Mindfull Spaces

One-third of students in New Zealand and Australia struggle with mental health or neurodiverse challenges. Following global lockdowns and years of disruption, schools weren’t just catching up on lost learning – they were facing a student wellbeing crisis. Mindfull interviewed educators and principals to discover their school's daily challenges and what had changed. The overwhelming feedback indicated that more students were dysregulated, overstimulated, or exhausted than ever. Coupled with large, open-plan learning spaces that failed to provide the personal control needed to self-regulate, schools were unequipped to meet these changing needs, and teachers lacked practical solutions to implement in the classroom.

The development process focused on designing quickly, testing to failure, and doing so in real learning environments with real students. All of this had to be achieved while navigating the budget constraints schools face so the solution could remain accessible to the students who need it most. The key was creating a range of furniture that allows all students to self-regulate in the classroom, whether through seeking solo sanctuary or dynamic movement. By providing the space and tools to remain in the classroom with peers, students can continue thriving and avoid the stigmas associated with alternate learning needs.

Mindfull is a product brand, but the mission of its founders has always been to build a brand that is less about product and profit and more about building community and a platform to improve learning spaces globally. Mindfull has already become a beacon in the education space across NZ/AUS, being asked to present at dozens of events to discuss student wellbeing and neurodiversity alongside other education leaders. In its first 12 months, it was purchased by over 100 schools across NZ/AUS.

The approach has always been to create a range of products that work together, not a one-size-fits-all model. The Hideaway Hood provides a solo sanctuary to escape the noise. The Learning Hut creates a collaborative space to gather with friends without feeling disconnected from the room. The Laylow Raft and Pad provide low floor cushioning with multi-textured fabrics for those who need to feel grounded. And the Wobble Seat and Rocking Perch draw on research into the benefits of dynamic movement, offering an outlet for active, bouncy students who need to stim and move while staying present and engaged in the classroom. The design language references nature through form, colour, and texture, drawing on the theory that humans have a deep and innate connection to the natural world, which fosters a sense of safety and grounding. The design materiality allows for a low-cost, iterative design approach, where in-market feedback directly influences new product development, shortening the time to market for trialing new solutions.