Designing for Well-Being

For Daisy Madaan (B.F.A. ’25), design has always been about more than aesthetics: It’s about how people feel, interact, and thrive in the spaces around them.

Now pursuing a master’s degree in health and design at the School of Architecture and Design, Madaan is combining creativity, research, and personal experience to explore how environments can better support human well-being.

Having grown up in Paris and Rome before moving from India to the United States, Madaan initially came to New York Tech to study interior design.

“I always knew I wanted to study interior design,” she says. “When I looked at New York Tech, I saw that alumni were getting great opportunities after graduation, and it felt like the right place for me.”

At New York Tech, she quickly immersed herself in the campus community. During her undergraduate years, she served as a peer success guide, student ambassador, teaching assistant for the first-year studio, coach for the High School Maker Academy, and event coordinator and social leader for the Interior Design Student Association on the New York City campus. She is currently working as a graduate assistant for the Office of Development, Alumni Relations, and External Affairs, as well as a research assistant collaborating with her professors and multiple Ph.D. students.

“I love stepping forward whenever there’s an opportunity,” she says. “I’m very extroverted, and I enjoy helping people. It’s one way I feel connected to the New York Tech community.”

During her undergraduate degree, Madaan connected with Christian Pongratz, M.Arch., professor of architecture, who helped her learn more about the school’s master’s in health and design. Madaan became fascinated by the ways design can influence healthcare environments, particularly for vulnerable populations.

“I always wanted to get a master’s degree, and I realized this program combined my interests in design with healthcare and human wellness,” says Madaan. Her graduate research focuses on designing supportive spaces for neurodivergent individuals, especially children.

The centerpiece of Madaan’s work is a sensory-based panel intended to make children feel calmer and more comfortable. The panel incorporates different materials and textures—such as moss surfaces, soft-touch elements, and sensory boards—to create calming distractions that can help children regulate stress or anxiety.

“The goal is to design something that helps them feel more relaxed and grounded,” she explains. “It’s about creating environments that support how people experience the world.”

Madaan is also exploring how similar sensory elements could be integrated into wearable objects such as bracelets, rings, necklaces, or chewable accessories designed for sensory regulation.

Originally, Madaan expected to enter the workforce as a junior interior designer after graduation. Through her graduate studies, however, she has discovered a passion for research.

“I’m realizing that my niche might be in research and design,” she says. “I’m now looking into Ph.D. programs where I can continue exploring how design can improve health and well-being.”