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Meaghan Beever, DDes, LEED AP ID+C

Meaghan Beever, DDes, LEED AP ID+C

Design Strategist

Gensler

Meaghan Beever, DDes, is a Strategist at Gensler specializing in user-centered, applied design research. With more than 15 years of experience conducting both academic and practice-based research, she approaches each of her projects with a discovery mindset. Before joining Gensler, Meaghan was a research scientist at the University of Kansas Medical Center’s Cognitive Neuroscience Lab where she worked on NIH-funded research with children with developmental disabilities. In 2022, Meaghan received a Gensler Research and Innovation Award for her client work in neurodiversity research. She is currently co-leading a research grant awarded by the Gensler Research Institute on the topic of neurodiversity in the workplace.

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    It is undeniable that our world is made up of people with different sizes, shapes, levels of mobility, sensory needs, variations in cognitive processing and communication styles as well as cultural backgrounds and practices. Yet, as an industry, we have only recently begun to ramp up our efforts to design for these underserved populations more meaningfully within our public and workspaces through Inclusive Design efforts. Inclusive Design focuses on "one size fits one" through flexibility and choice to create environments that are healthier, safer, easier, more convenient, and more comfortable for everyone. To this end, it is important to investigate whether the choices and degree of flexibility provided are good choices and for whom. This program will take a deeper dive into Inclusive Design strategies for neurodivergent people, with a focus on sensory design. Knowing that an estimated 15-20% of the global population exhibits some form of neurodivergence and knowing that the prevalence of neurodiversity is only expected to rise, it's increasingly critical to understand how all spaces could be more inclusive of those who are neurodivergent. Research tells us that for many who are neurodivergent, spatial stimuli can contribute to either stress and anxiety or support focus and productivity. We'll explore differences in the ways we process information in our environments and the implications for built space. As an industry, we've only just started to uncover the impact of our design decisions on the experiences of those who are neurodivergent. We'll highlight current gaps in interior design, review sensory-based design strategies for addressing those gaps, and discuss where we believe the future of designing for neurodiversity is headed. Attendees will walk away from the program with a better understanding of Inclusive Design strategies, through the lens of sensory design, to create more effective spaces for ALL. *In-person sessions will be recorded and available on-demand starting Monday, June 17