In defining a problem, especially a healthcare design challenge, he typically looks to friends and family members needing healthcare solutions. “I attempt to design products that will attend to their needs and aid them in their day-to-day lives.”
Such close observation and research play a key role in his design process. Beyond family and friends, he says that his work is informed primarily by observing the needs of people in hospitals, nursing homes, and retirement communities. “My products attempt to make their lives a bit easier and more comfortable.”
A graduate of Kendall School of Art and Design and Michigan State University, Reinhard—with pragmatism and empathy—has made a difference through design for 40 years.