People don’t normally associate artists with business plans—but I have one—and my business plan makes EDAC a foundational part of it.
“EDAC stands for Evidence-based Design Accreditation and Certification. It is a program that has established new standards for individuals who are using an evidence-based design process for healthcare building projects.” (which includes art)
Some people say EBD (Evidence-based Design) is an “old hat” concept. They say design professionals have been using research to guide their decisions for years and years.
This is true, and in the 6th century BCE, the Asclepieion hospital in Ancient Greece, which included patient rooms facing eastward to promote healing, may have perhaps used some form of “old hat” research. Today, however, Evidence-based Design has a new focus which not only considers evidence but “strong” evidence.
Other critics say EBD employs “cook book design” strategies. They say decisions made using the Evidence-based Design process focus too much on evidence and not enough on experience or imagination. I once freely created wild abstract art where colors of death (black or white) and pours of blood (red) and the hideous or representational woes of society came together in an image—BUT NOW I DON’T.
I made a choice—especially since today’s “evidence” shows credible connections between design (which includes art) and positive health outcomes. My “chosen” artistic style/brand is a mixture of landscape and an abundance of flowers, which falls directly inside the type of art connected to positive health outcomes.
If anything, I think using Evidence-based Design has made me a better artist—not just for myself but for the health, healing and happiness of others.