Participants begin with qualitative research, which they build on with ideation exercises, prototype pitches, user feedback, and iteration work. Their process is emergent, where tweaking is welcomed and the ever-growing process of building a valuable product is encouraged. Students walk away with an ability to navigate complexity with confidence, all the while letting the fluid conversation between the designer, the neurodiverse community, and the intended user guide the work.
Years running
Invested in Student-led Work
Collaborators
Projects Completed
Case Studies
A seamless garment that leads to a calmer experience.
SOLACE Collective began with a question:
For those who are highly sensitive in their sensory perception, could clothing provide a “solace” or a soothing balm in moments of over-stimulation?
The team partnered directly with neurodivergent individuals to understand sensory needs firsthand, as they moved towards creating a clothing line that calmed the nervous system.
The sensory features, including soft fabrics and tag-free construction, blend into the design of the clothes, in an effort to focus on style and subtlety.
The SOLACE project demonstrates how, when we consider neurodiversity and fashion, we don’t need to forgo style. We can do well by doing good.
Explore more student projects
We fund promising early prototypes, ranging from management tools to video games to AI systems. We are presently working towards additional collaborative efforts at universities throughout the world, where neurodivergent research can be funded and courses similar to Intelligence++ can be developed.
Grants Awarded
Invested in Innovation
Projects Supported
Inspiring Stories from Past Grant Recipients
We offer initial seed-funding for promising research and innovation projects.
