The hidden costs of spaces that ignore sensory diversity
- Discomfort and disengagement — environments that feel wrong to the nervous system cause people to disengage, avoid or underperform — even in beautifully designed spaces
- Sensory overload — open-plan offices, busy reception areas and high-stimulus environments overwhelm individuals with lower sensory thresholds, draining focus and energy
- Exclusion by default — neurodiverse employees, students and users are disproportionately impacted by spaces not designed for sensory diversity — undermining inclusion before it begins
- Costly redesigns — spaces that feel wrong after completion require expensive retrofitting that could have been avoided with Sensory Intelligence® built into the design process from the start
- Missed human potential — when environments don’t support how people are neurologically wired, organisations never see the full capability of the people working in them
Most design briefs consider aesthetics, sustainability and functionality. Very few consider the one factor that determines whether people actually thrive in a space — their sensory experience of it.
The science-based solution:
Sensory inclusive design
- Sensory Inclusive Design combines neuroscience with design expertise to create environments that support the full range of human sensory needs — from the highly sensitive to the sensation-seeking.
- Using our proprietary sensory assessment tools and environmental audit methodology, we translate brain-body science into practical, buildable design decisions.
- We work as a specialist consulting partner to architects, interior designers, project managers, HR directors, and facilities managers — bringing a Sensory Intelligence® lens to every stage of the design process without replacing design expertise.
- Our role is to enhance it with evidence-based human insight, ensuring that spaces are not only beautiful and sustainable but also neurologically supportive.
Why Sensory Inclusive design is different
- It starts with science, not style — every recommendation is grounded in how the human nervous system actually responds to environmental stimuli
- It considers both the space and the people — combining environmental assessment with individual sensory profiling for a genuinely complete picture
- It works at every stage — from initial brief and floor plan review through to procurement, specification and fit-out
- It addresses all seven senses — visual, auditory, tactile, olfactory, gustatory, movement and body position — not just the obvious ones
- It creates spaces that work for everyone — neurodiverse and neurotypical, sensory seekers and sensory avoiders, individuals and teams
- It prevents expensive mistakes — sensory insight built into the design process from the start, avoids the costly retrofitting that happens when spaces feel wrong after completion
Our Connections
We’ve helped thousands of people and organisations be healthier, happier and more productive
“One of the most commonly overlooked workplace challenges is sensory processing and our sensitivities to the daily onslaught of sensory stimuli. We humans are sensory beings, and are constantly receiving sensory input. In fact, we receive 11 million bits of sensory information every second, of which, only 50% of which we can process consciously. We are all, neurodiverse and neurotypical individuals, processing sensory stimulation differently. But neurodiverse thinkers often can be over or under stimulated by factors in their environment. Elements such as lighting, sound, texture, smells, temperature, air quality or overall sense of security all play a role in how we feel and function in a space. Understanding how we are impacted and how to design spaces to accommodate a diverse population is critical to the creation of successful, welcoming environments. Hence the work that Annemarie and the team at Sensory Intelligence® are doing is so important to helping us on that journey”
Kay Sargent
Senior Principal | Director of Work Place - HOK
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