Case Study - Sheffield Hospital

The Joy Pavilion.

A Case Study.

Colour as a tool for connection and wellbeing at Sheffield Childrens Hopsital with Morag Myerscough.

Colour design for wellbeing in healthcare spaces.

How intentional colour and creative collaboration transformed a hospital courtyard into a space for connection, reflection and joy.

One of our most meaningful collaborations to date has been with acclaimed British artist Morag Myerscough, exploring how colour and creativity can transform healthcare environments.

A creative partnership built around colour.

The collaboration brought together shared values around creativity, optimism and the ability of design to improve everyday experiences. Morag Myerscough’s work is recognised for its bold use of colour, geometric forms and ability to transform ordinary spaces into places filled with energy and personality.

YesColours worked closely with the team to develop a palette that complemented Morag’s distinctive visual language while responding to the pavilion’s purpose as a welcoming space within a healthcare setting. The colours were carefully considered to create an environment that feels uplifting, inclusive and accessible for everyone who encounters it.

Together, the project demonstrated how colour can become more than a visual feature — it can become a tool for storytelling, emotional connection and positive change.

A colorful architectural structure with bold geometric wall panels and a bright yellow roof overhang, set in front of a modern glass building.

Electric Blue

Matt Emulsion

A vibrant, colorful urban courtyard featuring a whimsical carousel-like pavilion with bold geometric patterns, colorful tiled flooring, and modern buildings in the background. A few people are visible in the scene.

Electric Yellow

Matt Emulsion

Using colour to create a restorative environment.

Colour plays an important role in how we experience the spaces around us. In healthcare environments, where people may often feel anxious or vulnerable, thoughtful colour choices can help create a sense of comfort, familiarity and optimism.

For the pavilion, the palette was developed to bring warmth and personality into the courtyard, balancing vibrant moments of expression with a sense of harmony and calm. The relationship between colour, pattern and structure creates a multi-sensory environment that invites exploration while offering a place to pause and reflect.

By applying colour with intention, the project shows how design can support wellbeing and influence the emotional quality of a space.

“The right colour doesn’t just change a space; it changes how it feels.”

Emma Bestley, Creative Director and Co-Founder of YesColours

The Joy Pavilion, Sheffield Children’s Hospital.

@YESCOLOURS 2026

Reimagining a hospital courtyard through colour.

Transforming an overlooked outdoor space into an immersive environment for play, reflection and connection.

Working within the architectural framework created by Avanti Architects, Morag’s studio introduced a timber-clad pavilion featuring her signature geometric patterns and expressive use of colour.

The transformation turned an existing courtyard into a destination for creativity, play and connection. The pavilion’s bold visual identity creates a sense of discovery, offering patients, families, visitors and staff a space that feels separate from the clinical surroundings while remaining connected to the wider hospital environment.

Through colour, pattern and materiality, the project demonstrates the potential of public spaces to become more human, engaging and memorable.