Sensory Informed Design Preview

Listen to a preview of Sensory Informed Design.For this episode, I am joined by Liz Lavender.Liz Lavender is an Interior Designer and Expert by Experience, specialising in creating sensory-informed environments that feel safe, calm, and responsive — particularly for people with sensory needs, autism, or a learning disability.Creating spaces that support inclusion and wellbeing.She brings over 20 years of experience in design, project management, and global procurement, alongside lived insight as a parent navigating the mental health and autism service landscape.Liz works across healthcare, education, and residential settings, embedding sensory-informed thinking into everyday environments. Whether redesigning a community clinic, improving a mental health ward, or co-producing a bespoke home, she focuses on creating spaces that support comfort, dignity, and wellbeing.She is also an Associate of the Design in Mental Health Network, contributing to national conversations on how design can better support mental health outcomes.Guided by the belief that good design supports better outcomes, Liz champions the idea that impact comes from thoughtful, informed choices — not simply increased spend.Her work is rooted in collaboration. She works closely with NHS England South West, Devon Partnership NHS Trust, clinicians, service users, and national design networks to ensure environments are inclusive, evidence-based, and practical.Improving environments across settings to support wellbeing through better design.We also talk about The Brook, situated at Langdon Hospital, which won an award at the Healthcare Design Awards in 2026.The design took home the award for Best Specialist Design, recognising environments created specifically to support individuals with learning disabilities and/or autistic people, whose needs cannot be met in a mainstream mental health hospital, even with reasonable adjustments in place.The Brook was designed around therapeutic spaces, specialist support, and patient wellbeing.To find out more about sensory informed design and therapeutic spaces click on the link below:https://www.theenvironmentalhub.uk/