Savannah Willits, Team Lead at PLP Labs, has been interviewed by Stylepark magazine about the Labs’ research into neurodivergent design and the broader impact of inclusive thinking in architecture and workplace strategy.

The interview explores insights from PLP Labs’ collaborative report Designing for Neurodiversity, developed with Centric Lab and commissioned by the British Council for Offices. The report advocates for workplace environments that accommodate a spectrum of cognitive needs, not only as a matter of equity but also to support more effective, adaptable and humane ways of working.

“When we started our research, neurodiversity wasn’t such a big area of focus, even though one in five or seven people are neurodiverse,” Savannah explains. “That’s a huge demographic whose needs for an ideal workplace have been largely ignored.”

She goes on to emphasise the importance of variety and choice in design. “Some people are hypersensitive and quickly feel overstimulated. Others are hyposensitive and want more stimulation. To accommodate this diversity, it’s crucial to have work environments that reflect this and give people choices: lively areas, quiet places for individual tasks and relaxation rooms. This should be the basis of any office design.”

The discussion also highlights how inclusive strategies can benefit all users, regardless of how they identify. “Research on neurodivergent design is useful for everyone,” she says. “It’s not about giving one group of people an advantage.”

Learn more about the research and read the full interview here.