Mental Environment Ergonomic Tools: Designing Furniture to Prevent Mental Strain at Work

The M.E.E.T. project will co create, prototype and evaluate smart, inclusive furniture that lowers sensory stressors and supports neurodiverse wellbeing in hybrid work.

Project Summary

Neurodivergent professionals boost team performance [3] but face mental health challenges at work, with around 70% affected by overstimulating, inflexible, or inaccessible physical environments 1. The lack of support poses both organisational challenges and significant public mental health concerns: Evidence suggests that poorly adapted workplace infrastructure—especially interior and technology design—can contribute to chronic stress, burnout, and social exclusion among neurodivergent populations 2, ultimately leading to preventable mental health issues and reduced workforce participation. The academics’ PPIE engagement with five neurodiverse knowledge workers identified three key pain points: 

(1) difficulty participating in meetings due to different communication requirements
(2) frustration with non-sensory-aware workspaces and tools
(3) high cognitive load from cluttered collaboration environments. These insights highlight how workplace inaccessibility acts as a systemic risk factor, undermining both individual well-being and team effectiveness.
Addressing these barriers by challenging current approaches in the design of office furniture is not just a matter of productivity, but a critical step in a preventative public mental health strategy.

The M.E.E.T. project will co create, prototype and evaluate smart, inclusive furniture that lowers sensory stressors and supports neurodiverse wellbeing in hybrid work. 

References: 
1.  David, L. (2022, September 8). Almost three quarters of neurodiverse employees suffering with mental health issues. WTW. https://www.wtwco.com/en-gb/news/2022/09/almost-three-quarters-of-neurod...
2.  Kropman, D., Appel-Meulenbroek, R., Bergefurt, L., & LeBlanc, P. (2022). The business case for a healthy office: a holistic overview of relations between office workspace design and mental health. Ergonomics, 66(5), 658–675. https://doi.org/10.1080/00140139.2022.2108905