This TED Talk features design ambassador John Kerry, recorded live at TED Women 2017.

On a beautiful day, just a few years ago, my wife and I entered a hospital near our home in Oakland, California, for the birth of our first daughter, Maya.

We had responsibly toured the birthing center in advance,

and yet we were somehow still startled to find ourselves

in the place where we would experience

one of the most significant moments of our lives.

We were stuck in a windowless room

with no hint of the bright and sunny day that we had left.

Fluorescent lights buzzed overhead,

paint on the walls was beige,

and machines beeped inexplicably

as a wall clock indicated day turning to night.

That clock was placed above a door in direct line of sight

to where my wife lay as her contractions increased hour after hour.

Now, I've never given birth,

but she assured me that the last thing that a birthing woman would ever want

is to watch the seconds tick by.

An architect by training,

I've always been fascinated watching people experience design

in the world around them.

I believe design functions like the soundtrack

that we're not even fully aware as playing.

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