Lecture to Explore Design for Everyone

How do products, devices and environments affect our well-being? What’s the human side of visiting a hospital—or working in one? What do museums and healthcare facilities have in common?

Ellen Lupton will answer these questions and more at the Mark L. Tykocinski, MD, Endowed Lecture, “Design for Everybody: Creative Ideas for Wellness and Inclusion.” The October 16 talk in Jefferson’s Connelly Auditorium will be part of the inaugural B.PHL Innovation Fest.

“Design used to be considered a luxury for making goods more desirable—the spit and polish but not the shoe,” says Lupton, curator of contemporary design at Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum in New York City. “Today, we understand that all people need products and environments that are functional, accessible, safe and enjoyable.”

Her exhibitions and books have explored topics such as feminism, beauty, universal design and multisensory experience. Lupton’s co-wrote her latest project, “Health Design Thinking,” with Dr. Bon Ku, Jefferson’s assistant dean for health and design.

“Design isn’t just for experts,” she says. “All people can contribute to creating a better world by asking how any process or place could be better and building a dialogue about change. Something as simple as moving around the furniture or changing the way you ask a question can have big impact. Design is a fun and playful process that includes everyone.”

The Mark L. Tykocinski, MD, Endowed Lecture, featuring Ellen Lupton, will be October 16 from 4-5 p.m. in the Dorrance H. Hamilton Building’s Connelly Auditorium at 1001 Locust Street in Philadelphia. A reception will follow. Register here. The event also will be livestreamed. 

Other B.PHL events being held at Jefferson include JeffSolves MedTech–Philly Pitch Night and Defining Innovation Presents Netflix Co-Founder Marc Randolph.