Spotlight – Hayley Sands

How did your Woods Bagot career start?

Over the course of my Interior Architecture degree at The University of South Australia, I realised that the impact I wanted to make through design was at a larger, commercial scale – I’m more interested in designing a school than a private home. With this driver, I sought out work experience at some of the state’s larger practices but – at the time – hardly any were wheelchair accessible or weren’t accepting work experience after covid.

I was aware of Woods Bagot Adelaide through the studio’s local work. As well as being accessible, Woods Bagot Adelaide works across various sectors – offering experience at the scale I was hoping for as well as being a welcoming team. In 2021, I was able to meet the team and do some work experience.

After completing – and enjoying – my work experience, I decided to apply for Woods Bagot’s graduate program. In February 2022, I got the news that I had been accepted and the rest, as they say, is history.

What drew you to Interior Design? Given your career is just getting started, do you have any predictions for the industry?

I was struggling to find fully accessible spaces and wanted to change that. During my tertiary study, I learnt about the type of impact an interior designer could make in the built environment, and also found a practical outlet for my creativity. I’ve always liked to paint and draw, so Interior Design seemed like the right career path in terms of creating change through creativity.  

As far as predictions for the industry go, I think we will see the demand for sustainable, Australian-made products grow and intensify. Supporting local makers and production – as well as simply making and purchasing good quality items that will stand the test of time – is the way forward for the industry.

What has the experience of working on the New Women’s and Children’s Hospital and Helping Hand Aged Care – Rotary House meant to you?

Working on the New Women’s and Children’s (nWCH) has been a full circle moment for me. After spending almost a year in and out of the same hospital, it’s been great to contribute from the other side. There’s a certain perspective that I’ve gained through being a patient that has allowed me to understand aspects of the healthcare experience like patient flow, long-term care and connection between different offerings that I feel can improve the final design. The nWCH is a place with which many South Australian’s will have a generational relationship, I want the next generation’s experience to be as positive as my own generations.

Helping Hand Aged Care – Rotary House is smaller in scale than nWCH, and the demographic of the end user is more targeted. We were able to do site tours to get a sense of how the older generation like to live, what they need and hear directly from them and the client – who we collaborate with closely. As a result, the interior design of the project has been approached with the aim of feeling as much like a home as possible. Parquetry floors, cornices, inset carpet detailing and additions like wardrobes and laundry baskets contribute to the space feeling more domestic – considering a person’s need to feel ‘at home’ as well as healthcare functions and usability.

For me, healthcare design is about getting the little things right as much as the bigger picture. Design influences routine, function and a sense of belonging – all things that positively impact patients, carers and families in the healthcare space. I’ve been there, experienced it, and I’d like to make it better.