will be present at the Swiss Academy of Humanities and Social Sciences panel discussion «Towards Age-Friendly Healthcare.»
On Thursday, October 27, 2022, the discussion of the experts can be followed via live stream. Prof. Dr. Minou Afzali, Head of Research at the Swiss Center for Design and Health, will be present with the video input «How can design contribute to a more age-friendly primary health care?».
The inputs are already posted:
Impressions from the first Portes Ouvertes of the Swiss Center for Design and Health on July 13, 2022.








Advisory Board Meeting des Swiss Center for Design and Health
Impression of the third International Advisory Board Meeting of the Swiss Center for Design and Health from July 10-13, 2022







SSPH+ Summer School
Join us at the SSPH+ Summer School in Public Health Policy, Economics and Management. From August 25-27 we will run our course: Designing Health Care: Improving patient and staff safety through Evidence-based Design.
Learn moreInvitation to the SCDH Open Day on Wednesday, 13 July 2022, 3 – 8 p.m.
Experience a place where society and science meet on the theme of design and health.

Flyer Read More
Healthy Airports – Design as Placemaking
Humans create places out of spaces. A place only becomes meaningful, and potentially health-making, after efforts at social choice and design.
Video Read more53rd Environmental Design Research Association Conference.
Clemson University School of Architecture in South Carolina hosted architects and researchers from around the world from June 1-4, 2022. The Swiss Center for Design and Health was also represented by Minou Afzali and Rahel Nauen.
Learn moreAnnual report
Publication of the first annual report of the SCDH for the year 2021.
Reportkomform is awarded the Design Prize Switzerland 2021
komform, the founding shareholder of the SCDH, is awarded the Design Prize Switzerland 2021. This in the category «Empowerment and integration of an Ageing Society». Age-sensitive design is an important aspect of health design.
Learn moreThe Federal Government and the Canton of Bern approves the funding for the SCDH
After the Federal Government, the Canton of Bern also approves the funding for the SCDH. This means that the SCDH will be able to start its operational activities in 2022
To the press releaseSCDH is officially a Swiss Technology Competence Center
The SCDH is now officially a Swiss Technology Competence Center: the Federal Department of Economics, Education and Research fully approves the funding of CHF 8 million applied for by the SCDH.
To the press releaseCompetence centre Swiss Center for Design and Health AG
Swiss Center for Design and Health AG is founded as a Private-public-Partnership. The new competence centre has the task of making the health care systems of the future more efficient, economical, ecological, safer and more innovative with the help of design-based solutions. The founding partners involved are the Bern University of Applied Sciences BFH, University of Bern, Insel Gruppe, Visana, Girsberger AG, LerNetz AG and komform GmbH.
Learn morePublic Lecture
Thursday, December 1, 2022, 16.30
«Design Strategies for Planetary Health»
Die Public Lecture wird gestreamt. Bitte melden Sie sich per E-Mail bei für den Stream an.
Program:
16.30 Introduction (in german)
Dr. Jan Eckert, Leiter Living Lab SCDH
16.45 SichtWandel – ein zweites Leben für Einwegkleidung
Im medizinischen Alltag gilt es die Keimbildung bestmöglich zu verhindern, um Infektionen zu vermeiden. Einwegprodukte sind eine hygienische und effektive Lösung. Die Kehrseite sind enorme Mengen an Abfall. Die konzeptionelle Auseinandersetzung in dieser Arbeit zeigt, wie bestehendes Material weiterverwendet werden kann. Der Paravent ist eine funktionale und exemplarische Anwendung. Die Folie besteht ausschliesslich aus recyceltem Polypropylen von Einwegkleidung.
Selina Cadruvi, Cadruvi Trading AG / DeeCee style & C-bag-trade
Lorena Zimmerli-Adler, Mutterschaftsurlaub




