Talking to Students
Today I’m off to talk to graduate students in the periodontal program at the IU School of Dentistry. I always enjoy opportunities to talk to dental students (well, any students for that matter) about design and the considerations that go into creating a good dental office design. They are often surprised to learn that there is more to a good dental office design than pretty throw pillows or nice artwork on the walls.
Now, I’m not exactly sure why they are surprised as they can readily relate that there is more to creating a great looking smile and keeping one’s teeth for a lifetime than just brushing every day. In a society obsessed with image, we carry this obsession over from just having sparkling, white teeth to having great dental offices, too.
This means the office must capture the essence of the dentist and the dental practice. This is the “defining touch” that I describe in my five elements of interior branding. This “defining touch” along with the other elements helps keep patients coming back and referring their friends to the dental practice.
Additionally, the dental office design must adhere to all of the HIPAA, OSHA, and ADA regulations for a safe and compliant workspace. Believe me, there is nothing in any of these regulations that even remotely touches on throw pillows or artwork! Ha!
My sessions with students are often engaging and filled with excellent dialogue. I’ll let you know how today’s session goes!
