Designing for Neurodivergence

Bringing empathy into the built environment.

Neurodivergence is essentially the differences in the brain that affect how it processes cognition, behavior, and social interaction. It is estimated that 1 in 7 people has some form of neurodiversity. Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), Dyslexia, Tourette’s, OCD, and ADHD are a few of the more well-known conditions, although there are several variations.

While this article only skims the surface, as designers, our deeper understanding of neurodiversity allows us to create inclusive spaces where everyone can thrive.

One important factor is that each condition can express itself in a hyper- + hypo-sensitivity, meaning that the requirements for individuals with similar conditions can vary greatly.

As humans, we react to our environment through our nervous system, in 2 types of responses:

• Sympathetic Response fight or flight

• Parasympathetic Response rest + digest

Our goal as designers is to inspire the Parasympathetic response + calm the Sympathetic response to the best of our ability.

SOUND

• Proper acoustics

  • Consideration for the holistic “sound” of a space - echo, reverberation, etc.

• Sound dampening

  • Solutions to mitigate odd, low, or high-pitched sounds that can seep through HVAC + mechanical systems.

  • Help to drown out individual voices or conversations.

• Quiet or respite spaces

  • Spaces that offer individual control over the environment, including sound - nature sounds, music, white noise, etc.

  • For some, loud music can be helpful- allowing for individual choice will create a more equitable experience.

SIGHT

TOUCH

THERE IS NO ONE SIZE FITS ALL SOLUTION

AUTONOMY IS KEY!

• Hybrid flexibility

  • Allow employees to decide when + where they work best.

• Agile spaces

  • Create spaces that support various work styles + privacy requirements.