Care Quest
Service Design
2023
Designer
Overview
Team Member: Helsa Aliaghaei
Hospital stays for children, especially those requiring long-term or regular visits for medical care, can be emotionally and physically challenging. The current hospital gown, designed solely for function, exacerbates feelings of vulnerability, discomfort, and fear among young patients. The sterile, impersonal nature of hospital spaces and the frightening medical procedures often contribute to the emotional distress that children experience during their hospital visits. The goal of Care Quest is to redefine the hospital gown and experience by creating a costume for medical adventures that empowers kids, helps reduce their anxiety, and makes their hospital visits more enjoyable and engaging, all while maintaining necessary medical care.
Process
The project began with understanding the problems associated with current hospital gowns and the broader hospital experience for children. We analyzed how the gown made children feel exposed, sick, and uncomfortable, which only worsened their hospital experience. We also looked at the emotional impact of regular hospital visits, with research showing that between 10% to 90% of children experience emotional distress during hospital stays.
Through this research, we identified that the gown was just one part of the larger problem—hospitalization itself created a challenging, emotionally draining environment for children. This led us to focus on redesigning not just the gown, but the entire hospital experience for children. The goal became to empower kids by giving them a sense of agency, turning the hospital visit into a playful and personal adventure.
We developed the Care Quest Suit, a customizable, fun outfit designed to make children feel like they are embarking on a medical adventure. The suit’s adjustable design allows for access to necessary medical areas, and the customizable features—such as color options, belts, and accessories—help kids feel more in control and less vulnerable. We also reimagined the hospital space to support this transformation, creating a setting where medical care is embedded into a playful quest. The suit becomes a tool to turn hospital visits into an engaging experience rather than a stressful ordeal.
Feedback
Feedback from professors and parents were positive, with many praising the idea of empowering kids through play and customization. The ability to make hospital visits fun rather than frightening was highlighted as a major benefit.
Learnings
Empowerment through choice: By giving children the ability to choose their suit's color, role, and accessories, the Care Quest Suit empowers them to feel in control during their hospital visit. This small act of agency helps combat feelings of helplessness and vulnerability.
Redesigning the entire experience: The problem with current hospital gowns and care solutions is that they focus solely on individual elements—either the gown or the procedures—without considering the whole experience. Care Quest sought to redesign not just the gown but also the environment and the hospital visit as a whole, with the aim to make it a cohesive, supportive experience.
Contextual care: Like how doctors used to visit patients in their homes, embedding medical care within a context that children are familiar with (the Care Quest adventure) helps reduce the emotional drain and makes care feel more personal.