The interior decor brand releases four designs in aid of the UK's leading autism charity.
Monthly searches for autism are up 90% in the UK compared to five years ago (February 2018).
Google Trends, searches for 'autism'
The conversation around autism is growing and, for many charities, organisations and people, the hope is that more positive changes can be made in society; making the support and acceptance of autistic people commonplace.
About the initiative
Liverpool-based interior decor brand Hovia has partnered with the National Autistic Society to reimagine four of their most popular murals.
The campaign encourages conscious design decisions that seek to accommodate and empower more people.
The campaign encourages conscious design decisions that seek to accommodate and empower more people.
15% of proceeds from UK sales of all four murals in 2023 will go to the National Autistic Society, along with an initial donation of £500 from Hovia.
The brand is hoping to raise £4,400 or more with this partnership to support the work of the charity.
The brand is hoping to raise £4,400 or more with this partnership to support the work of the charity.
About the designs
The designs created for this partnership are intended to reduce visual stimulation and support autistic people who experience hypersensitivity in their daily lives.
The wallpapers feature soft blues, greens, neutrals and pinks. Each design incorporates only one colour for minimal stimulation, and the shades fade gradually from light to dark in a calming wash of watercolour paints.
Insights from research exploring the impact of interior environments on autistic people helped inform Hovia's design choices for the collection. With advice such as:
Insights from research exploring the impact of interior environments on autistic people helped inform Hovia's design choices for the collection. With advice such as:
- Avoid saturated and bright colours, as they cause glare and make eyes uncomfortable in certain situations
- Avoid red and yellow (saturated warm colours)
- Use neutral colours like ivory, beige, light mocha, muted teal and soft grey
- Use tranquil hues like pale blue, soft green and muted purple (cold colours)
- Consider homogeneity in painting
'Cevenne Neutral' mural by Hovia
Sensory decorating tips
Wallpaper usually covers a large portion of the room, so its impact is significant. With the right choice of colours and design, this impact can promote a positive sensory experience, and help avoid a negative one.
Responses to colours are subjective, and no two people experience the world in the same way. For these murals, we used shades and designs that we understand many people dealing with hypersensitivity will appreciate, but we know they may not be colours that all autistic people will enjoy.
Catherine Jacob, Head of Design at Hovia
Jacob goes on to recommend looking through different wallpaper colours to find something that resonates and, when choosing a mural for somebody else, show the design to them and get their opinion.
Haverstock — an architectural practice with 30 years of experience designing specialist spaces — also provide their expert insights on creating an accommodating interior:
Haverstock — an architectural practice with 30 years of experience designing specialist spaces — also provide their expert insights on creating an accommodating interior:
For autistic adults, young people and children, an environment which is too stimulating is uncomfortable and can cause unnecessary distress. Calmer environments that use colours within a muted range can reduce heart rate and empower autistic people to feel in control of their environment.
Claire Barton of Haverstock explains what makes the Hovia murals suitable for a space designed for hypersensitivity:
- A choice of different muted tones. Each autistic adult is unique, and will have a different tonal range that they feel is calming.
- Irregular images, rather than patterns. Repeated geometric patterns can be painful for an autistic person to take in, as they may have to work much harder to process the pattern.
- Contemporary, artistic designs. Barton notes, 'It's refreshing to see mature, modern designs being produced for the special needs market, to get away from the institutional design styles that seem to be the go-to for these environments.'
'Vast' mural by Hovia
The Cevenne Neutral, Olympus Pink, Still Green and Vast murals are now available at Hovia. The murals are custom-made and priced from GBP £39.00/m2
Hovia will donate 15% of the proceeds from the sales of the products on its UK site to the National Autistic Society (England & Wales charity no. 269425 and SC039427 in Scotland). The total contribution is estimated to be £4,400.
Hovia will donate 15% of the proceeds from the sales of the products on its UK site to the National Autistic Society (England & Wales charity no. 269425 and SC039427 in Scotland). The total contribution is estimated to be £4,400.