Embracing Neurodiversity in Design with Doug Gittens

The Power of Art: Kate's Journey to Self-Discovery

In this episode, Rosie Elvin sits down with Kate, an inspiring artist, educator, and founder of Kate Tullett Art for All. Kate shares her journey of embracing creativity and breaking free from traditional norms. As a neurodivergent individual, she discusses how her unique perspective has shaped her teaching and artistic approach, encouraging others to find their own creative voices. Kate's story is one of resilience, transformation, and the healing power of art, as she navigates personal challenges and builds a supportive community for those who feel out of place in conventional settings. Kate's website: https://katetulettart.com/

Rethinking Heritage Spaces for Social Impact

Join Elisabetta Tafaro, a PhD researcher, as she explores the intersection of heritage conservation and social justice. Discover how her late ADHD diagnosis transformed her approach to complex spaces like prisons and heritage sites, offering fresh insights into adaptive reuse and community engagement.Elisabetta shares innovative solutions in architecture that honour uncomfortable histories and foster social healing. Her stories reveal why reimagining difficult heritage isn’t just about buildings—it's about justice, identity, and resilience. Perfect for architects, historians, and anyone passionate about social justice, this episode offers a fresh perspective on how encountering discomfort in history and space can drive meaningful innovation

Empathy in Design: Education and Social Justice with Huren Marsh

In this episode, I’m delighted to welcome Huren Marsh — a multi-disciplined artist, designer and educator whose work spans furniture, interiors and immersive installations. Huren shares his remarkable creative journey, from growing up in Jamaica and training as an engineer, to making a bold leap into art, design and education. We explore what it really means to follow your creative instincts, even when the “safe” path looks very different. Huren discusses decades of teaching across the UK, Vietnam and China, his powerful “show me” approach to learning, and why demonstration, curiosity and human connection matter more than rigid academic systems. We also talk openly about neurodiversity in education, the limitations of traditional assessment, and how many talented students are failed by structures that don’t reflect how they truly think or create. The conversation moves into social justice and design, including Huren’s work with prisons, his involvement with the Design Against Crime Research Lab.

Heritage and Memory: Francesca Lanz on Adaptive Reuse

In this episode, Francesca Lanz, an Assistant Professor of Interior Architecture at Northumbria University, delves into the intricate layers of heritage and adaptive reuse. With a focus on the transformation of former asylums and prisons, Francesca shares her insights on how these spaces can connect the past and present, offering a platform for reflection and understanding. Her work highlights the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in architecture and the ethical considerations involved in preserving difficult histories Francesca can be found here - https://www.northumbria.ac.uk/about-us/our-staff/l/francesca-lanz/

Embracing Neurodiversity in Design with Doug Gittens

In this episode, Rosie Elvin interviews Doug Gittens, a senior lecturer and course leader at Nottingham Trent University, about his experiences with dyslexia and neurodiversity in the field of design and education. Doug shares his journey from struggling in school to finding his passion in art college, and how his unique way of thinking has become a strength in his career. The conversation delves into the challenges and misconceptions around neurodiversity, the importance of self-awareness, and the strategies Doug has developed to navigate his professional life Doug can be found here: https://www.ntu.ac.uk/staff-profiles/architecture-design-built-environment/douglas-gittens