Neurodiverse office design, a matter of sense

Neurodiverse office design – tl;dr

• By catering to neurodivergent needs, workplaces support those with ADHD, autism, dyslexia, and other cognitive conditions. At the same time, everyone enjoys reduced distractions and improved focus. Offering seclusion and adaptability, private soundproof work booths like the hushFree.S 1-person pod represent premium accommodations.
• Offering a rich mix of spaces in the office is best. It allows people to choose environments matching their preferences. This means everyone has more control over their levels of stimulation and can intuitively modulate it, avoiding brain fatigue.
• As in the hushFree.M 4-person meeting booth, features like customizable lighting, airflow, and subdued aesthetics are highly recommended. They foster feelings of safety and security to offset the cerebral strain digital workers of all neurotypes face.
• By adapting for distinctly mental challenges like stimuli overwhelm and spatial discomfort, an office becomes a space where a diversity of people find harmony and concentration.

Diversity isn’t just visible. It includes how our brains work. Indeed, neurodivergence makes up about 20% of the population. And the element that gets sadly overlooked is that neuroatypical workers bring novel abilities to the table. ADHD comes with hyper-focus bursts and keen attentiveness that profit productivity. Dyslexia is often accompanied by tremendous empathy, smoothening teamwork. People with dyspraxia have a distinctly creative way of thinking about problems. So what this really means is that an office space inclusive of all types capitalizes on the neurodivergent’s genius

– says Mateusz Barczyk, Senior Brand Manager, Hushoffice.

Look through the sensory lens to see neuro inclusively.

Yes, people who are neurodivergent have finer responsiveness to elements like light, noise, or textures. But sensory sensitivity is shared by the typical worker too, albeit to varying degrees. We all perceive and process our work surroundings through the senses after all.

Inclusive design: a variety of sensory scapes.

Quiet rooms. Bright open spaces. Dimmed pods. Acoustically sound conference booths like hushFree.L. Catering to mixed preferences through a mix of environments lets employees choose the spot matching their sensory desires moment to moment, task to task.

• Nearly 78% of neurodivergent employees feel overwhelmed at work. This makes offering seclusive spaces in the office which allow for periodic seclusion or disruption-free work imperative.

Truly inclusive offices provide a garden variety of settings.

This looks like, for instance, quiet booths complementing open benching areas, giving employees the freedom to choose their ideal spot. The freedom goes with a natural ebb and flow of work, from focused tasks to team discussions.

Acoustic booths meet many needs, starting with “quiet.”

Office noise is one of the worst distractions. For neurodivergent workers, it can be debilitating. It overburdens and kills focus. Sound-insulated spaces like pods curb the overload by blocking out noise and containing sound made inside. They are a two-way cocoon of quietude.

• Open-plan office noise can increase fatigue and concentration difficulties. It even reduces cognitive processing speeds on simple tasks like addition. And while some tasks, like typing, may be done faster as a compensatory response, overall well-being and focus suffer long-term.

The architectural privacy of booths perfects their appeal to different neurotypes.

Enclosed spaces provide a sense of security. They offer employees a sure guarantee that they won’t be disturbed or intruded upon. The psychological safety enjoyed in such a contained space can lend paramount concentration and comfort.

Space planning and design play the main part in shaping privacy. Within this work, spatial configurations, lighting, and sound control are integral in respecting and enhancing personal boundaries. In every case, privacy is no doubt this subtle ingredient for comfort, balancing the layout between ‘we’ time and ‘me’ time. Well-engineered, it can delineate spaces in an intuitive way, establishing each one’s mood and function in a manner toward peacefulness

– says Mateusz Barczyk, Senior Brand Manager, Hushoffice.

At a workspace, adjustable features lend autonomy, dignifying open offices.

Adaptability makes design more inclusive. Pods exemplify it with controllable features like lights and air flow. When light intensity and color can be set to individual preferences, for instance, eyestrain lessens, while air flow, adding comfort, also engenders a calming effect.

The business case for neurodiverse design.

By investing in more inclusive spaces, companies unlock the remarkable strengths of neurodivergent employees. These include, for starters, exceptional memory, attention to detail, and pattern recognition.

