The Design/HEALth initiative at the University of Colorado aims to improve design at every scale – from the home to the biome – to enhance the health and wellbeing of all people and our planet. 

To accomplish this, we bring together design and health professionals situated at the intersection of these fields including doctors, psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, nurses, architects, planners, urban designers, interior designers, landscape architects, community builders, anthropologists, educators, and artists.

 These design and health professionals are engaged in projects that consider the “environmental determinants of health,” from exploring how quality of place impacts health and wellbeing to learning from vernacular building traditions, providing supportive residential communities (for those experiencing homelessness, domestic violence, and other mental and physical health challenges), introducing networks of vibrant public spaces and urban agriculture, providing nature therapy, bringing environmental justice through inclusive design, improving air and water quality, and more. 

To share this work and amplify its impact, we are hosting Design/HEALth Summits, distributing newsletters, and more.

Please join us in elevating environmental, urban, and architectural design to improve the health and wellbeing of people and the planet.

Design/HEALth contacts:

Nan Ellin, Professor of Urban Design (nan.ellin@ucdenver.edu)

Don Ruggles, Founding Principal of Ruggles Mabe Studio Architecture + Interiors and Classical Architecture Certificate Program Director (don@rugglesmabe.com).