Sensory-Informed Product Guidance: Neuro-Inclusive Material Selection Tool

This tool was developed through the 2024-2025 research fellowship, Living in a Materials World, as a resource to include material attributes in neuro-inclusive design strategies.

Reference the Sensory Equity: Material Consideration Guide for support in applying this tool to your project.

Read more about neuro-inclusion and material selections HERE.

Read more about the research fellowship HERE.

Material Metrics Analyzed:

The average stimuli ranking below is determined by the invariable sensory qualities of a product type. Variables, as noted in the metrics tab below, refer to sensory features that a designer has the option to choose for many products in this type, such as the color or finish.

FLOORING

• Metrics:

  VISUAL

  • Variable Color

  • Pattern

  TEXTURE

  • Variable Smooth/Bumpy

  • Hard

  ACOUSTIC

  • 0-0.05 NRC

  LIGHT REFLECTANCE

  • Variable by Polish

  TACTILE TEMPERATURE

  • Different than Ambient

• Metrics:

  VISUAL

  • Variable Color

  • Pattern

  TEXTURE

  • Smooth

  • Hard

  ACOUSTIC

  • 0-0.05 NRC

  LIGHT REFLECTANCE

  • Variable by Polish

  TACTILE TEMPERATURE

  • Different than Ambient

*Potential stimuli level change with Color and Soft/Rough Surface Quality

• Metrics:

  VISUAL

  • Variable Color

  • Pattern

  TEXTURE

  • Variable Soft/Rough

  • Bumpy

  • Cushioned

  ACOUSTIC

  • 0.35-0.65 NRC

  LIGHT REFLECTANCE

  • 0.1-0.45 LRV

  TACTILE TEMPERATURE

  • Same as Ambient

• Metrics:

  VISUAL

  • Muted Color

  • Solid

  TEXTURE

  • Smooth

  • Hard

  ACOUSTIC

  • 0-0.2 NRC

  LIGHT REFLECTANCE

  • Variable by Polish

  TACTILE TEMPERATURE

  • Different than Ambient

*Potential stimuli level change with Color, Pattern, and Light Reflectance

• Metrics:

  VISUAL

  • Variable Color

  • Variable Solid/Pattern

  TEXTURE

  • Smooth

  • Cushioned

  ACOUSTIC

  • 0.4-0.5 NRC

  LIGHT REFLECTANCE

  • Variable

  TACTILE TEMPERATURE

  • Same as Ambient

*Potential stimuli level change with Pattern, and Light Reflectance

• Metrics:

  VISUAL

  • Muted Color

  • Variable Solid/Pattern

  TEXTURE

  • Variable Smooth/Bumpy

  • Hard

  ACOUSTIC

  • 0.05-0.15 NRC

  LIGHT REFLECTANCE

  • 0.2-0.35 LRV

  TACTILE TEMPERATURE

  • Same as Ambient

WALL FINISHES

• Metrics:

  VISUAL

  • Variable Color

  • Pattern

  TEXTURE

  • Rough

  • Bumpy

  • Hard

  ACOUSTIC

  • 0-0.05 NRC

  LIGHT REFLECTANCE

  • 0.15-0.4 LRV

  TACTILE TEMPERATURE

  • Different than Ambient

• Metrics:

  VISUAL

  • Variable Color

  • Pattern

  TEXTURE

  • Smooth

  • Hard

  ACOUSTIC

  • 0-0.05 NRC

  LIGHT REFLECTANCE

  • Variable by Polish

  TACTILE TEMPERATURE

  • Different than Ambient

*Potential stimuli level change with Color, Pattern, and Smooth/Bumpy Surface Quality

• Metrics:

  VISUAL

  • Variable Color

  • Variable Solid/Pattern

  TEXTURE

  • Variable Smooth/Bumpy

  • Hard

  ACOUSTIC

  • 0.23 NRC

  LIGHT REFLECTANCE

  • Variable by Color

  TACTILE TEMPERATURE

  • Same as Ambient

• Metrics:

