AMICI
AMICI
DONATORI DI SANGUE
DONATORI DI SANGUE
MASTER'S THESIS
Amici Donatori di Sangue Milan is a long-established nonprofit dedicated to sustaining the city’s blood supply through continuous volunteer engagement. Widely trusted and deeply rooted in Milan’s community network, the organization plays a vital role in public health, ensuring safe and regular blood donation that supports the wellbeing of the city.
Amici Donatori di Sangue Milan is a long-established nonprofit dedicated to sustaining the city’s blood supply through continuous volunteer engagement. Widely trusted and deeply rooted in Milan’s community network, the organization plays a vital role in public health, ensuring safe and regular blood donation that supports the wellbeing of the city.
Typology
Community Health and Wellness
Community Health and Wellness
Team
Chetana Reddy
Chetana Reddy
Kani Bahzad
Kani Bahzad
Khushi P Shah
Khushi P Shah
Robert Rombouts
Robert Rombouts
Year
2025
2025
Location
Milan, Italy
Milan, Italy
Mentors
Ar. Francesca Perani
Ar. Francesca Perani
Ar. Georgio Grandi
Ar. Georgio Grandi
Existing Space
Existing Space
The donation journey follows a clear sequence-
Villetta → Waiting Room 1 → Waiting Room 2 → Donation Room → Post-Donation Bar.
The donation journey follows a clear sequence-
Villetta → Waiting Room 1 → Waiting Room 2 → Donation Room → Post-Donation Bar.
Currently, these areas are visually dull, lack a defined layout, and offer no structured seating or tables to support form-filling or waiting. The spaces do not encourage interaction, leaving anxious donors isolated and making the process feel task-driven rather than supported.
The client was looking for simple, cost-efficient design interventions to refresh these zones to improve comfort and flow without major changes to the existing structure.
Currently, these areas are visually dull, lack a defined layout, and offer no structured seating or tables to support form-filling or waiting. The spaces do not encourage interaction, leaving anxious donors isolated and making the process feel task-driven rather than supported.
The client was looking for simple, cost-efficient design interventions to refresh these zones to improve comfort and flow without major changes to the existing structure.
Villetta
Corridor
Bar
Condividi la vita is Italian for 'Share Life'
Initial Concept
Initial Concept
Sharing moments and experiences helps individuals feel more at ease, reducing self-doubt and dissolving lingering taboos around blood donation. This understanding shifted the project title- from “Designed for Those Who Give” to “Designed for Those Who Share.”
Sharing moments and experiences helps individuals feel more at ease, reducing self-doubt and dissolving lingering taboos around blood donation. This understanding shifted the project title- from “Designed for Those Who Give” to “Designed for Those Who Share.”
We defined four core elements that guided every design decision:
We defined four core elements that guided every design decision:
Community: Seating forms, spatial pockets, and interaction-oriented layouts that encourage conversation and create a shared sense of kindness and presence.
Community: Seating forms, spatial pockets, and interaction-oriented layouts that encourage conversation and create a shared sense of kindness and presence.
Information: Clear graphic communication that provided transparent knowledge to help donors understand the process.
Information: Clear graphic communication that provided transparent knowledge to help donors understand the process.
Responsibility: Archways and transitional doorways that introduce a sense of purpose and courage as donors move closer to the act of donating.
Responsibility: Archways and transitional doorways that introduce a sense of purpose and courage as donors move closer to the act of donating.
Guidance: Signage, installations, and spatial cues that would support a smooth, intuitive journey through each step of the clinic.
Guidance: Signage, installations, and spatial cues that would support a smooth, intuitive journey through each step of the clinic.
Initial Concept
Design Concept
Design Concept
The spatial concept takes inspiration from blood- its diversity, its colors, and its constant movement. Instead of a single red, we draw from the many hues and forms within blood to build an inclusive, layered palette.
The spatial concept takes inspiration from blood- its diversity, its colors, and its constant movement. Instead of a single red, we draw from the many hues and forms within blood to build an inclusive, layered palette.
Its steady, one-directional flow guides the sequence of spaces, much like the donor’s path and the transparent tubes that carry blood to the bag. The design translates this flow and diversity into spatial gestures that express our four core principles, creating an environment that is coherent and quietly provocative.
Its steady, one-directional flow guides the sequence of spaces, much like the donor’s path and the transparent tubes that carry blood to the bag. The design translates this flow and diversity into spatial gestures that express our four core principles, creating an environment that is coherent and quietly provocative.
Materials & Mood
Materials & Mood
Each room reflects the emotions tied to its stage in the donor journey. We studied how donors feel throughout the process and translated those insights into a simple mood, avoiding visual overload and supporting a sense of ease.
Each room reflects the emotions tied to its stage in the donor journey. We studied how donors feel throughout the process and translated those insights into a simple mood, avoiding visual overload and supporting a sense of ease.
Plexiglass highlights transparency of the tubes and the gradient movement of blood through custom wallpapers. Laminate was selected for its wide range of finishes, easy maintenance, and cost efficiency. All surfaces and fabrics comply with hygiene and safety standards.
Plexiglass highlights transparency of the tubes and the gradient movement of blood through custom wallpapers. Laminate was selected for its wide range of finishes, easy maintenance, and cost efficiency. All surfaces and fabrics comply with hygiene and safety standards.
Mood Board
Material Board
Villetta
Villetta
The space is organized around a new tea station marked by a directional felt ceiling feature. An open layout with conversation-pit seating and movable tables adds flexibility. Yellow accents enhance warmth and joy while complementing the existing blue flooring.
The space is organized around a new tea station marked by a directional felt ceiling feature. An open layout with conversation-pit seating and movable tables adds flexibility. Yellow accents enhance warmth and joy while complementing the existing blue flooring.
Existing Villetta Floor Plan
Proposed Villetta Floor Plan
Ceiling Installation
Central Tea Station
Communal Tea Station
Communal Tea Station
An overlooked and purely functional tea corner was reimagined into the core anchor of the first experience. An inviting oval table encourages donors to pause, share a cup of tea, and connect with one another.
An overlooked and purely functional tea corner was reimagined into the core anchor of the first experience. An inviting oval table encourages donors to pause, share a cup of tea, and connect with one another.
The redesigned station integrates a trash receptacle, water dispenser, cup dispenser, and concealed storage, creating a clean and efficient setup.
The redesigned station integrates a trash receptacle, water dispenser, cup dispenser, and concealed storage, creating a clean and efficient setup.
The use of red reinforces the collective spirit of blood donation.
The use of red reinforces the collective spirit of blood donation.
Central Tea Station
Donation Block
Donation Block
Existing Donation Block Floor Plan
Proposed Donation Block Floor Plan
Waiting Room 1
Waiting Room 1
Since donors spend the most time in this room, the layout is designed to keep the space active and easy to use.
Since donors spend the most time in this room, the layout is designed to keep the space active and easy to use.
Seating is arranged along the perimeter to allow clear movement, paired with lightweight movable tables for flexibility. Interactive magnetic panels let donors note their motivations, adding a simple reflective touch to the wait. A blue gradient wallpaper introduces calm energy, complemented by minimal red graphic text that ties into the overall theme.
Seating is arranged along the perimeter to allow clear movement, paired with lightweight movable tables for flexibility. Interactive magnetic panels let donors note their motivations, adding a simple reflective touch to the wait. A blue gradient wallpaper introduces calm energy, complemented by minimal red graphic text that ties into the overall theme.
Existing Bar Floor Plan
Proposed Bar Floor Plan
