Neurodiversity and Inclusive Design
One in eight people are neurodivergent, which means they have one or more of a collection of conditions that include autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and dyslexia, among others. It’s important to be able to accommodate neurodiverse and neurotypical people alike in the built environment, and we can use sensory design to do this. Sensory design allows us to consider the multiple ways that we experience spaces through all of our senses—not just vision. It allows us to create welcoming, harmonious spaces that put people at ease by tuning into their needs, everyday lives, and routines. Sensory design is a tool that supports everyone’s ability to explore the world around them, receive information, connect with others, and feel safe and comfortable. People with disabilities and different sensory abilities in particular can benefit from design that considers their needs and makes the built environment easier to navigate.
Designing more inclusively doesn’t negatively affect the general population; instead, it enhances everyone’s experience. In a world of distraction and overstimulation, everyone can benefit from designs that allow us to thrive. Here are some popular inclusive design strategies:
Flexibility
Having a sense of control is important for well-being. That’s why many inclusive workplaces offer flexible and varied spaces, to accommodate different kinds of sensory sensitivities. This might include hypo-sensitivity (under-responsiveness) and hyper-sensitivity (over-responsiveness). Acoustic design that attends to sensory sensitivity often incorporates panels and products with high NRC values (noise reduction coefficient) that attenuate sound, creating environments conducive to deeper concentration. For example, our Reed acoustic wall panels have a .92 NRC value, which means that they absorb 92% of sound in a space, while the other 8% is reflected. Some people with neurodivergent conditions feel more secure in predictable spaces with clear boundaries. Inclusive workplaces offer a variety of spaces that allow them to engage with others and retreat and focus when needed.
Reed, Acoustic Wall Panel
Color
Color is a powerful tool that can influence mood, impact performance, and even affect us physiologically. Mix neutral colors with prominent bold accents to stimulate and excite—or make the bold accents less prominent to soothe and focus. Spaces can balance both of these palettes to promote different moods and activities. In collaboration with Carolyn Ames Noble, CMF expert (color, materials, and finishes), we designed a new palette of 32 colors to nurture sensory well-being, drawing from nature and culture. Combine them to craft the perfect atmosphere.
Description of instance
Biophilic design
Natural materials and designs tend to make people feel safe, calm, and grounded. For example, we often use ceiling panels with an organic, wood grain texture. Our Fractal ceiling panels recreate patterns seen in nature and our Mesh panels have undulating layers that create a soothing ripple effect. Spatial configuration is also an element of biophilic design—we seek unimpeded lines of sight, which give us a sense of order and predictability and make wayfinding more intuitive. We also like to be able to retreat to spaces of calm and refuge, away from the main flow of activity. Acoustic panels can help create these spaces and reduce noise from surrounding areas.
In this office, custom Freeform ceiling baffles guide people gently through the space.