Salutogenesis, Service Design and Aesthetics in Healthcare Experiences

This book chapter explores the intersection between Salutogenesis, Service Design and Aesthetics. This is important as healthcare systems are facing challenges, and a rethink of how healthcare is conceptualised and delivered is needed. A shift in focus beyond a purely clinical pathway to treat diseases and illness to include a preventative approach where people are empowered and supported to improve their health and wellbeing will not only benefit the individual but also healthcare systems and society as well. Salutogenesis which can be seen as a preventative paradigm emphasises on factors that promote health and wellbeing through a Sense of Coherence (SOC). SOC together with its relationship to generalised resistance resource and specific resistance resource is defined. Service design thinking is then discussed with salutogenesis together with the influence and impact of aesthetics on experience. A Salutogenic-Aesthetics Service Design Framework is used to illustrate the inter-related concepts. Two projects undertaken by medical and design students at undergraduate level will show the application of salutogenic-aesthetic thinking into the design of services. This means creating comprehensible, manageable, and meaningful services experiences, where aesthetics play a pivotal role in contributing to a person’s health and wellbeing journey.