As part of the Interior Design at 100 observance on the IU Bloomington campus, the Design Speaker Series presents this talk by Kay Sargent, one of the foremost voices in inclusive design. A licensed and certified interior designer with 40 years of experience, Sargent and her team at HOK have been recognized for addressing neuro-inclusion in the built environment.
A leading expert in workplace design and innovation, Sargent brings a wealth of knowledge on how environments can be thoughtfully crafted to support cognitive diversity and enhance well-being for all individuals. Her talk will explore strategies for creating inclusive spaces that accommodate a range of neurological needs, fostering equity, engagement, and productivity.
Interior Design at 100 celebrates the centennial of instruction in interior design on the Indiana University Bloomington campus in 2025 through a series of lectures and student and community design opportunities.
About Kay Sargent, FASID, FIIDA, CID, LEED® AP, MCR.w, WELL AP
Kay Sargent is a licensed and certified Interior Designer with 40 years of experience. She serves as the Director of Thought Leadership, Interiors for the global firm HOK and leads project teams that solve clients’ challenges related to strategic planning, workplace strategy, change management and designing for inclusion. Kay is a member of both American Society of Interior Designers’ College of Fellows and the International Interior Design Association’s College of Fellows. The American Society of Interior Designers also has honored Kay with its highest award, naming her a “Designer of Distinction” whose body of work represents excellence in interior design. And in 2025, she was named to the top 20 distinguished leaders who are reshaping workplace strategy and office design.
Outside of HOK, Sargent serves on the prestigious Delos Advisory Board alongside wellness and sustainability advocates such as Leonardo DiCaprio and Deepak Chopra. She also served on the international board of directors for AVIXA; CoreNet Global; IFI, the International Federation of Interior Designers/Architects; IIDA; ASID; and NCQLP.
Sargent was recently selected from her field of peers to provide Congressional Subject Matter Expert Testimony to the U.S. House of Representatives and has since been called to share her expertise multiple times.
Kay has established herself as an innovative thought leader. She has authored numerous reports and conducted extensive research on designing for neuroinclusion. Kay and the team at HOK have been award multiple awards for their work on designing impactful environments and addressing neuro-inclusion in the built environment. Kay has authored a comprehensive book on neurodiversity entitled “Designing Neuroinclusive Workplaces.”
