People Care About People: What Neurodiversity Teaches Us About Great Design

Discover how neuroinclusive design is reshaping the way we think about workplaces, justice facilities, and human-centered environments. In this episode, Olivia Danielson-Veed, an independent contractor for ThinkLab and former Associate and Senior Project Interior Designer at HOK, shares practical insights on designing for neurodiversity through choice, control, and variety, while exploring how thoughtful design can improve well-being, support rehabilitation, and create spaces where more people can thrive. She also discusses mentoring the next generation of designers, navigating an increasingly complex world, and why empathy remains one of the most powerful tools in the design profession. It's a compelling conversation about inclusion, human experience, and why great design begins with understanding people.

Key Insights

1. Younger designers are looking for deeper moral alignment in their work, from sustainability and neurodiversity to inclusion and authenticity.
2. Relationship-building with reps, dealers, and manufacturers is a critical skill for emerging designers because it helps them better understand products, research, and the larger design ecosystem.
3. Neuroinclusive design becomes more actionable when it is grounded in three practical principles: variety, choice, and control.
4. Acoustics, lighting, and thermal comfort are some of the most impactful environmental factors because they directly influence how people feel and function in a space.
5. Justice and behavioral health environments present a powerful opportunity for design to reduce agitation, support rehabilitation, and improve conditions for both occupants and staff.
6. A nontraditional career path through facilities, dealerships, and manufacturing can give designers a more complete understanding of client needs, day-two maintenance, and long-term usability.

Learn more about Olivia Danielson-Veed
Olivia Danielson-Veed is an interior designer, workplace strategist, and independent consultant who partners with ThinkLab to help organizations better understand the future of work and the evolving needs of the built environment. Formerly an Associate and Senior Project Interior Designer at HOK, Olivia brings deep expertise in workplace strategy, research, and human-centered design. She is passionate about creating spaces that support wellbeing, foster inclusion, and respond to the diverse ways people think, work, and connect. Through her consulting, speaking, and industry collaboration, Olivia continues to help shape more thoughtful, adaptable workplaces for the future. Connect with Olivia on LinkedIn.

Learn more about Maria VanDeman
Maria VanDeman is the Director of Design Strategy at OFS, where she brings together design, strategy, and storytelling to create spaces that support people and inspire connection. With more than 17 years of experience in the commercial design industry, Maria has built a career spanning interior design, strategic sales, thought leadership, and advocacy for equity in the workplace. As the host of the Imagine a Place Podcast, a columnist for Office Insight magazine, and the author of Design Your World, she is passionate about elevating the design profession and inspiring the next generation of creatives. Recognized with the 2022 HiP Leadership Award from Interior Design magazine, Maria is known for her thoughtful leadership, commitment to mentorship, and belief in the power of design to positively shape the human experience. Connect with Maria on LinkedIn.

Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World.

Read More about Maria in the Imagine a Place Journal

Learn more about Imagine a Place

Imagine a Place gathers industry-leading voices that can inspire the design community through storytelling and broaden our creative horizons. The goal of Imagine a Place is to further elevate the belief that the places we make and the ways we design them matter in our lives. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn.