Why “Good Design” Might Be Hurting Us: The Case for Sensory Accessibility and Invisible Disabilities – Ep 107 with Eliza Redmann

This week on Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski dives into the artful side of architecture with sculptural artist Eliza Redmann, founder of Folded Poetry. Once an architect on a promising career path, Eliza’s life took a dramatic turn after a traumatic brain injury. What followed was a powerful story of resilience, reinvention, and a new mission: creating art that’s both visually stunning and acoustically functional. Eliza shares how her designs offer sensory accessibility, reflect invisible disabilities, and bring softness into harsh built environments. From using recycled acoustic felt to collaborating with manufacturers like UnikaVev, Eliza is transforming spaces into havens for the neurodivergent and sensory-sensitive. Tune in for a moving conversation about constraint, creativity, and how buildings—and art—can tell deeply human stories.More About Eliza RedmannEliza Redmann is a licensed architect, sculptural artist, and the founder of Folded Poetry, a design studio based in Durham, North Carolina. After a traumatic brain injury from a car accident abruptly disrupted her architecture career, Eliza transformed her path through creative reinvention. Her art became both a tool for healing and a platform for advocacy, offering viewers a visceral glimpse into the visual disturbances and sensory challenges she continues to navigate. Eliza specializes in custom commissions, design licensing, and prototyping “acoustic artwork” that enhances sensory accessibility in built environments—particularly for individuals with auditory sensitivities. Through her work, she seeks not only to raise awareness about invisible disabilities but also to dismantle the design barriers that often accompany them.Contact:https://www.instagram.com/folded_poetry/?hl=enhttps://www.tiktok.com/@folded_poetryhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/elizaredmann-foldedpoetryhttps://www.foldedpoetry.com/Where To Find Us:https://bbfhpod.advancedglazings.com/www.advancedglazings.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/better-buildings-for-humans-podcastwww.linkedin.com/in/advanced-glazings-ltd-848b4625https://twitter.com/bbfhpodhttps://twitter.com/Solera_Daylighthttps://www.instagram.com/bbfhpod/https://www.instagram.com/advancedglazingsltdhttps://www.facebook.com/AdvancedGlazingsltd