HOW CAN INTERIOR DESIGN BETTER INTEGRATE SENSORY BASED DESIGN ELEMENTS INTO CURRENT ART THERAPY CENTERS? Revamping current art therapy centers by integrating in sensory design to create an autistic friendly user journey that promotes security and social interaction while healing. Literature Review
Sensory Interior Needs
What is Autism? ODD
Sensory Integration Disorder
ADHD
Tourette’s
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Anxiety
Depression
ADD
Specific Learning Difficulties
Calm, order, and simplicity
Auditory Processing
Minimal details and materials Containment
Observation
Gifted OCD
Proportion
Proxemics
Natural light
Developmental co-ordination disorder
Acoustics
Research Findings Survey Most Uncomfortable Space -Waiting Room
56%
Waiting area comfort
Therapy room comfort
85%
62%
44%
Causing the Discomfort Needs Improvement -Sensory Frindly -Occupancy -Calming -Less Doctor office syle
Interviews
-Behind closed doors -Leaving parents (familiarity)
53%
32%
Texture
Furniture Layout
Notice in the interior that helps keep child’s FOCUS (professionals) -fewer visuals -fidget iyems -noise reduction ares -low light
Apprehensive
Color palette
Current Findings
-Concentration -Distracted by room elements -wanting parents
Autism ASPECTSS Design Index
Literature Review
Interviews
Surveys
Case Studies
Solutions
ASD Design Guidelines
New Findings
INTEGRATION of sensory vs ASD only -integration -more social opportunities
COMFORTS during high occupancy/sensor area. -sound canceling headphones -distract them
Feel comfortable at home -Own Space -Comfort Items -Headphones
Data Results
Interiors
Therapy
44%
-Comfort areas to use by therapist and child before therapy -Areas that they can partially see into
Observations
Multiple seating options Sensory friendly areas Kid friendly waiting areas Comfort during high occupancy Depart from parents The unknown Focus in art therapy rooms Autistic friendly color scheme Nature scheme
Design Strategies CONTROL SENSORY OVERLOAD
PROMOTE A SENSE OF SAFETY
ESTABLISH AN AUTISTIC-FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT
•need for comfort during high occupancy •attention brought to elements of light, sound, and smell.
•autistic child's fear of the unknown
•need of less clinical spaces and focus needs.
GOALS: create a sense of place attachment through the comfort of the space will spark the bond needed to feel safe in the space. Integration of a transition area to establish trust with the therapist and the safety of going with them
GOALS: linked with the other strategies in the use of sensory elements and the establishment of comfort. Focus on the biophilic design scheme, to incorporate the natural color scheme to help invoke serenity among the space. Along with incorporating the materiality autistic children respond well to that do not cause agitation.
GOAL: break spaces up into sensory areas that will only allow for certain senses to be active at one time