海角视频

To mark Neurodiversity Celebration Week 2026, 海角视频 has published a new white paper on sensory mapping, offering evidence-based guidance to help organisations create more predictable, neuro-inclusive experiences across museums, workplaces, campuses, transport hubs and beyond. 

Neurodiversity Celebration Week is a global initiative that challenges stereotypes about neurological differences and calls on all organisations 鈥� including schools, businesses, and public bodies – to build more inclusive cultures for neurodivergent people. As part of this year鈥檚 focus on moving from awareness to action, 海角视频 has launched a new white paper on sensory mapping in the built environment. 

Why sensory mapping matters 

Ben Channon, Head of Inclusive Environments at 海角视频, said:  

鈥淭here is often a strong focus in the industry on designing beautiful or sustainable buildings, but we don鈥檛 always talk about how those spaces actually feel for the people using them. This white paper is about designing for the mind 鈥� giving people clear, sensory information up front so they can plan, feel in control and have a more positive experience of the places they visit.鈥� 

Sensory maps help people understand how a space will feel, not just how it looks, before they arrive. Our research shows they can increase predictability, reduce anxiety and support more positive experiences for neurodivergent communities and many others who experience sensory overload or underload. 

What the research found 

海角视频鈥檚 new white paper, 鈥楽ensory Mapping: The design and use of sensory maps for the built environment鈥�, brings together global research, lived experience and practical design insight to address a critical gap: how should sensory maps actually be designed, communicated and embedded in projects. While sensory maps have so far been used mainly in museums and galleries 鈥� for example, in our work at buildings like Grace Farms and The Royal Albert Hall –  the study highlights a clear appetite to see them extended to a much wider range of environments, including sports stadiums, offices, schools and universities, libraries, shopping centres, parks and transport hubs.鈥� 

The research is grounded in lived experience, with 293 perspectives captured through co-design workshops and an online survey, the majority of contributions being from neurodivergent participants, with responses gathered from 16 countries. Around 5 out of every 6 respondents reported experiencing sensory overload or underload, and 75% said they would find it helpful to have access to sensory maps, underscoring the role these tools can play in supporting day-to-day participation in public, cultural and workplace settings.鈥� 

Findings from the study reveal that people most want maps to highlight noise, crowds, seating and rest areas, lighting levels and temperature 鈥� factors that often differ from what is currently shown on existing sensory maps. The white paper also points to preferences for clear, text-supported symbols, contextually appropriate use of colour, and a tilt toward 3D/isometric mapping formats that make it easier to understand the form of a space and locate key landmarks. Crucially, participants expressed a desire to see sensory maps available both online and in physical form, helping to normalise their use and increase awareness of this accessibility resource. 

Rebecca Adda, Inclusive Design Consultant at 海角视频, said: 

鈥淪ensory maps might seem like a simple resource, but they can have a real and significant impact on people鈥檚 everyday lives. They can be especially important for neurodivergent people and anyone with sensory processing differences, as well as those who experience migraines, epilepsy or mental ill health, or who simply find new or busy environments overwhelming. For some people, having this information in advance is essential because it helps them to make decisions informed by the sensory characteristics of a space, and participate with confidence.鈥� 

Turning insight into action 

The white paper also outlines 海角视频鈥檚 approach to sensory mapping, drawing on Specialists from Inclusive Environments, Acoustics and Lighting to create truly neuro-inclusive environments. As contributors to leading guidance such as PAS 6463 and authors of emerging research on designing for neurodiversity, quiet and restorative spaces, our teams are well placed to translate evidence and lived experience into practical strategies that can be embedded in projects from the outset. Community engagement runs throughout this approach, ensuring that people with lived experience are involved as partners in defining priorities, shaping graphics and testing the usability of maps.鈥� 

鈥淣othing about us, without us鈥� is a core principle of the work, recognising that the most effective sensory maps are co-designed with the people who will use them. By aligning inclusive design, communication design and technical disciplines, the white paper demonstrates how sensory mapping can form a small but significant part of a wider neuro-inclusive environment, bringing both social and business benefits through reduced stress, more positive visitor and user experiences, and improved access for a broader range of people.鈥� 

The white paper was developed by an interdisciplinary 海角视频 team including specialists in Inclusive Environments, Acoustics, Lighting and Experience Design, alongside community partner Headway East London, who were key contributors in the co-design workshops. Their combined expertise has shaped a practical, research-informed resource for clients, operators and designers who want to move beyond minimum compliance and actively design for the mind.鈥� 

The聽鈥楽ensory mapping: The design and use of sensory maps for the built environment鈥櫬爓hite paper is now available.

To discuss how sensory mapping and wider neuro-inclusive environments strategies could support your project or portfolio, please聽get in touch with聽our inclusive environments 迟别补尘.听