For tara the essence of design is:
problem solving for people + planet interests, with planned outcomes, to steer paths and secure results.
Not "making pretty” and not “me-too’ing,” but:
passionately tackling needed industry solutions with tactical strategies to forage well-being, growth, + profit.
Case Story 1: “Planting a Flag”
Dupont Building Innovations: Healing Colors collection
DuPont approached Ms. Hill to design, narrate, brand voice their new healthcare solid surface collection to firmly plant a healthcare flag.
Collaborating with DuPont Corian’s Marketing team, Tara was instrumental with their strategy, creation, and implementation of:
Platform premised in evidence-based research
72 sku "Healing Colors Collection"
6 easy to digest color categories
Collection's storytelling, brand voice
Thought leadership collaterals + CEU lecturing
Portable specification tool
Sales force messaging
“Look Book” Specification Tool.
Tara likes to leverage available resources. Some sku's were revived from archival and "clever repackaged" - for healthcare interests.
Recognizing designers avoid their picked thru libraries, Tara designed a “lightweight, portable collection Look Book" with “perforated product tear-off chips.” Gifted to designers for "finger tip access,” on-the-go travels, and to narrow choice BEFORE sample requests.
DuPont's Results :
DuPont's Want: To be North America's "go-to" healthcare solid surface specification.
The Solution: An intelligent, designer-centric, educational-based FULL HC segment program.
The Result: Established DuPont Corian as the healthcare trusted brand for solid surface.
2010-2012 DuPont's website showcasing Tara, her bio, and team contributions.
Whitepaper (cover).
"Using Color to Create Healing Environments."
(click paper to read):
Case Story 2: “Striding Into Ancillary”
IOA Furniture: Oliver healthcare Seating Collection
GOOD DESIGN + ASID GOLD Design Excellence Awards
IOA, THE top clinical furniture manufacturer, requested Ms. Hill to design a high functioning, high aesthetic "lounge + tandem" series to entry into ancillary seating markets.
With competitors BOLDLY infiltrating IOA’s clinical segments, Ms. Hill teamed to strategize and expand IOA into healthcare's ancillary soft-seating segments.
Oliver Lounge 3-Seater with integrated quartz table.
Tandem Suite and Occassional Chair (closed arms) with integrated quartz tables.
Integrated solid-surface armrest.
Teaming with IOA's President (a Pratt studied industrial designer) and engineering team, Tara designed a modular, "to designer’s choice," space efficient intensive use furniture series.
The collection provides:
Concealed crumb catcher.
Minimal-maximus styling
Modular configurations
Designers choice to configure
350 lb. live load per seat
Concealed crumb catchers
Integral solid surface arm caps
Stainless steel gallery + legs
Integrated ottomans + tables
IOA's Results :
The Want: For intensive HC use - a highly stylized "non-institutional looking" designer savvy seating series.
The Solution: A well received/awarded performance “cross-market” seating series that empowers specifiers with choice.
The Result: IOA quickly recognized as a formidable competitor within HC’s ancillary seating segment (as they have further profited + expanded offerings).
With its intensive use features, Oliver Lounge cross-migrates into hospitality and higher ed.
Case Story 3: “Reinventing to a Maven + Color Leader”
Norix Furniture: The Naturals’ + High Brights Platforms
Wanting more Correction’s market share, to expand into Wellness/EDU markets, and develop A+D sales channels, Norix teamed with Tara to reinvent their brand with thought + color leadership collaterals.
Directing Norix towards design-centric "forms" + color leverages.
Tara's Thought Leadership Papers.
"Think tanking" with Norix's leadership, Tara quickly recognized Correction Markets' untapped need for thought + color leadership collaterals.
https://norix.com/white-paper-the-role-of-color-in-humanizing-behavioral-healthcare-facilities/
The Naturals Palette.
Ms. Hill designed "The Naturals" palette and wrote "hue stories."
In parallel, enabling Norix to PUSH into Healthcare, BHC, and EDU markets, Tara designed + content messaged “The Naturals” and “High Brights” rotomold color palettes -- premised on evidence-based wellness, visual stimuli, and “endless mixings” to de-stigmatize institutional interiors.
To promote dignity, decrease discord, and increase staff satisfaction, Ms. Hill developed the following:
4 subject specific whitepapers
18 roto-mold sku colors
Palettes that market cross-migrate
Content Messaging, Product Positioning
Supplemental finish standards
The High Brights Palette.
Ms. Hill designed "The High Brights" palette and wrote "hue stories."
Norix's Results :
Norix's Want: Dominating Corrections’ market share AND pushing into HC, BHC, + EDU markets with A+D sales channels.
The Solution: Leveraging dynamic product color with evidence-based wellness ideologies and thought leadership collaterals to position Norix as a market leader with products “that work.”
The Result: Today, Norix is "A+D centric," has tripled in size, dominates Corrections and 60% of their sales are Behavioral Healthcare/HC. (no longer is Norix a “Corrections company”).
*** In 2017 they launched a new Hospitality (independent) furniture company - Tonik World.***
Designer's Speak:
“One of the things that really impressed me about Norix was Norix’s commitment to thought leadership, white papers, bringing in color people, and starting to look at alternative ways to approach things. Possibly they were reading the industry, but I think they were also desiring to push the envelop. ”
“We can now partner with a furniture manufacturer and bring ideas, together, to a Client. That’s exciting! ”
Humanizing Correction designers express their appreciation for Norix's new approach (Featured furniture - is 1st generation "The Naturals Palette." Today's palette is a refresh.)
“They worked with us to design an environment, colors and the styles of their furniture, that worked into the design of the entire Corrections Facility. What sets business apart is a PASSION to making a difference. ”
“It’s all about the people. We can talk about a chair, a light fixture, you know - anything, but, it all comes down to the people. The effect this cohesive environment can have on the future of these women, if it can contribute to a positive effect, then that is what I am MOST excited about.”
“Being in the industry for 35 years, everything was grey, everything was stainless steel, and now we are looking at colors. The whole facility is design that way.”