Diverse group shaping a building with their voices.

Unlock Their Voice: How to Design Spaces That Hear Everyone

Rhea Morgan in Mind & Education August 2025 • 4 min read.

"Empowering architects and caregivers with innovative techniques to understand and implement the design preferences of individuals with communication impairments"

Creating built environments that truly meet the needs of all users is a complex challenge, especially when those users have communication difficulties. While architects bring expertise in design and construction, they may lack specific knowledge of the diverse needs and requirements of individuals with communication impairments.

This gap underscores the importance of innovative methods for gathering input from clients and users alike. By actively involving those with communication difficulties in the design process, architects can create spaces that are not only functional but also supportive and empowering.

Client briefing, the process of gathering information and insights to inform the design, becomes even more critical. Traditional methods often fall short, highlighting the need for specialized approaches that ensure everyone's voice is heard and understood.

Bridging the Communication Gap: Innovative Techniques for Gathering Design Preferences

Diverse group shaping a building with their voices.

Effective client briefing is now seen as vital for creating buildings that meet both functional needs and the environmental preferences of their users. The process has become more complex due to the increasing sophistication of client organizations and the buildings themselves. While involving end-users in design has been a goal since the 1960s, particularly in social housing, engaging with users who have communication difficulties remains less explored. This is where innovative communication tools come in. They provide a structured and accessible way for individuals to express their needs and preferences.

One such tool, the Talking Mats technique, developed at the University of Stirling, offers a low-tech yet powerful framework for communication. It uses a mat with pictured symbols representing various topics and options, allowing users to visually express their feelings and preferences.

Talking Mats: A visual tool using mats and picture symbols to help individuals express their feelings about different options.
Picture Exchange Communication Systems (PECS): Systems using pictures to help individuals communicate their needs.
Personal Construct Psychology (PCP): A psychological approach used to understand how individuals perceive their world and make decisions.

While Talking Mats offer a promising approach, it's essential to recognize their limitations. Pre-determined topics and vocabulary can sometimes restrict the expression of core concerns. To address this, researchers often combine Talking Mats with semi-structured questionnaires based on Personal Construct Psychology (PCP). This combined approach allows for a more nuanced understanding of user preferences, capturing both conscious and subconscious desires.

Empowering Voices, Shaping Spaces

By embracing innovative techniques and prioritizing inclusivity, architects and caregivers can ensure that the design process truly reflects the needs and desires of all users, regardless of their communication abilities. It’s about creating environments where everyone feels heard, valued, and empowered to live their lives to the fullest.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.3390/buildings2020083, Alternate LINK

Title: Client Briefing: Eliciting Design Preferences From Building Users With Communication Impairments

Subject: Building and Construction

Journal: Buildings

Publisher: MDPI AG

Authors: Paul Jenkins, Iain Scott, Andy Challen

Published: 2012-04-27

Everything You Need To Know

What is the primary challenge in designing spaces for individuals with communication impairments?

The main difficulty lies in bridging the communication gap to understand their specific needs and preferences. Architects, while skilled in design and construction, may lack the specialized knowledge needed to effectively gather input from individuals with communication difficulties. This challenge necessitates the use of innovative techniques to ensure their voices are heard and their needs are met in the design process.

How does 'Talking Mats' work, and what are its benefits?

Talking Mats is a low-tech visual communication tool developed at the University of Stirling. It uses a mat with pictured symbols representing different topics and options. Users can visually express their feelings and preferences by arranging these symbols. The benefit is that it offers a structured and accessible way for individuals with communication difficulties to express their needs and preferences in a straightforward manner.

Why is 'Client briefing' so important in the design process, especially for individuals with communication impairments?

Client briefing, the process of gathering information and insights, is critical for understanding the needs of all users, including those with communication impairments. Traditional methods may not be sufficient. By focusing on client briefing, architects and caregivers can gather essential input to inform the design, ensuring that the built environment meets both functional needs and the environmental preferences of its users. This process becomes even more vital when end-users have communication difficulties, as it ensures their unique needs are identified and addressed.

What are some other communication tools mentioned, besides 'Talking Mats,' and how do they contribute to the design process?

Besides Talking Mats, 'Picture Exchange Communication Systems (PECS)' and 'Personal Construct Psychology (PCP)' are mentioned. PECS utilizes pictures to help individuals communicate their needs. PCP, a psychological approach, helps understand how individuals perceive their world and make decisions. While Talking Mats offer a structured approach, combining them with tools like PCP allows for a more comprehensive understanding of user preferences, capturing both conscious and subconscious desires, leading to more inclusive and supportive spaces.

How can 'Personal Construct Psychology (PCP)' be used in conjunction with 'Talking Mats' to improve the design process?

By combining 'Talking Mats' with semi-structured questionnaires based on 'Personal Construct Psychology (PCP),' researchers can gain a more nuanced understanding of user preferences. Talking Mats alone can sometimes limit the expression of core concerns due to predetermined topics. PCP helps to explore how individuals perceive their world and make decisions, offering a deeper insight into their preferences and needs. This combined approach enables architects and caregivers to capture both conscious and subconscious desires, resulting in designs that are more responsive to the users' holistic needs.