  VISUAL

  • Variable Color

  • Variable Solid/Pattern

  TEXTURE

  • Smooth

  • Hard

  ACOUSTIC

  • 0.23 NRC

  LIGHT REFLECTANCE

  • Variable by Finish

  TACTILE TEMPERATURE

  • Different than Ambient

• Metrics:

  VISUAL

  • Variable Color

  • Pattern

  TEXTURE

  • Variable Smooth/Bumpy

  • Hard

  ACOUSTIC

  • 0.1-0.15 NRC

  LIGHT REFLECTANCE

  • Variable by Polish

  TACTILE TEMPERATURE

  • Different than Ambient

• Metrics:

  VISUAL

  • Variable Color

  • Pattern

  TEXTURE

  • Rough

  • Bumpy

  • Hard

  ACOUSTIC

  • 0.05 NRC

  LIGHT REFLECTANCE

  • Variable by Color

  TACTILE TEMPERATURE

  • Same as Ambient

*Potential stimuli level change with Color, Pattern, Soft/Rough and Cushioned/Hard Surface Quality

• Metrics:

  VISUAL

  • Variable Color

  • Variable Solid/Pattern

  TEXTURE

  • Variable Soft/Rough

  • Bumpy

  • Variable Cushioned/Hard

  ACOUSTIC

  • N/A

  LIGHT REFLECTANCE

  • Variable

  TACTILE TEMPERATURE

  • Same as Ambient

• Metrics:

  VISUAL

  • Muted Color

  • Solid

  TEXTURE

  • Smooth

  • Hard

  ACOUSTIC

  • 0-0.2 NRC

  LIGHT REFLECTANCE

  • Variable by Polish

  TACTILE TEMPERATURE

  • Different than Ambient

• Metrics:

  VISUAL

  • Transparent

  TEXTURE

  • Smooth

  • Hard

  ACOUSTIC

  • 0.02 NRC

  LIGHT REFLECTANCE

  • Average 8% Reflected

  TACTILE TEMPERATURE

  • Different than Ambient

*Potential stimuli level change with Color, Pattern, and Soft/Rough Surface Quality

• Metrics:

  VISUAL

  • Variable Color

  • Variable Solid/Pattern

  TEXTURE

  • Variable Soft/Rough

  • Bumpy

  • Cushioned

  ACOUSTIC

  • 0.4-1 NRC

  LIGHT REFLECTANCE

  • Variable by Color

  TACTILE TEMPERATURE

  • Same as Ambient

• Metrics:

  VISUAL

  • Variable Color

  • Solid

  TEXTURE

  • Smooth

  • Hard

  ACOUSTIC

  • 0.05 NRC

  LIGHT REFLECTANCE

  • Variable by Paint Color

  TACTILE TEMPERATURE

  • Same as Ambient

*Potential stimuli level change with Pattern, and Light Reflectance

• Metrics:

  VISUAL

  • Muted Color

  • Variable Solid/Pattern

  TEXTURE

  • Variable Smooth/Bumpy

  • Hard

  ACOUSTIC

  • 0.05-0.15 NRC

  LIGHT REFLECTANCE

  • 0.2-0.35 LRV

  TACTILE TEMPERATURE

  • Same as Ambient

*Potential stimuli level change with Pattern, and Light Reflectance

• Metrics:

  VISUAL

  • Muted Color

  • Variable Solid/Pattern

  TEXTURE

  • Variable Smooth/Bumpy

  • Hard

  ACOUSTIC

  • 0.4-1 NRC

  LIGHT REFLECTANCE

  • Variable by Color

  TACTILE TEMPERATURE

  • Same as Ambient

COUNTERTOPS

• Metrics:

  VISUAL

  • Variable Color

  • Pattern

  TEXTURE

  • Variable Smooth/Bumpy

  • Hard

  ACOUSTIC

  • 0 NRC

  LIGHT REFLECTANCE

  • Variable by Finish

  TACTILE TEMPERATURE

  • Different than Ambient

• Metrics:

  VISUAL

  • Muted Color

  • Solid

  TEXTURE

  • Smooth

  • Hard

  ACOUSTIC

  • 0.23 NRC

  LIGHT REFLECTANCE

  • 0.39-0.45 LRV

  TACTILE TEMPERATURE

  • Different than Ambient

*Potential stimuli level change with Pattern, and Light Reflectance

• Metrics:

