Interview with Children's Hospital Wayfinding Team

Now I'm at QUT Design Lab - where four of us are from (Seevinck, Baade, Miller and Ridsdale). Its a phenomenal group, unique in its interdisciplinarity and inclusiveness. I think this inherent collaborative nature of the group is what makes it so powerful: it provides the ground work for 'combinatorial creativity' - what is essentially the innovation that arises from people looking at things in different ways, coming at it from different perspectives, to find that new solution. So, combining that with the Art and Health team at the Queensland Childrens Hospital (Seear and Douglas) is what has enabled us to come up with this fresh, play-based and experience focused perspective on Hospital wayfinding design. (Jen Seevinck)

Fresh and tight. Its something refreshing, unexpected, new to what I might expect - it makes me stop for a moment to take it in / appreciate it. That doesn't mean it has to be obvious, it can be subtle too - but if you reflect on it, its just a little bit startling. Importantly, its also tight - every aspect is thoroughly considered and essential. Like I tell my students: every decision you make in the design has at least 2 reasons for it - function and concept etc etc. So you have this tightly integrated visual form.(Jen Seevinck)

Where you work closely with people to come up with solutions - like the co-design we did here (because thats the stuff thats going to give you fresh new ideas - from all your collaborators!).(Jen Seevinck)

I have 2 : First, Touch Designer software from Derivative. Its a procedural real time environment. I love the fact that it can evolve imagery and this can be dynamic and responsive - to bring in sensors and human interaction or data visualisation. Ive used it for interactive data visualizations or artworks or ARnervous and excited through to peaceful and immersed. The other is paint - oil and acrylic. I love to work in layers or glazes, and brush strokes - the depth of colour combined with the expressive quality are just mesmerising.(Jen Seevinck)

In the mornings with a strong cup of black coffee, or late at night when everyone is asleep and listening to music.(Jen Seevinck)

The assumptions and boundaries. How can we invert, subvert or push them to innovate! (Jen Seevinck)

Vervous and excited through to peaceful and immersed (Jen Seevinck)

It is the feeling it evokes; as well as being practical, a good design mets the needs of users and goes beyond that, to delight them (Evonne Miller)

What is my visceral response. Is it effective on that visceral level? (Jen Seevinck)

Do no harm and advocate for social and environmental justice (Jen Seevinck)

"Increasing focus on community engagement as integral part of design and of course co-design" Gillian Ridsdale

International Symposium of Electronic Art 2024, in Brisbane - Kirsten Baade.
Brisbane city public outdoor gallery 2023-4 - Jen Seevinck.

Responding to contexts to create site-specific public art. Also, exploring the physical properties and possible innovative uses of materials and technologies. (Kirsten Baade)

My personal style is "dopamine design". Bright colours, lights and patterns to evoke happiness, tailored to particular situations and contexts. (Kirsten Baade)

Email Jennifer.Seevinck@qut.edu.au or at portfolio site: jenseevinck@smartnoise.net