Founder : Michelle Bexelius
My Path to Wellness Design

For more than 15 years, I’ve inspected and tested hundreds of homes—and seen firsthand how buildings can either support health or quietly undermine it. Mold, VOCs, poor ventilation, off-gassing finishes, EMFs, and toxic materials all shape human wellbeing in ways that often go unnoticed.

My understanding is both professional and personal. I originally planned to become a physician, drawn to the intricacies of the human body. But in my first college cadaver lab, I had a severe reaction to formaldehyde—a toxic exposure that revealed a lifelong sensitivity. That moment reshaped my path.

I turned to design, studying art and visual communication in Europe and later building a career in San Francisco as a usability engineer and experience designer. I led digital learning initiatives, conducted ethnographic research, and explored how people interact with complex systems. Over time, my focus widened—from screens to spaces, from digital interfaces to the materials, light, and air we live with every day.

Motherhood deepened that shift. In 2000, while searching for non-toxic products for my baby’s nursery, I found almost nothing. Out of that gap I launched Green This Life, one of the first eco-wellness platforms. Later I trained with the Institute for Building Biology and Ecology, earning certifications in Healthy Building Practices, Indoor Air Quality, EMFs, and Environmental Testing.

The work became even more personal after my own toxic mold exposure and health challenges. To better understand the body-environment connection, I became certified as an Integrative Health Practitioner and studied nervous system regulation and brain retraining. The lesson that has guided me ever since: when we feel safe in our homes, we can begin to feel safe in our bodies.

Nature has always been my foundation. Raised by a landscape architect mother and a builder-sculptor father, I grew up on job sites, in gardens, and immersed in forests and coastlines. That early imprint continues to inform everything I create.

At the heart of my work is biophilic design—the art and science of weaving nature’s intelligence into the built world. I use natural materials, healthy light, clean air and water, and visual connections to the outdoors to support nervous system regulation and healing. For me, design is not just about aesthetics—it’s about biology.

Today I lead DesignWell Studios, consulting on wellness-focused projects and teaching designers, builders, real estate professionals, and homeowners how to create restorative environments. Through custom client work and our education platform, I help bring regenerative, health-supportive spaces to life.

Because designing for wellness is no longer optional. It’s essential.
My mission is simple: to create spaces that feel as good as they look—spaces that heal.