Bridge of Weir Leather, a Scottish company with a 120-year history of supplying high-end automotive leather to top carmakers, recently completed a new ‘Conscious Collection’ concept which might help neurodivergent people to experience a more calming and comfortable car interior experience.
1 in 7 people — only some of whom know it — are thought to be neurodivergent, an umbrella term including conditions like autism, dyslexia, and ADHD. Thei experience of the world can differ significantly from that of a neurotypical person. An interior designed with these people’s needs in mind represents not only another interior option for buyers, but is a new direction for a sensory-inclusive design which takes into account that an interior experience can be influenced by more than just technology and luxury.
Our senses work in parallel, and our brain transforms each sensory perception into a general feeling that we rarely can describe with just words. An overwhelming environment, with disharmonious tones, striking patterns, and bristling with technical gadgets can increase fatigue and affect safety — even for neurotypical people.
The company investigated neurodivergent people’s in-car experience and applied the research results to devise key concepts: a calming interior, which can be summarized as ‘less is more’ and ‘the power of simplicity’: soft and muted tones, predominantly blues and greens with patterns which guide the eye and create structure; gentle textures offering a familiar tactile experience, and material aromas which trigger a subconscious feeling of comfort and security.
Bridge of Weir Design Manager Debra Choong says, “This collection is about rethinking the relationship between materials and human experience. We want to create interiors that foster inclusivity while celebrating the unique strengths of neurodivergent individuals”.
The lessons learned in this exercise can be easily transformed into a new design philosophy for all kinds of interiors, inviting car manufacturers to create vehicles that don’t just transport people but actively contribute to their wellbeing.
