How can the design of furniture harness
the healing power of touch and promote
physical contact between patients, loved
ones, and caregivers?

If a picture is worth a thousand words, consider for a moment the worth of a compassionate caress, a pat on the back, a warm embrace, or a firm handshake. Often overlooked, these everyday touches are fundamental to effective communication, the development of loving relationships, and our overall health and wellbeing. The sense of touch develops in the womb and is believed to be the last sense to leave us. While numerous studies confirm many therapeutic benefits associated with touch including reduced stress, improved sleep, improved memory, and improved pain management, Western medicine has been slow to harness its healing powers. Indeed, we live in a touch-deprived culture and unsurprisingly place more faith in medical machines to heal than hands, especially as we live in fear of spreading superbugs. Come explore this amazing sense organ and consider its influence on the design of healing spaces.