Inclusive by Design: A Women-Led Vision for Humanscale

Designed by architect Suchi Reddy of New York City–based Reddymade, Humanscale's San Francisco showroom opened in January. The new, light-filled space features garden views, a flexible layout, and material choices reflecting the City by the Bay’s culture of sustainability, innovation, and well-being. It also serves as a hub for the local community while setting a standard for how inclusive design can be practiced as thoughtfully as it's produced.

The 3D Textbook: How Maya Bird-Murphy Built a Sanctuary for Design Activism

Mobile Makers has officially parked in a permanent home: a former semi-truck loading dock turned into a kid-friendly makerspace on Chicago's South Side. This isn’t your typical education space/office: Exposed systems and translucent walls show youth exactly how buildings work. From high-energy fabrication workshops to collaborative workspaces, this flexible industrial hub is a masterclass in design activism. Maya is building a literal foundation for the next generation of architects.

Sit, Stay, Work: Central Bark Redefines Inclusive Office Design

More than a simple pet bed, this "shelter" unit by DARRAN integrates seamlessly with professional workstations to foster a truly inclusive environment. Designed by Chrissy Fehan and Maison Fee, Central Bark is a groundbreaking office furniture solution specifically crafted for service animals. Featuring sound-dampening, PFAS-free upholstery, locally sourced materials, warm lighting, and expandable beds to accommodate various breeds, Central Bark was crafted with sustainability in mind. By prioritizing the needs of neurodivergent individuals and those requiring physical assistance, Central Bark proves that high-end aesthetics and functional accessibility can "sit and stay" together.

Pascale Sablan on Leadership, Advocacy, and Expanding the Canon

Architect Pascale Sablan is reshaping what architectural leadership looks like by pairing design excellence with advocacy, authorship, and justice. Her work expands the canon, widens the profession, and proves that representation isn’t a metric—it’s a responsibility.

Special Ed Teacher Sees How Flexible Classroom Design Helps All Learners

What does truly flexible classroom design look like in practice? Veteran educator and nurse Holly Light has 27 years of on-the-ground experience working with students with orthopedic impairments. She reveals how space, furniture, technology, and storage can either unlock learning—or quietly block it. Holly makes a compelling case for access-first design, including designing for movement and mobility and intentionally placing cognitive supports. The takeaway is simple but powerful: When classrooms are designed to support movement, flexibility, and independence, they don’t just work better for some students—they work better for all.

Virgin Hotels Integrates Design Details Autism Parents Will Appreciate

Family travel is never easy, but for those with autistic children all the unknowns can make it a hard "no” for the whole family. While many brands claim to offer programs that cater to neurodiverse travelers, some fall short out of touch with the needs and the nuances of children on the spectrum and their parents. Virgin Hotels has set out to change that: A number of its properties have been certified Autism Double-Checked, including Dallas, where one activist and influencer made a stopover with her two ASD kiddos. And let us tell you—they were not disappointed!

Flexible Classroom Design Gives Every Student a Voice, Says Speech Pathologist

Supporting students with moderate-to-severe disabilities across Fresno County, California, Crystal Martinez focuses on augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) tools that help nonverbal learners express themselves. Her approach proves that inclusive design isn’t just about furniture or lighting; it’s about making communication physically accessible. From low-mounted “community buttons” to flexible storage for devices and adaptive tables, Martinez works with teachers to create environments where every student can participate. Her vision: classrooms where communication tools are standard, modeled by everyone, and every learner’s voice is genuinely welcomed.

Flexible Classroom Design Matters, Says Occupational Therapist

A flexible classroom isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s a game-changer, says occupational therapist Rana Alcocer in part two of Artcobell’s design series. After 25 years working with kids with sensory processing disorder, Rana breaks down why one-size-fits-all furniture simply doesn’t cut it. Students experiencing visual fatigue, poor posture, and constant fidgeting—sound familiar? All signs the environment needs to work harder. Her advice: Think adjustable everything, room for micro-movements, better lighting and acoustics, and spaces that feel more human than institutional. The takeaway? Smart, flexible design helps every learner thrive, not just those with SPD.

Building a Nest for Eco-Conscious Parents: A Chat with Gabi Fiorentino

Mothers juggle an extraordinary amount, and architect-turned-entrepreneur Gabriela Fiorentino knows this firsthand. After years in sustainable design, she realized that healthy living wasn’t just about buildings—it was about what touched her baby’s daily life. Craving reliable, judgment-free guidance, she founded Nest Earth, a vetted community where eco-conscious parents can access expert advice, share tips, and find solidarity in the “messy middle” of modern parenting. Built during the chaos of new motherhood, Nest Earth blends Gabi’s design expertise with a mission to make sustainable parenting approachable, supportive, and genuinely doable.

Designing Inclusive Classrooms Where All Students Thrive

Early collaboration between teachers, administrators, and designers creates inclusive learning environments that support every student. Former special education coordinator and current middle school assistant principal, Alyssa Marshall discusses the factors driving this new vision for the classroom and pinpoints specific design strategies that benefit those with sensory processing disorders and create positive learning environments for all.

Mindful Design + Mindful People = Neuroinclusive Workplaces

In this edited and condensed excerpt from an HKS article, we examined HKS’s workplace research on Creating a Brain Healthy Workplace with a neurodiversity lens to expand its applicability and equitability.

How HKS Singapore Built Its Brain-Healthy Office

HKS has built a fresh, state-of-the-art workplace in Singapore's buzzing central business district that's a unique adaptive reuse of a 1920s-era building. Rooted in the firm’s BrainHealthy Workplace program, the interior balances aesthetics and well-being, nurturing employees’ professional, personal, and mental health at every turn.

Designing Divergence: Janie Hungerford’s Unique Journey

Designer Janie Hungerford proves that a neurodiversity diagnosis does not define what you can do. The interior design firm founder shares with us how she began her firm and how she’s helping herself, her team, and other neurodiverse individuals lead fulfilling lives.

Classroom Design Changes Boost Student Comfort and Choice

Lately, updates in technology and flexible spaces have entered the classroom. Sarah Knize of Ratcliff Architects shares strategies for designing for neurodiversity at the Charles Armstrong School, a primary school serving students with dyslexia.

Why Neurodiverse Designs Benefit Us All

Commercial interiors are evolving with inclusivity at the core. Strategies that support neurodiverse needs often boost focus and comfort for everyone. Two HLW designers go on record to discuss how and why these methods work.