DESIGN & INTERIORS
SENSES AND SURFACES
Becky Turner, Workplace Psychologist at Claremont, explains how making every surface count supports the neurodiverse.
Neurodivergent individuals account for approximately 20% of the UK workforce, yet many workplaces still fall short in meeting their diverse needs.
Inclusion and accessibility are widely recognised as integral to the modern workplace experience, but all too often these conversations focus on catering for physical disabilities with ramps, wide doorways and accessible toilets. True inclusivity, however, must consider a wide spectrum of factors, such as mental health, hidden disabilities, faith, gender and neurodiversity.
Crucially, our workplaces must stretch beyond equality and strive for equity. That means creating environments where all employees—not just the neurotypical—can thrive. It requires rethinking workplace design to support varied ways of processing information, completing tasks, managing sensory input, and navigating spaces.
As our collective understanding of neurodiversity grows, so too should the ambition of workplace design. Fortunately, some of the most impactful changes are also the simplest and many involve making better use of surfaces like floors, walls, ceilings, and furniture to promote inclusivity and belonging.
At Claremont we’ve been delivering memorable, effective, inspiring and stand-out workplaces for almost 50 years. We don’t just understand the people and inclusivity challenges employers face; we know how office interior design can solve them. Here are six practical ways facilities professionals can make better use of workplace surfaces to support neurodiversity and achieve inclusion in the workplace:
Wayfinding - Embedding directional cues into floors, carpets, and wall graphics can help everyone navigate the office with ease. Visual anchors like numbering or colour coding areas and displaying clear signage support memory and orientation—especially helpful for those who benefit from structure and clarity.
Acoustics matter - Excessive workplace noise is disruptive, impacting productivity and wellbeing, particularly for the neurodiverse. Ceilings can be used
20 | TOMORROW’S FM
to house acoustic solutions to help deaden noise, while covering meeting booths and pods with acoustic fabrics can stop noise travelling and create a quieter, calmer environment. The inclusion of tech-free or quiet spaces is effective in providing a sense of choice and control for colleagues over their sensory environment.
Colour and pattern - Colour and contrast can aid navigation and comfort. High contrast walls or areas can help people with low vision, while more muted palettes can promote calm and reduce sensory overload, which are helpful for those with ADHD, ASD and anxiety. Used in the right spaces and on the right surfaces, colour and pattern can help to define zones and convey their purpose.
Tactile finishes - Tactile finishes like soft upholstery, textured walls or ribbed surfaces can be comforting and grounding, offering appropriate stimulation and sensory experiences for those That need them.
Guarantee calm - Not everyone thrives in an open- plan office. Creating quiet, low-stimulus areas like wellbeing rooms, focus activity pods or quiet zones, gives all employees including the neurodiverse, a place to decompress, recharge and find calm.
Variety - Those employees less able to focus for long periods of time will benefit from variety and the ability to move about a workspace freely. When lots of different settings and facilities are available, people can choose what works for them, without feeling singled out or different.
Design for everyone When inclusion is thought of from the start, it doesn’t have to stand out. By using universal design principles to create spaces that work for all employees - whatever their needs, abilities or preferences -you can avoid the need for bolt-on facilities or special dispensations. Smart, intentional design makes inclusivity feel effortless. The most inclusive spaces bring brand values to life, maximise the value of every available surface and make everyone belong.
You can download a copy of Claremont’s guide to efficient, inclusive and sustainable workplace design, called Making Every Surface Count, here.
https://claremontgi.com
https://www.reznor.co.uk/nor-ray-vac/?utm_source=tomorrows-fm&utm_medium=%20third-party-website&utm_campaign=nor-ray-vac twitter.com/TomorrowsFM
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60
