Humanizing Healthcare: Designing a Spa-Inspired Experience for Stanford Blood Center

The Challenge
In 2018, Stanford Blood Center (SBC) expanded its reach into the South Bay with a flagship donor center in Campbell, CA. The challenge was to move away from the "sterile clinical" atmosphere typical of medical facilities. We needed to design an interior experience that felt premium and welcoming — a space that honored the Stanford Healthcare brand while making donors feel relaxed and valued during a high-anxiety activity.

The Creative Strategy
I served as the design lead, partnering directly with the architectural team to bridge the gap between brand identity and environmental design.

• Evidence-Based Design: Through donor focus groups and research, we identified a "Modern Spa" aesthetic as the ideal North Star.

• The Palette: I developed a color and material strategy that utilized warm, grounding earth tones during the donation process and natural wood styling in the pre- and post-donation lounges.

• The Balance: The goal was to maintain the rigorous "Stanford Blue" authority while softening the environment with organic textures and thoughtful lighting to lower heart rates and encourage repeat donations.

The Result
The Campbell Donor Center opened as a benchmark for SBC’s future facilities.

• Operational Success: Since its launch, the center has consistently performed as one of the top production hubs in the entire SBC network.

• Brand Evolution: The "Spa-Inspired" model successfully shifted the donor perception from "medical patient" to "honored guest."

• Seamless Integration: The project proved the power of graphic design in a 3D space, resulting in a cohesive environment where the architecture and the brand speak the same language.