Kay Sargent, HOK’s Director of Thought Leadership for Interiors, has written a new book, Designing Neuroinclusive Workplaces: Advancing Sensory Processing and Cognitive Well-Being in the BuiltEnvironment.
This groundbreaking study, scheduled to be published by Wiley in early March 2025, explores the intersection of neurodiversity and workplace design.
Neurodiversity affects a large portion of the population, with approximately 20% of people considered to be neurodiverse. According to a recent report from the CDC, 15.5 million U.S. adults, or approximately 6% of the adult population, are currently diagnosed with ADHD.
Sargent’s comprehensive guide explores how the workplace environment affects employees with neurodiverse conditions such as ADHD, autism, and dyslexia. This book covers a variety of topics, including defining neurodiversity, explaining why neurodiversity is great for business, and providing practical design strategies to help alleviate challenges while harnessing the strengths of neurodivergent employees. It’s being featured.
“Sensory stimulation affects everyone today,” Sargent says. “Extreme design can yield average benefits and create space for all of us to grow.”
Designing Neuroinclusive Workplaces weaves research, best practices, and practical implementation advice combined with client stories, expert interviews, and profiles of renowned innovators. As an interior designer with 40 years of experience and mother of neurodivergent children, Sargent brings a wealth of personal insight and passion to her writing.
“This conversation started in 2016 when a client asked me, ‘How do you design a space for someone with ADHD?’” Sargent recalls. “That question, and my experience raising five children with diverse cognitive profiles, led us to begin reviewing existing neurodiversity research. There is a wealth of literature on hiring diverse talent. But there was little about how to design neuroinclusive environments for them to succeed. We began filling this gap with our own research, which led us to this book. .”
Neuro-inclusive workplace design serves a diverse audience, including:
Designers and Architects Organizations aiming to create neurodivergent-friendly spaces Human resources professionals Neurodiversity consultants Neurodivergent individuals, their families, and friends Academics and students interested in neuroinclusive design
“Combining neuroscience insights, research, evidence, and design expertise, this book offers considerations and recommendations for those who build, design, and operate offices,” said Cushman & Co. Executive said Despina Katsikakis, Partner and Global Head of Total Workplace. Wakefield, England.
Sargent and her team at HOK have received numerous industry awards for their pioneering work in neuro-inclusive design. We were recently recognized for our efforts with the 2024 Best of NeoCon Gold Award and Innovation Award. That same year, Interior Design Magazine awarded Sargent with the Lifetime of Hypnosis Award.
Sargent’s expertise is widely recognized in the design community. She is a member of both the American Society of Interior Designers’ College of Fellows and the International Interior Design Association’s College of Fellows, select organizations of designers whose work has had a significant impact on the profession. ASID also honored Sargent with its highest honor, naming her a “Designer of Distinction” in recognition of her extraordinary contributions to interior design.
Learn more about neuro-inclusive workplace design and pre-order at inclusiveworkplace.design.
