Collaborative inclusive design: Diverse hands construct a building from interconnected blocks, symbolizing communication and accessibility.

Unlocking Voices: How Inclusive Design Empowers Building Users with Communication Impairments

Soraya Malik in Mind & Education August 2025 • 4 min read.

"Discover innovative techniques for client briefing that ensure every voice is heard in architectural design, creating spaces that truly meet the needs of all users."

Designing the built environment is inherently complex, a challenge magnified when working with users who have complex needs and communication difficulties. Architects and contractors possess specialist knowledge, but often lack insight into the diverse requirements of individuals with communication impairments and their impact on spatial design. This necessitates innovative methods of brief development that actively involve both clients and users.

Effective client briefing is crucial for creating buildings that satisfy functional needs and reflect user preferences. As client organizations and buildings become more complex, involving end-users in the design process is essential. While user engagement has been a topic of interest since the 1960s, effective engagement with users with special needs remains under-explored.

This article presents a case study using a picture-based communication exchange system with building users, evaluating its potential for organizations to gather information from those with communication impairments. The aim is to broaden client brief development, especially considering aging populations and the increasing prevalence of dementia, which can impair communication abilities.

The Talking Mats Method: A Visual Language for Design

Collaborative inclusive design: Diverse hands construct a building from interconnected blocks, symbolizing communication and accessibility.

Talking Mats is a low-tech communication framework using a mat with pictured symbols attached, facilitating communication on predefined issues. Developed at the University of Stirling, this method has proven effective in helping individuals think about issues and communicate effectively, addressing various special needs, communication deficits, and cognitive functions. The participation officer in the Housing Association (HA) was trained in this technique, further supporting its use in the project.

The technique involves placing picture symbols on a textured mat, allowing users to express their feelings about various options within a topic by positioning relevant images on a visual scale. This visual scale can be a three-point scale (satisfied, ambivalent, dissatisfied) or a five-point scale (satisfied, quite satisfied, ambivalent, quite dissatisfied, dissatisfied), depending on the user's cognitive understanding.

Topic: Subject of conversation placed at the bottom center of the mat.
Options: Symbols representing how the user feels in relation to the topic.
Visual Scale: A scale indicating levels of satisfaction, placed at the top of the mat.

Although Talking Mats is relatively new, research supports its effectiveness for people with dementia, learning disabilities, and mental health needs. However, a limitation of Picture Exchange Communication systems is the predefined set of topics and vocabulary. To address this, the study uses Personal Construct Psychology (PCP) to elicit core user preferences alongside Talking Mats.

Empowering Design Through Inclusive Communication

Integrating Talking Mats with semi-structured interviews provides valuable insights into the needs and preferences of residents with communication difficulties. This approach enhances the design process, ensuring that environments are truly user-centered. By understanding the emotional connection users have with their spaces, architects can create inclusive designs that promote independence and well-being. As the design community embraces these inclusive practices, the future of architecture promises spaces that are not only functional but also emotionally supportive and accessible to all.

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.

Everything You Need To Know

What are some innovative techniques that ensure building designs meet the needs of all users, especially those with communication impairments?

Innovative techniques like Talking Mats and adapted questionnaires are used to ensure architectural designs are user-centered and accessible. Talking Mats is a visual communication framework using pictured symbols to facilitate communication, especially on predefined issues. Adapted questionnaires can be designed to be more accessible and understandable for individuals with communication impairments, ensuring their preferences and needs are considered in the design process.

Why is effective client briefing considered crucial in architectural projects, particularly when working with diverse users?

Effective client briefing is crucial because it ensures that buildings satisfy functional needs and reflect user preferences. As client organizations and buildings become more complex, it's essential to involve end-users in the design process. This is especially true for users with complex needs and communication difficulties, where specialist knowledge of architects and contractors needs to be supplemented with insights into the diverse requirements of these individuals and their impact on spatial design. Without effective briefing, designs may not adequately address the needs of all users, leading to dissatisfaction and reduced accessibility.

How does the Talking Mats method work, and what makes it particularly effective for individuals with communication impairments?

The Talking Mats method is a low-tech communication framework using a mat with pictured symbols attached. Users express their feelings about various options within a topic by positioning relevant images on a visual scale, such as a three-point or five-point scale indicating levels of satisfaction. This visual approach helps individuals think about issues and communicate effectively, even when they have special needs, communication deficits, or cognitive functions. The method's effectiveness stems from its ability to provide a structured and visual means of expressing preferences, making it accessible to those who may struggle with verbal communication. It also uses predefined set of topics and vocabulary.

What are the key components of the Talking Mats method?

The key components of the Talking Mats method include the 'Topic', which is the subject of conversation placed at the bottom center of the mat. 'Options' are symbols representing how the user feels in relation to the topic. The 'Visual Scale' is a scale indicating levels of satisfaction, placed at the top of the mat. These components work together to provide a structured and visual way for individuals to express their thoughts and feelings.

What is the significance of integrating Talking Mats with semi-structured interviews, and how does this approach enhance inclusive design?

Integrating Talking Mats with semi-structured interviews provides valuable insights into the needs and preferences of residents with communication difficulties. This combined approach enhances the design process by ensuring environments are truly user-centered. By understanding the emotional connection users have with their spaces, architects can create inclusive designs that promote independence and well-being. While Talking Mats helps in eliciting responses and preferences in a structured manner, semi-structured interviews allow for deeper exploration of the reasons behind those preferences, leading to more informed and empathetic design decisions. This integration ensures that designs are not only functional but also emotionally supportive and accessible to all.