EP 405 | It’s All About the Toilet: How Thoughtful Design Shapes Healing and Experience with Sara Robinson

December 3, 2024

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A thoughtfully designed space does more than look good—it can support calm, clarity, and even healing. In this episode, Kimberley Seldon is joined by designer Sara Robinson, who shares a deeply personal story of how her own breast cancer diagnosis transformed the way she thinks about design.

Sara explains how even the most overlooked spaces—yes, including toilets—play a critical role in the human experience. Drawing from healthcare design, lean principles, and post-occupancy evaluation, this conversation explores how balancing efficiency with emotion creates environments where people function better, feel safer, and heal more effectively.

For interior designers, the challenge isn’t choosing a style—it’s creating balance. This episode offers a powerful reminder that great design supports both movement and meaning, regardless of aesthetic.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

  • How Motion + Emotion = Experience shapes trust, calm, and efficiency
  • Why balanced environments support better healing and well-being
  • How lean principles eliminate waste and improve functionality
  • How thoughtful design supports both efficiency and the human experience
  • Why reframing “mundane” spaces leads to better outcomes
  • How post-occupancy evaluation and feedback strengthen future designs

 

DESIGN INTERVENTION

Authenticity never fails. You do not have to be an expert in all areas. It is okay to rely on others to fill in your gaps. When you find that one component of design that really speaks to you, pour everything into it and become an expert in it!

 

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About Sara Robinson

Sara’s passion is providing optimal physical and emotional healing environments. She is a board-certified healthcare architect with 20 years of experience designing, researching, and project-managing healthcare facilities across the Eastern US. With a certification from the Center for Health Design in Evidence-based Design principles and Lean Design training from Lean Healthcare West and The Realignment Group, Sara designs cost-effective, efficient and uplifting spaces for staff and patients.

www.mcmillanpazdansmith.com/about

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Legal Disclosure | This podcast is for educational purposes only and provides general business advice for interior designers and design professionals. It is not intended as individual legal, accounting, or professional guidance. Kimberley Seldon and Business of Design® make no guarantees regarding accuracy and are not liable for how information is used. Strategies shared may not apply to every situation—listeners should seek qualified legal, financial, or professional advice before making business decisions. References and resources mentioned may change over time.

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