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It’s Time to Incorporate Wellness Design in your Business with Christina McManaway

2020-05-20

Health and Wellness design is starting to gain traction—and for good reason. The Coronavirus pandemic has everyone focusing on their health. As people are becoming more self-aware, they’re realizing their direct environment plays a role in their mental and physical well-being. Darla and Natalie are advocates for biophilic design and incorporating wellness design into your overall strategy and so is today’s guest, Christina McManaway. Christina has been in the interior design space in Southern CA for 5 years. She’s embraced the biophilic design m...

Christina has been in the interior design space in Southern CA for 5 years. She’s embraced the biophilic design movement and began focusing on health and wellness in her design. She founded “The Well Designer”, promoting health and wellness for clients and the built environment. She is passionate about wellness and it carries through in this episode. Don’t miss it!

What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social

[3:00] Learn all about wellness in interior design
[4:13] Christina’s passion for health and wellness
[5:14] The impact of COVID-19 on the design industry
[8:34] What does wellness design incorporate?
[9:32] Where you can go to learn more about wellness design
[15:52] What can designers learn and implement tomorrow?
[17:14] The biggest misconception about biophilic design
[19:05] Has she seen changes since COVID?
[21:12] What up Wingnut Round!

Connect with Christina McManaway

McManaway Interior Design
Biophilic Consulting
McManaway Interiors on Instagram
The Well Designer Facebook group
Christina’s LinkedIn Profile

Resources & People Mentioned

Biophilic Design Intensive Course
International WELL Building Institute
International Living Future Institute
BOOK: Creating Biophilic Buildings

A pivotal moment in the design industry

We’re at a pivotal moment in the design industry as the general population is being faced with the uncertainty of their physical health. They’re quarantined in their homes and have a distinct lack of connection to others. Perhaps they’re realizing their environments are lacking and they don’t feel the desired emotion of calmness and peace when at home.

Christina defines biophilia as the “innate tendency to focus on life and lifelike processes” and notes that when you feel down about the interior you’re in, it’s the biophilia that’s making you feel that way.

Are you prepared when your clients start asking questions about promoting wellness in their homes? Can you educate your clients about the calming effect of nature or the excitement you feel when you touch metal? These are just a few of the evoked responses Christina mentions.

What can designers do to learn about wellness design?

Christina emphasizes the importance of being prepared, doing your research, and being educated. Biophilic design is a scientifically based design philosophy that focuses on health and wellness. It isn’t just about incorporating plants into your environment—but also learning about the cultural and historical significance of certain elements. It’s about incorporating natural materials and reducing toxins in the home.

Being prepared starts by engaging in research. Christina recommends starting with the International WELL Building Institute and the International Living Future Institute (ILFI). The ILFI offers numerous courses for $35 to learn about everything from an ‘Introduction to Zero Carbon’ to ‘Biophilic Design and Connecting to Place’.

You can learn about the toxic materials used and the concept of sublimating. Or why it’s important to stop using furniture with polyurethane in it. Or how ultraviolet can be used to sanitize. Christina also recommends learning about the impact of daylight and circadian rhythms. The list is endless. There is a plethora of material you can cover while at home during this pandemic. Listen to the whole episode for a taste of everything you should take advantage of.

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