The Role of Design in US Health Systems

Equitable Healthcare Lab, Institute of Design

The Role of Design in
US Health Systems

June 2024

2023 marked the 20th anniversary of design’s integration into US health systems.

First pioneered by Kaiser Permanente (2003) and Mayo Clinic (2004), the number of health systems using design and designers has grown to more than 40. These efforts are largely undocumented and so difficult to learn from or build on. Further, there is little peripheral awareness among health system leaders or designers about the nature of this work. As a result, the role of design in health systems is not well-known or understood.

This report steps into this knowledge gap. It details how 27 health systems have hired, structured, tasked, and measured their designers. It defines 9 diverse contributions of designers and presents impact stories that illustrate the value of a design approach to common healthcare delivery challenges. This report also presents a conceptual model for how designers are already linking those contribution areas to create organizational transformation.

Who should read this report?

Health system leaders who want concrete information about how designers might help transform patient care, improve the effectiveness of their organization and burned-out clinicians, and even disrupt the effects of the current healthcare cycle.

Health system designers, who even after 20 years lack a professional society or trade journal from which to learn and grow.

We consider this report “citation 1” in what we hope is a wave of investigations to better define the roles and workforce training for designers in health systems. Please join us.