Lecture: Designing for Autism

Speaker: AJ Perot Wilde

Background

• Interior Designer
• National Architectural and Design Manager
• Experienced in designing for autism
• Mother of a child with autism

Journey into Autism and Design

• Early Career
  • Passionate about design since 8th grade
  • Started first design company at 25
• Thesis on Alzheimer’s
  • Studied psychological impact of environment on mental health
• Designing for Autism
  • Son diagnosed at age 3
  • Found lack of research on autism and environment
  • Encouraged by mentors to pioneer in this field
  • Focused on understanding neural functions and sensory experiences

Key Concepts in Designing for Autism

• Design Empathy
  • Designing from perspectives of others (e.g., color perception, brightness)
• Minimizing Sensory Input
  • Initial focus on controlling color and lighting
  • Issues with primary colors and sensory overload for autistic children
  • Simplifying designs to avoid institutional feel
• Balanced Environments
  • Combining controlled spaces for therapy and stimulating areas for caregivers

Practical Tips for Autism-Friendly Design

• Color Selection
  • Use of pastel and muted colors (e.g., warm taupey pink)
  • Research-backed choices (e.g., prison studies on color calmness)
• Toxicology
  • Use of natural materials (e.g., wool, cotton)
  • Avoidance of VOCs in furnishings and toys
• Visual Wayfinding
  • Use of pictorial signs and symbols for navigation (e.g., museums, airports)
• Technology Integration
  • Use of sensors and cameras for increased independence
• Environmental Stimuli Diet
  • Gradual exposure to different environments to aid adaptation and reduce meltdowns

Personal Experience and Examples

• Home Environment Case Study
  • Use of a warm pink color in the child’s room to induce calmness
  • Simplification to reduce sensory input
• Organizational Design (e.g., Fraser, MIND Institute)
  • Neutral therapy rooms with controlled lighting
  • Stimulating waiting areas for comfort of families
  • Safe outdoor spaces for breaks

Son’s Journey and Achievements

• About Her Son
  • Severely autistic, non-conversational but speaks 6-7 words/day
  • Gains independence through home technology
  • Adapted to travel and public environments
  • Excels in art, speaks about his work, perceives himself as an artist

Publications and Resources

• Books
  • Wrote three books on interior design for autism (age-specific)
  • Funded by ASID
  • Available as ebooks on Amazon
  • Merges scientific and personal stories for both professionals and parents

Contact and Further Information

• Books on Amazon
  • Search for “Interior Design for Autism”