Lessons from Ecology

Ecological patterns that support diversity in biological habitats can inform design to support Neurodiversity. The examples below may serve as inspiration when overlaid with strategies to achieve universal design.

Edges are locations where organisms exchange nutrition, materials, and energy. Edges that are “fuzzy” or complex support greater levels of exchange. Too much exchange may overload a system and inhibit growth, yet exchange is essential to support life and healthy diversity.

Porosity invites matter to pass from one environment into another. Spaces that are hard and impermeable exert control over circulation and may direct flows through channelization. Spaces that are porous create a sense of possibility and openness, yet they may lack a sense of containment.

Ecotones are transitional spaces between biological communities where one type of system overlaps with another. These spaces exist along particularly porous edges and are rich centers for a diversity of inhabitants.

Mosaics & Patches are spatial patterns in landscape ecology. Mosaics are composed of patches that serve as pools of resources for specific sets of species. The edges of each patch can invite disturbance, protection, filtration, or migration or species from one patch to another.