How do you make going to the dentist fun for kids and how do you make it enjoyable and functional for staff? The design of the Smile Doc addresses issues that are real in the medical world. Dentists have a lot to worry about. Their field focuses on delicate work that is important to overall health and wellness. Dentists have to consider their patients, their comfort and experience in order to focus needs for each patient. They also have to be aware of their own challenges with work related injuries due to strain, high levels of stress and burn out within the field.

My sister, Dr. Heather Hearon DDS, is the inspiration behind this project. She is a dentist and my goal was to create an environment that would support her work and experience of being a dentist. I spent many hours researching dental office requirements, technology, case studies and conducting interviews all while considering ergonomics and function. I came away with knowledge on how important design is for dentists, the staff and patients. My challenge became to create a space that was exciting and different, yet somehow calming for the patients while embracing a healthy work environment. Once I completed my research I didn't know where to begin.

Light bulb! After drawing bubble diagrams, doodling, scribbling notes and ideas and being generally lost I got distracted looking at pictures. I came across an image of a boat dock, and it couldn't have been better timing. I noticed how neatly the slips organized the boats and created clear paths of travel. Why not? I used a parti diagram of a boat for the layout with the idea of slips to divide the rooms. The diagram began to help me develop and organize my space. I went with it, puns and all to create "The Smile Doc". The diagram also gave me structure and helped address means of egress as well as way finding, paths of travel and function.

My concept of playful tranquility was expressed in the overall design and the progression through the space. The entry is fun and exciting with pops of color and a fish tank. As you walk through each space calming colors are used until you reach your destination, the dreaded dental chair. "This isn't so bad, especially if I get a prize from the treasure chest at the end."

The Smile Doc was designed to be a fun and creative solution and hopefully make visiting the dentist a positive experience. Would it be possible to cure phobias about dentists through design? Maybe... I created the drawings using Revit with PhotoShop to enhance the renderings and create presentation boards.