While we’ve made great strides in the understanding and practice of neuroinclusive design, there is still much more to do.

In this chapter of HOK Forward, we look ahead to what we’re focusing on next as we seek to make the built environment more welcoming for all.

For nearly a decade, HOK has been exploring how the built environment can better support individuals with diverse neurological needs. When we first started this work, designing for neuroinclusion was barely on the radar. Today, it’s encouraging to see so many architecture and design firms, product manufacturers and clients engaging with this topic.

Kay Sargent’s new book, Designing Neuroinclusive Workplaces, provides great insights from years of research, studies, pilots and design practice. The focus now is on what comes next—and how we as a design community can continue to evolve our thinking and expand our impact.

So, what is next? Below are several topics we continue to explore.

1. Broaden the reach of neuroinclusive design
Most of our early work has focused on workplaces. But 80-90% of what we’ve learned applies to airports, higher education, healthcare, hospitality, justice facilities and beyond. We’re already working with clients in these sectors to translate inclusive design strategies into spaces where more people live, work and navigate every day.

2. Support research with real-world pilots
Case studies like our Seattle office have shown how design interventions can make a measurable difference. But we need more of them. More pilots, more data, and more opportunities to demonstrate what works and why.

3. Close the gaps in our understanding
Much of the existing research on neurodivergence is centered on adolescent boys. We need to better understand historically underdiagnosed populations—women, nonbinary individuals and marginalized communities. Our findings suggest these groups often experience more acute responses to environmental stimuli, and we need to design accordingly.

4. Create tools to help people start
Too often organizations want to do better but don’t know where to begin. Like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) once did for physical accessibility, we need shared definitions and audit tools for neuroinclusion. In the book, we offer a framework for evaluating spaces and prioritizing improvements—starting with those that are low-cost, easy to implement and high impact.

5. Embrace intersectionality
Neuroinclusive design shouldn’t be siloed. We must recognize that every person is shaped by multiple dimensions—race, gender, orientation, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, age, spiritual beliefs, physical abilities, education and mental/cognitive functioning—and that inclusive environments must support the whole of who we are. We need to stop addressing these factors sequentially and embracing the intersectionality that makes each of us who we are.

6. Shift our terminology
We also believe it’s time to move away from labels like “neurotypical,” which can be limiting. Perhaps we need to talk about neuro-distinctions and acknowledge that while we are not all neurodivergent, we are all neurodiverse. Every one of us is affected by sound, light, temperature and movement. This is about designing spaces that address sensory processing and cognitive well-being to optimize spaces so all can thrive.

At its core, neuroinclusive design is not about checking a box or following a trend. It’s about rethinking how we design for the human condition. We can’t always change how people are wired, but we can absolutely change how we design the world around them. That’s not just smart design—it’s leveraging the science of design intentionally to create inclusive solutions. And it’s where we’re headed next.