Meet Shadan Mirzaei

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Shadan Mirzaei. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Shadan, appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?

How do I keep my creativity alive… hmm, great question. I actually get as creatively blocked as the next person, so I’ve learned to think of creativity as problem-solving rather than waiting for inspiration to strike. Every design challenge is basically a puzzle with endless solutions, and that’s what keeps things interesting for me — whether I’m working on a building or doing research.

That’s actually how my design framework, Healing Aesthetics, initially started. I saw a problem: healthcare spaces create stress… and stress interferes with healing. So I looked at how design could do the opposite — reduce stress using research in neuroscience and psychology. The framework became the creative solution.

So for me, creativity stays alive by staying curious, identifying problems worth solving, and letting the process take me somewhere unexpected.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I’m currently working as an architectural designer and researcher, and most of my focus is on how spaces make us feel — emotionally and physiologically. I split my time between designing buildings and exploring the neuroscience behind why certain environments calm us while others do the opposite and stress us out.

The most exciting part of my work has been developing frameworks that give designers easy-to-follow, research-based methods for creating healthier spaces. Right now, I’m focused on expanding these frameworks across different building types, taking on projects that prioritize well-being, and collaborating with people who are interested in more human-centered design.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

First — and at the risk of repeating myself — creative problem-solving. I really do believe almost everything has an answer if you’re willing to look for it. That mindset has shaped both my design work and my research.

Second, resilience — not being afraid to fail. Most breakthroughs come after a lot of versions that didn’t work, and learning to see that as part of the process rather than a setback has made all the difference.

And third, a willingness to learn outside your field. Some of the most meaningful work I’ve done came from blending art and science, and none of that would’ve happened if I stayed in my lane.

For anyone early in their journey, my advice would be: stay curious, embrace the failures, and don’t be afraid to think outside the box. That’s usually where the most interesting ideas come from!

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

Absolutely! Collaboration is a huge part of my practice, especially because my work lives at the intersection of art, architecture, and research.

I recently presented my work at a design and neuroscience conference, where I received a lot of interest from healthcare designers asking if they could begin integrating the framework into their own projects. That response really highlighted how much excitement — and need — there is for more human-centered, research-driven design tools.

So if someone reading this feels aligned with that mission, I’m always excited to connect. I love working with people who are curious, research-oriented, and motivated to push design toward something more meaningful.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://shadanmirzaei.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shadanmrz/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shadan-mirzaei