Imagine a Place

Designing with purpose: Nicole Ward on the future of healthcare spaces

August 10, 2026·29 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

What if great healthcare design isn't just about beautiful spaces but about helping people heal, caregivers thrive, and every second count? In this episode, Nicole Ward, Senior Associate and Interior Designer at NBBJ, shares how purpose has shaped her career in healthcare design. Nicole offers an inside look at the complexity, and humanity, behind designing spaces where lives are changed every day. It's a thoughtful conversation about innovation, empathy, and why the best design solutions begin with asking better questions. Connect with Nicole on LinkedIn. Connect with Wesley on LinkedIn. Connect with Maria on LinkedIn.Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn.Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World.Click here to get your own Imagine a Place Conversation Card Deck.Imagine a Place gathers industry-leading voices that can inspire the design community through storytelling and broaden our creative horizons. The goal of Imagine a Place is to further elevate the belief that the places we make and the ways we design them matter in our lives.

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