Spaces have been transformed at St John’s Maternity ward in Livingston to give a warm and welcoming environment using artwork enhancements.
Staunch Industries applied my designs to a range of surfaces from tables, artworks, window manifestations, wall vinyl and fabrics. My role involved research, consultation with different user groups, development of concepts the decorative artworks.
Through the consultation period I identified key themes and considered colours, shapes, imagery and the user experience.
I would like to thank the new parents who spoke to me on the ward, maternity staff and parents who had used the service recently who met with me at KidsnKiz and Lothian Maternity Voice. For me the consultation is really important to help me get a deeper understanding of how the space is to be used and to identify colours and imagery that would help create a positive experience.
I believe it is important to create spaces that help alleviate the anxiety of a hospital visit. Thanks to Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity for funding this project.
Process
The designs concept taken forward combined positive and meaningful nature based elements such as flowers, seeds, leaves, strong resilient pinecone, dandelion wishes, aromatherapy plants to echo new beginnings and the positive journey of giving birth.
The designs on the ground floor have a sense of movement to echo the ebb and flow of giving birth. The first floor is a more homely, cosy environment with growing flora and fauna.
Consultation quotes
Like the lavender, nice and calming, triggers a response linked to aromatherapy
Kidz n Kin parent/CARER
Small flowers with grasses to give movement
Maternity Voices
I like the flowy feel, like the textures and suggestion of nature
Kidz n Kin parent/carer
Initial ideas after consultation
From the consultation I had lots of ideas and worked on concepts. Here are some of the initial ideas.
These concepts were developed further to create the final designs for the different areas of St Johns Maternity ward.
I have a vision of the world full of colourful creative interventions to bring more joy to the spaces we play, live, work and travel through. My aim is to uplift and connect people and highlight the positives by creating artworks that capture a sense of place which creates a sense of belonging. I love to do this with my use of playfully applying colour and pattern.
If you would like to know more about my work and see samples you can see more on my website
Dundee Delights is a new illustrated greeting cards collection by designer and illustrator Louise Kirby. Launching on Friday 13th October by giving a fresh and positive image of the city. Louise will place free cards around the city hoping that the finders will send them to friends and family locally and to the far corners of the globe. Louise would love to hear of where they end up be it an Aunty in Australia who loved days at the ferry beach as a child, an old school or university friend in another city that you want to hello to, or invite your granny in Lochee for a coffee and cake. To share where they end up either email Louise Kirby on 
Patterned sand looking over to Broughty Ferry castle with a happy sun shiny Dundee cake sky, evoking memories of days at the beach.
The characterful 5 bronze penguins by sculptor Angela Hunter that make people smile as they walk past and sometimes they have been known to adorn clothes and hats.
Local delicacy of the Dundee Cake, with the lovely pattern of the almonds on top.
Maggies Centre designed by world renowned architect Frank Gehry here in the city which I believe is evidence of how good design changes peoples’ lives providing a place of calm, support, nurture and tranquility created within a purposeful space. Externally, I enjoy the shape and movement of the roof which I feel echoes the local landscape.
Creative and cultural hub in Dundee with the curved face of different surfaces which is invites you in to the space which houses 2 cinemas, print studio, galleries and a bar and a restaurant.
Dundee’s art gallery and museum in the fantastic gothic revival architecture, I love dramatic staircase and the detail in the architecture. So many stories lye within this building I particularly love the ceramics, Dundee and the World exhibitions and the Tay whale.
I am delighted to be commissioned by The Woodlands Trust Scotland to help draw attention to an oak tree in Glasgow’s Kelvingrove Park to help it win European Tree of the Year. 
