How can the built environment better support the diverse ways people think, feel, and experience the world? In this lecture, Dr. Kati Peditto, a Senior Design Researcher at DLR Group, explores evidence-based design strategies for neurodivergent individuals across healthcare, education, and work environments. Kati provides actionable guidelines to create spaces that encourage autonomy, reduce stress, and promote equity. Blending empathy and science, this lecture is for any aspiring architects, designers, and engineers seeking to reimagine environments that truly meet the needs of all users.
Bio: Dr. Kati Peditto is a design psychologist and thought leader specializing in mental health and neuro-inclusion. As an autistic researcher, her lived experience informs her work as a Senior Design Researcher at DLR Group, where she studies the impact of the built environment on health and learning outcomes. An accomplished speaker, Kati engages audiences on the power of design and psychology. Her work has been featured in the Washington Post, The Atlantic, and the BBC. Dr. Peditto’s journey is a testament to how neurodiversity can shape and enhance our understanding of the spaces we inhabit.
This lecture is a part of the Design Studies Lecture Series and co-hosted by the Department of Design Studies.