A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT Executive Dean Schreiber is shown in her office, designed by Jordana Maisie Design Studio. Maisie, a 2016 graduate of Parsons’ MArch/MFA Lighting Design dual-degree program, created the office, called Stacked Space, using sustainable safer materials sourced with Parsons’ Healthy Materials Lab and provided mainly as in-kind donations. Shown are Columbia Forest Products plywood, made from responsibly sourced wood and a soy-based binder; nontoxic mineralbased Romabio paint; recyclable, biodegradable paper-based flooring from Aronson’s Floorcovering; and custom furnishings held together by mechanical fasteners instead of toxic glues. The artwork is from The New School Art Collection.
Where It Matters Most: Designing Health and Wellness from the Inside Out BY RACHEL SCHREIBER, EXECUTIVE DEAN OF PARSONS SCHOOL OF DESIGN
Soon after I started at Parsons, we held a Dean’s Council retreat in which
vital role in critiquing the exclusionary nature of mainstream media and
we made an exciting discovery: We found that throughout the college,
advocating for a broadened representation that supports mental health.
research and curricula focusing on health and wellness had expanded
Research including that undertaken at Parsons’ Healthy Materials Lab
significantly. And when we considered wellness on a societal and
(HML) spans disciplines in a mission to improve the health of systemically
ecosystem-wide basis, it emerged as a thematic that intersects and arches
underserved populations. HML promotes the use of nontoxic and
over environmental sustainability and social justice, two long-standing
environmentally responsible materials throughout the building industries,
and fundamental values at Parsons. We began to understand wellness as
but especially in affordable housing, harnessing design to effect change
an umbrella concept enabling us to see, for example, climate justice and
in health-related systems.
racial equity as intersecting challenges. In short, wellness means caring for
Throughout this issue of re:D, you’ll see examples of health- and
ourselves, one another, and the planet—and understanding that to achieve
wellness-focused work coming from these disciplines and research
any one of these, we need to address them all.
initiatives, and you’ll also see evidence of our remarkable community’s
Because art and design both reflect and shape the concerns of the day,
ability to provide mutual support through a global crisis. I’m referring here
it isn’t surprising to find that our community would apply its experience,
to students, faculty, and staff, who modeled the same ability along with
skills, critical thinking, and creativity to fostering wellness at a time marked
creative problem solving, adaptation, collaboration, and a human-centered
by climate collapse and faltering systems, including healthcare and
approach to design in order to persevere with teaching and learning in
political systems—all of which have significantly challenged our well-being.
the face of enormous challenges.
Add the coronavirus pandemic, and one can see why we’ve chosen
In practical terms, it meant that faculty and staff skilled in online
to address health and wellness in this issue of Regarding Design. The fact
instruction shared teaching techniques and made themselves more
that we’re qualifying the theme with an inclusive imperative—well-being
available to students than ever, tailoring courses and workshops in
for all—makes it clear that at Parsons, we seek to examine the ways full
response to the challenges of remote learning. Staff at the Making Center
access to health and well-being have been systemically privileged for some
helped designers and artists create at home with their own tools. Students
and withheld from others.
found ways to collaborate with one another, engage with their local
The COVID-19 outbreak inspired the Parsons community to meet needs
communities, and use available materials—all valuable capacities for
ranging from PPE to new approaches to assessing and communicating
an evolving and uncertain future. Connecting all of these activities were
the pandemic’s unequal effects. These efforts built on our growing
compassion, empathy, and a willingness to listen deeply—all qualities
expertise in systems related to health. Some of this work involves studio
abundantly evident throughout our community and this issue of re:D.
disciplines that have distinguished us for years—including fashion, product, interior, and communication design. In other cases, our healthfostering work has raised awareness of the importance of newer
Read on to learn more about projects that reflect our community’s
fields such as data visualization, transdisciplinary design, and other
wellness-focused work, which is aimed at expanding access to healthcare
approaches. As the critical importance of understanding visual culture
and aligns with our commitment to building a better, more resilient
becomes more widely recognized, our MA programs continue to play a
world through design. 7
