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“A Case for 
Sensory Decolonisation: 
Autistic Escape”

VENICE BIENNALE
 2023

Film conceived and edited by Magda Mostafa Mahinour Awad With Contributions from Heather McKean Timon Studler Anna Dziubinska Will Ma José Martín Ramírez Carrasco Dani Burns, UK Ab Rogers, UK Malak Yassin, Egypt Stuart Neilsen, Ireland

ASPECTSS™

The world’s first research-based architectural design framework for autism

The Autism ASPECTSS™ Design Index, is a registered trademark and was first published by Magda Mostafa in 2014. It is a framework of 7 original architectural constructs that can help support the autistic experience in the built environment when designed with intentionality. Developed through over a decade of research and practice, these original 7 principles were expanded in 2021, as part of the Autism Friendly Design Guide to include 8 new spatial constructs.

ASPECTSS™ was awarded the 2014 International Union of Architects Friendly and Inclusive Spaces Research Award in Durban, South Africa and Mostafa is the only laureate in the award’s history to win twice- receiving the same triennial award again in 2023 for her Autism Friendly Design Guide in Copenhagen, Denmark.

The Design Index has been presented around the world- at The United Nations Commission for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD); Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design (GSD); the Yale School of Architecture; Columbia University GSAPP; CUNY; University of Pennsylvania; Thomas Heatherwick Studios; the Design Intelligence SuperCast; the National Autistic Society (NAS), UK; and the International Union of Architects’ World Congress among others.