Episode 69: Corinn Soro, Interior Designer, CID, NCIDQ, CHID, EDAC, Senior Planner, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center

"Another sign is not the answer—it dilutes the message." - Corinn Soro Today on the pod, Cheryl sits down—virtually—with Senior Planner and Interior Designer Corinn Soro of Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in Buffalo, NY for a deep dive into wayfinding that actually works: why "visual pollution" erodes attention, how de-crapification clarifies intent, and where evidence-based choices can transform the patient journey from disorientation to ease.

Expect real examples—subway-style maps that set expectations at a glance, pictograms that land when words won't, and donor walls designed to evolve rather than date out—plus the small, cumulative tweaks that lower stress for visitors and staff alike.

Today's conversation is about design as reassurance, translating research into decisions that cut through noise and hand back control the moment someone walks through the door.

What We Cover A 17-year-old's spark: geriatric care, neuroplasticity, and the built environment

London roots: learning research methods alongside OTs and PTs; universal design for all bodies

Evidence-Based Design in action: NICU decisions (sound, circadian light, infection control) backed by research

"Visual pollution" vs. visual cues: the case for ruthless editing ("de-crapification") before adding signs

Wayfinding that works under stress: step-by-step instructions, few decision points, and reassurance cues

Designing for low literacy: a color-and-letter "subway" system, line-of-travel markers, and proximity intuition

Pictograms that actually communicate: testing, swapping out abstractions, and kid-friendly icons

Measuring ROI: missed appointments, staff disruptions, and the real cost of poor wayfinding

In-house rhythm at a research hospital: tight feedback loops, quick iterations, and process fixes