Physical Design

Physical design has largely been invisible in much health communication research. Physical designs are the spatial and functional elements of the built environment that help to frame communication in healthcare and range in scale from architectural building design to interior solutions and systems. There is a rich interdisciplinary body of research in design, medicine, architecture, anthropology, sociology, and, most recently, communication investigating the dynamic and fluid nature of design. Additional recent communication and design research also highlights the role of physical layout for healthcare team communication. This entry examines key studies, underscores the value of systems theory, and highlights design features, particularly proximity and visibility, relevant to communication. Because of physical design's crucial role in healthcare, there are many opportunities for studying multiple communication topics.