• 82% of neurodivergent workers believe their condition improves their talents, like meticulousness, visual thinking, memory retention, and creativity.

Designing for a few unlocks benefits many.

Quiet spaces, subdued colors, and structured environments are part of virtually anyone’s ideal workscape. So prioritizing the hushed spaces that aneurotypical workers yearn for addresses hurdles faced by the cognitively different while refining the office for everyone’s better enjoyment and ease.

• Low-sensory spaces cut distractions, easing brain strain, especially in the prefrontal cortex. They’re ideal for complex tasks and great for those sensitive to sensory input like non-neurotypical employees. They work by offering comfort, allowing for productive breaks from stimuli.

Aptly named, inclusive design is not so much about catering strictly to minorities as it is about crafting workplaces where everyone does well. The goal is that anyone can enjoy simplicity navigating and utilizing their office. The fundamental thing is task-environment fit. When employees can match their environment to their momentary needs, they have no barrier to productivity, and can get straight to work without undue stress, but with a sense of easiness instead. The ability to move between quietude and vibrancy, enclosure and openness — an ability afforded only by a diverse office landscape — drives this easiness every modern worker yearns for

– says Mateusz Barczyk, Senior Brand Manager, Hushoffice.

Empathy is the first step toward a more accessible office.

Proprioceptive or spatial dis-ease. Cognitive burnout. Sensory integration hang-ups. Understanding these characteristic challenges neurodivergent employees face daily begins the path toward strong solutions.

• Most neurodivergent employees report difficulties finding their way in environments that lack sensory accommodations or flexibility.

For someone who’s cognitively the norm, it’s tough to grasp the drain a bustling office is on neurodivergent peers. Every sound, every visual event can break attention, keeping focus ever out of reach. The problem isn’t merely being sidetracked but sheer exhaustion. But one of the most surefire ways to address this open-office problem is to introduce a few soundproof work booths. They work because they are sensory havens, and dependably calm. And the reality is, regarding individual sensitivities, even details as seemingly minor as wall color matter, with noisy patterns proving disorienting to sensitive or overtaxed employees, for instance. It is through each of these details booths like hushFree shine. Quiet, private, muted, and minimal, hushFree booths are beautifully low-key in every way

– says Mateusz Barczyk, Senior Brand Manager, Hushoffice.

The vision: workspaces that celebrate differences and amplify strengths.

As the workforce diversifies, universal design becomes more vital. With hybrid, flexible work becoming normal, employees expect spaces that adapt to them, not vice versa. And for most open-style spaces, this starts with making the environment quieter, more private, and more subdued on the whole.

Consider hushFree booths.

Neurodiverse office design – summarized

• By catering to neurodivergent needs, workplaces support those with ADHD, autism, dyslexia, and other cognitive conditions. At the same time, everyone enjoys reduced distractions and improved focus. Offering seclusion and adaptability, private soundproof work booths like the hushFree.S 1-person pod represent premium accommodations.
• Offering a rich mix of spaces in the office is best. It allows people to choose environments matching their preferences. This means everyone has more control over their levels of stimulation and can intuitively modulate it, avoiding brain fatigue.
• As in the hushFree.M 4-person meeting booth, features like customizable lighting, airflow, and subdued aesthetics are highly recommended. They foster feelings of safety and security to offset the cerebral strain digital workers of all neurotypes face.
• By adapting for distinctly mental challenges like stimuli overwhelm and spatial discomfort, an office becomes a space where a diversity of people find harmony and concentration.

Neurodiverse office design – frequently asked questions

Why is neurodiverse design important in the workplace?

Neurodiverse design creates environments that accommodate a wide range of cognitive and sensory needs. By addressing challenges like information overload and inadequate privacy, these designs nourish unique neuroatypical strengths like creativity and meticulousness.

Do work booths work for neurodivergent employees?

Soundproof booths like hushFree create a controlled sensory environment by reducing noise and visual distractions. They are like a promise of unbroken focus, always at hand 

What are the key elements of an inclusive office design?

Sound control, customizable lighting, ergonomic furniture, and clear spatial boundaries are functional aspects of an office that works for everyone.