17.45 Klimakrise, Gesundheit und wir – Wege zur planetarischen Gesundheitserziehung in der Schweiz
Die Umwelt- und Klimakrise ist die grösste Bedrohung der Gesundheit im 20. Jahrhundert. Planetary Health ist ein lösungsorientiertes, transdisziplinäres, systemorientiertes Gesundheitsnarrativ, welches die Gesundheitsprofessionellen der Zukunft darin unterstützt, ihre Rolle zum Anthropozän neu zu begreifen. Am Departement Gesundheit der Berner Fachhochschule werden Wissen, Werte und Handlungsoptionen in Lehre und Forschung aufgenommen, um in der Geburtshilfe, Ernährung, Diätetik, Physiotherapie und Pflege Wege zu menschlicher und planetaren Gesundheit zu beschreiben.
Sonja Schönberg, Wissenschaftliche Mitarbeiterin, Fachbereich Ernährung und Diätetik, Departement Gesundheit der Berner Fachhochschule

18.15 Q&A
18.30 Apéro
Swiss Center for Design and Health, Living Lab
Ipsachstrasse 16, 2560 Nidau
Living Lab
Switzerland’s biggest mixed-reality simulation site for architectural purposes
Testing our prototype at the Swiss Center for Design and Health. Up to 600 sqm will be available for simulations from the beginning of 2023.

Public Lecture
Friday, October 7, 2022, 16.30
Program:
16.30 Introduction
16.45 Crafting futuristic E-textiles: A collaborative journey towards reimagining traditional skills and technology as we know it
Chhail Khalsa, E-textile-Designer, Ahmedabad, India
Vimeo
17.45 Ansätze für eine nachhaltige Materialgestaltung
Meri Zirkelbach, Hochschule Luzern, Schweiz
Vimeo
18.15 Questions & Answers
18.30 Apéro
Swiss Center for Design and Health
Ipsachstrasse 16, 2560 Nidau


Chhail Khalsa
Chhail Khalsa is an E-textile Designer, Design Researcher and the founder of Anuvad – An initiative to bridge futuristic e-textiles with traditional craft techniques. Anuvad, which means «Translation» in Sanskrit, is her brainchild, with its conception post her graduation at the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad. She is an alumina and ex-research assistant of Hochschule Luzern, Switzerland. Through Anuvad, Chhail confluences the competencies of a technical expert and a craftsperson to ideate, innovate and produce e-textiles. She has also created what is called a «Craft Collaboration Toolkit» – an ingenious toolkit that helps amalgamate the expertise of design researchers, designers, and craftsperson to enable effective collaboration. Through this project she created a novel woven circuit that currently has a patent pending. Chhail is also the receiver of awards and grants from various institutions; IKEA Foundation Switzerland, Creative Hub Switzerland, Förderpreis Master Design (awarded by Luzern Design and Hochschule Luzern), Lexus Design Award to name a few. Her work has been showcased at multiple international platforms including the Vienna Design Week, Fashion Tech Week New York, WearIt Berlin with the most recent being the Dutch Design Week. Chhail’s vision is for her work to decolonize, humanize e-textiles and support the evolution of traditional crafts
www.chhail.com
Handwerk übersetzen, Artikel im Hochparterre


Meri Zirkelbach
Meri Zirkelbach ist diplomierte Konservatorin/Restauratorin (Hochschule der Künste Bern), diplomierte Gestalterin Oberfläche (Schweizerische Textilfachschule), MA-Designerin (Hochschule Luzern) und Doktorandin. Seit 2019 ist sie für die Hochschule Luzern Design & Kunst als wissenschaftliche Mitarbeiterin unter Anderem in der Betreuung von Studierenden im Master Design tätig. Ihre Forschungsschwerpunkte liegen im Bereich der Kollaboration von Design und Wissenschaft und der Entwicklung neuer nachhaltiger Materialkonzepte. Ihr Fokus liegt in der Materialisierung vielfältiger Anwendungen. Die Masterarbeit «White Wood» in Zusammenarbeit mit der ETH Zürich wurde 2019 mit dem «Zeugin Designstiftungspreis» ausgezeichnet. Das neuartige holzbasierte Materialsystem führte zu einem gemeinsamen Patenteintrag und einer Publizität in Fachkreisen nachhaltiger Materialforschung. Aktuell erweitert sie die Masterarbeit im Rahmen eines Doktorats aus. Es thematisiert vielfältige und spekulative Materialexplorationen im Zusammenspiel von Materialtraditionen und entsteht mit dem Institut für Materialdesign der Hochschule für Gestaltung Offenbach und der Empa Dübendorf.
Portes Ouvertes
Panel discussion on design and health
Prof. Dr. Minou Afzali and Dr. Jan Eckert in conversation; moderated by Prof. Dr. Arne Scheuermann. On the occasion of the Portes ouvertes of the Swiss Center for Design and Health in the summer 2022.
External event
The Swiss Center for Design and Health will be present at the Swiss Academy of Humanities and Social Sciences panel discussion «Towards Age-Friendly Healthcare.»
On Thursday, October 27, 2022, the discussion of the experts can be followed via live stream. Prof. Dr. Minou Afzali, Head of Research at the Swiss Center for Design and Health, will be present with the video input «How can design contribute to a more age-friendly primary health care?».
The inputs are already posted:
Portes Ouvertes
Impressions from the first Portes Ouvertes of the Swiss Center for Design and Health on July 13, 2022.








