Arts Thread

Solid Care explores how hospitals can improve caregiver well-being and meet ESG goals by reimagining footwear as part of institutional procurement. While hospital uniforms are centrally managed, footwear remains an individual responsibility, causing inconsistencies in comfort, safety, and environmental sustainability tracking. In response, this project introduces “Solid Care”, a Product-Service-System that includes recyclable mono-material footwear designed for clinical use and a hospital-integrated service for procurement, personalization, and lifecycle management. Developed in collaboration with Solid Gear and nurses at the central hospital of Copenhagen in Denmark, the concept aligns institutional needs, such as staff retention, sustainability, and operational efficiency, with caregivers’ need for support, safety, and self-expression. Rather than standardizing footwear through top-down control, Solid Care enables hospitals to take responsibility while allowing staff to personalize fit and style. The project illustrates how industrial design can be used as a strategic tool to address systemic issues and promote autonomy in healthcare by transforming overlooked products into drivers of organizational change.