This post is in a series where we talk to healthcare interior designers about their work as interior designers in the healthcare market.

Keith Stanton is the Director of Design Development at Thoma-Holec Design. He is certified by the American Academy of Healthcare Interior Designers (AAHID).

What is one book, person, or talk that has been most influential in your career?

Six or seven years ago the American Society of Interior Designers had a leadership seminar in Washington D.C. Don Blanchon, CEO of Whitman-Walker Health System, spoke about his leadership experience. He mentioned that as a leader you should have more good days than bad days, but you are still going to have bad days. On those bad days, do not make personnel decisions because you are going to make an emotional decision affecting someone’s personal and professional life. He also spoke about how a leader needs to move outside their comfort zone to grow and lead effectively. His words have stuck with me as I grow outside of my comfort zone.

What products have you been excited about recently?

I’m currently working on the artwork for a community. I’m always excited to see new images and how they affect my emotional worldview. I love to imagine what the artist’s inspiration and process are. When done properly, artwork can transport the viewer away from their current circumstances, even if for a minute. Artwork can subconsciously inform the viewer that the universe is vast, and that they are an important part of the human collective.

Do you have any go-to design solutions or techniques for creating healing environments?

I always visualize myself in the space. I imagine how my body will react to the specifications we have installed and the layouts we create. I am a huge advocate for daylight with a view. I think we need to connect with nature. Seeing a bright sunny day or the peacefulness of a snow storm allows our brains to tell our bodies to get up, out, and moving.

If you could tell your younger self one thing, what would it be?

Go see a baseball game at the old Yankee Stadium. I lived in New York and never got the memo that they were going to tear the stadium down. I went to a ton of art exhibits though.

What is one product that doesn't exist but should?

Dust-free drywall mud. We design a ton of renovations and the construction dust is brutal.

We've also talked to Michelle Clark (REES Associates), Jennifer Fink (BDA Architects), Lindsay Hampton (Pulse Design Group), Melinda Avila-Torio (THW Design), Lilliana Alvarado (UPHEALING), Ashleigh Pfluger (TJNG Partners Inc.), Jane Rohde (JSR Associates), John DuBard (Boulder Associates), Lisa Cini (Mosaic Design Studio), Susan Clark (Clark Patterson Lee), Crystal Hill (Odell Associates), Dr. Debra Harris (RAD Consultants), Libby Laguta (L2D.Design), Kristin Ellingsen (Office Furniture Group), Kimberly Bernheimer (PF&A Design), Melissa Perry (Inventure), Kelley Dorsett (HDR), Christin Troutman (MCA), and Clairanne Pesce (Array Architects).

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