Mara Bragagnolo designs puzzle-style furniture for autistic children

Italian designer Mara Bragagnolo has created a flat-pack furniture collection that can be tailored to meet the diverse needs of children on the autism spectrum.

Bragagnolo's Nook furniture series is made from plywood to reduce costs and features a puzzle-like construction inspired by children's toys.

This allows for straightforward assembly and enables users to adapt the furniture to suit their own needs, rather than having to conform to predetermined functions.

"I think that when we work with inclusive design, we need to avoid creating new limitations and try to remove old ones," Bragagnolo explained.

"My design philosophy for this project, and in general for my work, is that the objects in our spaces should adapt to people, instead of people adapting to them."

The project was originally developed for an organisation that wanted to make its library space more accessible and inclusive for autistic children.

When that project fell through due to a lack of funding, the designer continued to work on the products independently, using her own experience of living with autism to inform her creations.

Bragagnolo also worked with autism associations and consulted with autistic adults, parents of autistic children and disability organisations to develop furniture that encourages children to express themselves and interact in different ways.

The project follows the principles of the child-centred Montessori teaching methodology, which emphasises hands-on learning and self-directed activity.

Each object is adaptable and can be used in various ways depending on the child's preferences. For example, the versatile Everyone Desk can function as a desk for young children, a bookshelf, or a chair and table for infants.

The Nook Library is a compact bookshelf that integrates a cosy nook for secluded reading alongside a small window, allowing a connection to the external space while maintaining privacy.

The Rocking Wheel Chair promotes equality between wheelchair users and non-users by simulating the familiar form of a wheelchair. Its rocking feature also creates stimulation through motion, which can help to enhance concentration while reading.

Bragagnolo designed the Light Screen as a spatial divider that also shields users from direct light, as some people on the autism spectrum experience a sensitivity to light. Small openings allow a view outside to balance privacy with transparency.

Referencing the Hug Machine invented by academic Temple Grandin, which provides soothing deep-pressure stimulation for individuals with hypersensitivity to touch, the Hug Sofa offers a comforting personal space that can be adapted using different cushion configurations.

The adaptable Everyone Desk provides a variety of functions for children of all ages, with a front divider ensuring a secure and distraction-free environment for reading.

The Nook series was developed in collaboration with architect and furniture maker Giancarlo Guadagno's workshop Not Design Lab, which focuses on socially driven self-build projects.

The collection was designed to be used in public libraries, schools and disability spaces. Bragagnolo is now seeking support and investment from organisations that can help her develop the project for future applications.

Bragagnolo said her main aim with the project was to create "an easily reproducible collection, flat-packable for convenience, and accessible in terms of design, but also of assembly and cost, making it available to as many people as possible".

"As an interior designer, I believe that the spaces have a big effect on our psychological well-being," said Bragagnolo, who studied interior design at the Glasgow School of Art and specialised in olfactive spatial design and inclusive architecture.

"Changing the environment in accordance with the diverse needs and sensibilities of autistic people can not only have a very positive effect on their quality of life but also improve the experience of that space for everyone."

Other inclusive design projects for autistic people that have been featured on Dezeen include a hugging chair and a series of toys that help children on the spectrum with their sensory development.

The photography is courtesy of Mara Bragagnolo.

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