Design opportunities for A&E

The most important part of any design project is beginning with a good brief.

Find out how what you need to commission and brief a design agency to help improve the A&E experience 

As part of the Reducing violence and aggression in A&E programme we created six design briefs which asked for innovative ways to reduce violence and aggression in A&E. Responses could include new systems, processes, interior layouts, furniture, equipment, communications or services.

User-centred process

Redesign the A&E process so that it better meets the needs of patients and other service users from start to finish

Spaces in A&E need to be versatile

Versatile spaces

Consider how spaces in A&E can be made more versatile and better able to deal with diverse client groups and unpredictable workloads

Waiting area in A&E

A good wait

Improve the waiting experience for patients and other service users to ensure that both clinical and non-clinical needs are better met

A&E staff

Perceptions of A&E

Identify ways to use communication and design to reinforce positive behaviour and avoid aggression and violence

A&E police

Making safe

Consider how design could be used to minimise both perceived and actual vulnerability and risk throughout the A&E environment for staff, patients and other service users

A&E process

Place and process clarity

Identify ways to make A&E processes and patient pathways more transparent and easier to understand