  VISUAL

  • Muted Color

  • Variable Solid/Pattern

  TEXTURE

  • Smooth

  • Hard

  ACOUSTIC

  • 0.3 NRC

  LIGHT REFLECTANCE

  • 0.2-0.35 LRV

  TACTILE TEMPERATURE

  • Same as Ambient

FURNITURE

• Metrics:

  VISUAL

  • Muted Color

  • Pattern

  TEXTURE

  • Rough

  • Bumpy

  ACOUSTIC

  • 0.3 NRC

  LIGHT REFLECTANCE

  • Variable by Color / Finish

  TACTILE TEMPERATURE

  • Same as Ambient

  VESTIBULAR

  • Movement

• Metrics:

  VISUAL

  • Variable Color

  • Solid

  TEXTURE

  • Smooth

  • Hard

  ACOUSTIC

  • 0.3 NRC

  LIGHT REFLECTANCE

  • Variable by Color / Finish

  TACTILE TEMPERATURE

  • Different than Ambient

  VESTIBULAR

  • Stationary

*Potential stimuli level change with Color, Pattern, Soft/Rough and Smooth/Bumpy Surface Quality.

• Metrics:

  VISUAL

  • Variable Color

  • Variable Solid/Pattern

  TEXTURE

  • Variable Soft/Rough

  • Variable Smooth/Bumpy

  • Cushioned

  ACOUSTIC

  • 0.6 NRC

  LIGHT REFLECTANCE

  • Variable by Color

  TACTILE TEMPERATURE

  • Same as Ambient

  VESTIBULAR

  • Stationary

• Metrics:

  VISUAL

  • Muted Color

  • Solid

  TEXTURE

  • Smooth

  • Hard

  ACOUSTIC

  • 0.3 NRC

  LIGHT REFLECTANCE

  • Variable by Color / Finish

  TACTILE TEMPERATURE

  • Same as Ambient

• Metrics:

  VISUAL

  • Variable Color

  • Solid

  TEXTURE

  • Smooth

  • Cushioned

  ACOUSTIC

  • 0.5 NRC

  LIGHT REFLECTANCE

  • Variable by Color / Finish

  TACTILE TEMPERATURE

  • Different than Ambient

  VESTIBULAR

  • Stationary

• Metrics:

  VISUAL

  • Variable Color

  • Solid

  TEXTURE

  • Variable Soft/Rough

  • Cushioned

  ACOUSTIC

  • 0.6 NRC

  LIGHT REFLECTANCE

  • Variable by Color

  TACTILE TEMPERATURE

  • Same as Ambient

  VESTIBULAR

  • Movement

• Metrics:

  VISUAL

  • Muted Color

  • Variable Solid/Pattern

  TEXTURE

  • Smooth

  • Hard

  ACOUSTIC

  • 0.3 NRC

  LIGHT REFLECTANCE

  • 0.2-0.35 LRV

  TACTILE TEMPERATURE

  • Same as Ambient

OTHER FURNISHINGS

*Potential stimuli level change with Color and Pattern.

• Metrics:

  VISUAL

  • Variable Color

  • Variable Solid/Pattern

  TEXTURE

  • Soft

  • Cushioned

  ACOUSTIC

  • 0.45-1 NRC

  LIGHT REFLECTANCE

  • Variable by Color

  TACTILE TEMPERATURE

  • Same as Ambient

Special thanks to:

HKS: Upali Nanda, PhD, Lisa Adams, Allison Smith

Holst Architecture: Hannah Silver

PAYETTE: Ellie Thomas, Larissa Sattler

Multistudio: Melissa Farling

Boston Architectural College: Davis Harte, PhD

New York Institute of Technology: Christian Pongratz

Kidz Choice Services: Michael Lafasakis, PhD, LBA/ BCBA-D

Knowledge about neuro-inclusive design is continually growing, especially through listening to neurodivergent voices.

Please share any feedback on the Sensory-Informed Product Guidance below, so we can continue to make this tool accurate and applicable in the design process.