Description

The work examined the end of life as a design space that has been largely ignored until now. Although the majority of people die in institutions such as hospitals, care facilities, or hospices, these places often lack spatial and product-specific offerings that preserve autonomy, dignity, and personal identity.

Based on design-ethnographic research, “BeiStand” was developed – a piece of furniture for the final living space. The focus is on the reinterpretation of the bedside table next to the care bed as an interface object between patients, relatives, and caregivers. The furniture integrates nursing requirements and at the same time creates space for individual needs, retreat, and social interaction.

As a low-threshold intervention, “BeiStand” strengthens self-efficacy and quality of life in institutional everyday life and makes the end of life visible as a relevant design task.