Photos Ramon Lehmann
International Advisory Board
Impression of the third International Advisory Board Meeting of the Swiss Center for Design and Health from July 10-13, 2022







Photos Ramon Lehmann
Summer School
SSPH+ Summer School
Join us at the SSPH+ Summer School in Public Health Policy, Economics and Management. From August 25 – 27 we will run our course: Designing Health Care: Improving patient and staff safety through Evidence-based Design.
Public Lecture
Monday, July 11, 2022, 19.00
Healthy Airports – Design as Placemaking
Professor Evelyne de Leeuw
Director, Centre for Primary Health Care and Equity CPHCE; Director, Healthy Urban Environments (HUE) Collaboratory; University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
Humans create places out of spaces. A place only becomes meaningful, and potentially health-making, after efforts at social choice and design. A dwelling becomes a home because of the context we give it. A hospital only is as good as its response to its communities and the contemporary technology. An airport may well be an engine for health – if we want it to be. This presentation looks at the evidence on design for health. It will take inspiration from Healthy Airports research and development work by Evelyne de Leeuw and her team.
Swiss Center for Design and Health
Ipsachstrasse 16, 2560 Nidau
Portes Ouvertes
Wednesday, July 13, 2022, 15.00 – 20.00
Invitation to the SCDH Open Day
Experience a place where society and science meet on the theme of design and health.

Program:
15.00/18.00 Welcoming ceremony
15.00/17.30/19.30 Guided tours through the future Living Lab
16.15 Panel
Who can be served by research at the interface of design and health?
15.30 to 20.00
Researchers present their projects:
— Dot, dot, comma, dash – Inclusive learning tool to introduce Braille
— University geriatric medicine FELIX PLATTER – Optimization of interior design
— Talking Pictures – Communication Aids for Patients and Caregivers
— Dying Beds – An Interdisciplinary Perspective
— Management of medication intake – An app as an assistant
Emulating impairments
Social robot
Games for young and old
Food service
19.30 Music
External event
53rd Environmental Design Research Association Conference.
Clemson University School of Architecture in South Carolina hosted architects and researchers from around the world from June 1 – 4, 2022. The Swiss Center for Design and Health was also represented by Minou Afzali and Rahel Nauen.
Annual report (german edition)
Publication of the first annual report of the SCDH for the year 2021.
Awards
komform, the founding shareholder of the SCDH, is awarded the Design Prize Switzerland 2021. This in the category «Empowerment and integration of an Ageing Society». Age-sensitive design is an important aspect of health design.
Media echo
After the Federal Government, the Canton of Bern also approves the funding for the SCDH. This means that the SCDH will be able to start its operational activities in 2022.
Media echo
The SCDH is now officially a Swiss Technology Competence Center: the Federal Department of Economics, Education and Research fully approves the funding of CHF 8 million applied for by the SCDH.
Organisation
Swiss Center for Design and Health AG is founded as a Private-public-Partnership. The new competence centre has the task of making the health care systems of the future more efficient, economical, ecological, safer and more innovative with the help of design-based solutions. The founding partners involved are the Bern University of Applied Sciences BFH, University of Bern, Insel Gruppe, Visana, Girsberger AG, LerNetz AG and komform GmbH.