The Four Point Design team at OFS
At Four Point Design, part of being “on point” with our clients involves taking advantage of opportunities to learn more about products and solutions. With that in mind, the Four Point Design team recently took a trip to the OFS headquarters in Huntingburg, Ind.
The following are some takeaways and reminders from the trip, based on the experiences of two of our interior designers, MaryJane Sanchez and Emma Walsh.
Experiencing products in person creates a richer understanding of functionality. A visit to a furniture showroom provides a richer experience than simply looking at photographs and studying specifications. With Four Point Design’s focus on healthcare, we often specify furniture with moving parts—for example, recliners and sleep sofas used by patients’ family members. It’s helpful to understand how intuitive the furniture is to use and to feel the cushions, back support, and other features.
“Showrooms offer valuable insights, especially during the product and furniture specification process,” MaryJane said. “As designers, having firsthand experience with furniture makes it easier to make informed recommendations and guide discussions when clients are deciding between different manufacturers and their varieties of products. It also helps us assess the quality and user-friendliness of the products, whether it's for the caregivers or the patients.”
The caregiver experience continues to be top of mind. At Four Point Design, we know it’s critical to care for the caregivers of today and tomorrow. This point was reinforced by recent research OFS shared related to provider shortages and how they are predicted to affect healthcare in the future.
“We’ve been hearing more and more about healthcare shortages since the pandemic, but the data really reinforced the need to focus on staff wellness and finding ways to support staff with the built environment,” Emma said. “For example, it’s important to provide respite areas, make sure spaces are user-friendly, and focus on staff safety, especially with the rising need for behavioral health.”
Details make the difference. Part of Four Point Design’s in-person experience included learning about the research and strategy behind the details in furniture design. For example, OFS has furniture for behavioral health applications with components that consider sensory input for patients.
“Features like that are a reminder of how small details can make a big difference for patients,” Emma said.