It feels like I have been in this field of Interior Design my whole life when it really has only been 15 years professionally. I had always been a hyper-sensitive child - and I was described by people, growing up, as reclusive, and someone who was very good at keeping herself entertained in her personal space [ my mum's words ].

 

What I intuitively sensed as coming from the need to insulate myself from the world, has become obvious as my brain very simply leaning towards an environment that helped it function optimally.
 

For me that looked like low levels of light, controlled levels of noise and little intrusion from human energies. I particularly loved this giant faux fur blanket that my dad owned, which had a picture of a deer amongst trees on it.

I was born and raised in tropical Nigeria; and if the heat did not bother me enough to walk away from that blanket, then you know there is a special connection to that object – and for me I believe it was a sense of safety and comfort.

Fast forward many years later, I found myself pursuing a diploma in interior decoration in Lagos state - doing little projects here and there for a few years before finally taking the plunge and studying Interior Design at KLC School of Design, London. In the process of my work, I started to see how the focus was more on beauty, than utility and well-being. I have to tell you that it bothered me to no end. In 2019, I moved to France to study interior architecture with a focus on the architectural elements of interior spaces. I was drawn to how natural lighting and volumes play a huge role in the emotive nature of interior spaces. My final degree project was on How Exploring Neuroscience as a Tool for Creating Intuitively Designed Residential Spaces Can Aid in the Positive and Progressive Development of Children Living With ADHD

This two-year-long research experience sealed the deal for me. I fell in love with neuroscience and neuro aesthetics; and it feels like the answer to the question I've been asking my whole life. Now I am able to use these tools to help people live richer and better-optimised lives in the residential spaces adapted to their particular needs. This is how Lolade Ajai Interior Design was born.

Lolade Ajai Interior Design is a consulting and design execution firm that is passionate about supporting and improving the human experience and interaction within their immediate environment.

 

My business exists to place priority on designing spaces to include elements that offer support to people living (not by choice) with neurodivergent presentations. This design service is informed by the application of neuroscience research that connects the dots between the brain, the human body and its environment.

 

We also leverage these research findings to provide properly researched, thoughtful, and intuitive design solutions that will benefit not only people who are neuro divergent, but people with all forms of neurodiversities.