Meet&CoHIGH POINT — The recent High Point Market hosted a symposium titled “When Design Heals: How Interior Design Shapes Health,” where experts and certified professionals gathered to explore how wellness principles are transforming the purpose of interior design. Once valued mainly for visual appeal, design is now being recognized as a powerful tool for enhancing well-being.
Moderated by Andrea Lillo, executive editor of Designers Today (a sister publication of Furniture Today), the panel included three certified Science in Design professionals: Laksmi “Lucky” Lumpkin of Laksmi Interior Designs, Gabrielle Kozhukh-Joo of Mindwell Design, and Stancil Wilson of Stancil Creative Group. Together, they discussed how neuroscience, biophilia, lighting, and spatial psychology are being applied to improve clients’ health and happiness.
Kozhukh-Joo summed up the panel’s perspective: “Health isn’t a trend — and neither is designing for it. Wellness-based design will become the new standard.”
Source: https://www.furnituretoday.com/
From Concept to Application
Each designer described how evidence-based tools have reshaped their client interactions and creative process.
Wilson shared that certification through Science in Design helped him embed wellness into every project. “It turned me into a science geek,” he joked. “Now it’s part of our firm’s DNA. Our team has grown, and so has our revenue.”
While tracking direct health outcomes remains complex, Wilson noted that client satisfaction and repeat business are clear indicators of success. “Clients come back, and we’re winning awards — that’s proof enough that it’s working.”
Lumpkin described her detailed client onboarding process, which goes far beyond style preferences. Her firm asks not just what clients want their homes to look like, but how they’ll live in them. “For instance, I designed a kitchen for a woman recovering from a double lung transplant,” she said. “Every color, material, and detail was chosen to promote calm and healing.”
Kozhukh-Joo emphasized the need for standardized tools to measure the effects of neuroaesthetic design. “Right now, there’s no unified process in the industry,” she explained. “We’re using reviews and referrals as a way to start creating consistency.”
Redefining the Client Conversation
When clients mention wanting a “healthy home,” they often don’t fully grasp what that entails. Kozhukh-Joo noted that her clients — whether young professionals, families, or retirees — increasingly view wellness as essential. “People are realizing that health is wealth,” she said. “We guide them through how design choices affect their energy and mindset.”
Lumpkin added that emotional connection is key: “We ask, how can this home make your family feel more at peace?” Kozhukh-Joo agreed, saying that a space should reflect both who a client is and who they aspire to be.
The designers also offered advice for others in the field: avoid jargon, don’t oversell the science, and focus on the lived experience. Wilson shared a lighting case study, where a skeptical client learned how essential natural light and layered illumination are to comfort. “Lighting is invisible until it’s bad,” he quipped.
Business Impact and Industry Evolution
The panelists agreed that wellness-centered design isn’t about luxury — it’s about aligning with a growing societal shift toward holistic living.
Addressing concerns about cost, Wilson was blunt: “Don’t call it expensive. It’s your health we’re talking about.” Once clients understand that design impacts air quality, mood, and even memory, cost becomes secondary.
Still, the group acknowledged hurdles, particularly a lack of education among builders, architects, and contractors. Lumpkin stressed the need for collaboration across industries so wellness-informed design becomes standard, not specialized.
The overarching message was clear: interior design is evolving into a science-backed discipline where beauty and well-being coexist — creating spaces that don’t just look good, but actively promote health.
