Up to 20% of the population falls into the neurodivergent category – that could cover anything, from dyslexia to autism and ADHD. Neurodiversity is the idea that our brains are all different and there is no one-size-fits-all solution. This is a reality that many employers are already starting to integrate into the way that they approach workforce management and office design. Given the positive impact this can have – and the boost to inclusion it can deliver – it makes sense for any business today to start looking at how to make a workplace more neurodiverse.

Modern workplaces can be very challenging

This is especially so since businesses began adopting a more open plan approach to office design. While this might work well for some people, for others the noise and bustle can be distracting, and the light and sound might be overstimulating. Some people need quiet to be able to concentrate and are easily affected by anything, from smells to temperature. However, those people also have a huge range of attributes and talents to bring to the workplace that make it well worth considering a redesign to accommodate them. For example, neurodiverse staff may be exceptional storytellers and creatives and have a range of advanced abilities when it comes to coding or anything that requires empathy.

How to design a neurodiverse workplace

There are a number of ways in which spaces can be more accommodating to those with neurodiversity, including:

• Using spatial design strategies. There are lots of different ways to approach this, for example by creating a rhythm of common design elements so that the aesthetic feels reassuring. Or designing around specific interior features – such as a staircase – that people can use to orientate themselves when moving around the building.
• Creating a range of different settings and allowing workers to choose. This is the easiest way to accommodate the fact that all our working styles are different. It might mean enclosed and quiet spaces where someone can go to focus if they need to be away from others as well as more open plan environments for socialising and collaboration. There might be specific areas for making phone calls and others where noise levels are low, and seats are super comfy.
• Bringing the outdoors in. Incorporating more plants, greenery and natural light and materials can have a positive, calming impact on those in a workplace.
• Making smart use of the space. For example, using dividers to help reduce noise levels in certain areas or placing workspaces in the parts of the office that have the least traffic.
• Creating environments that are stimulating but not overpowering. For example, steer clear of overly aggressive visual patterns and colours, as well as repetitive gridding and layouts.

Inclusive workplaces aren’t just about box ticking but creating more diverse workforces that perform better and are a positive experience for those that work within them. A neurodiverse workplace is not that difficult to design once the different ways in which our brains can work is understood.