Emotional Design: The Power of NeuroDesign to Nurture Mind, Body, Soul

On Friday, October 24, the Suites at Market Square (ANDMORE Stage) will be the backdrop for a full day of forward-thinking education and immersive discovery centered on the powerful theme of NeuroDesign—the science of how our environments shape the mind, body, and emotions.

Curated by Nicole Baxter of nBaxter Design and Linda Kafka of the NeuroDesign Academy, this exclusive lineup of CEU-accredited sessions brings together thought leaders at the intersection of neuroscience, psychology, and interior design. These talks build on the foundation of Neuroaesthetics, the theory of how the brain processes sensory information, to consider how the mind and our memories, emotions, and personal experiences shape our individual perception of our environments.

As the design industry evolves to the next phase of human-centered spaces that support emotional well-being, a new generation of designers is emerging, NeuroDesigners, professionals who understand how design affects not just what we see, but what we feel.

• How trauma-informed, psychologically attuned design is changing the way we approach home

• The emotional impact of textures, materials, colors, and memory

• The emotional role of nostalgia and vintage in the art of storytelling

• The neuroscience behind client decision-making and neuromarketing

These aren’t just lectures, they’re interactive, experiential sessions designed to spark creativity and curiosity. Attendees will have the chance to explore ideas through tactile material explorations, wood staining activities, color workshops, and therapeutic doodling. The day is free to attend, but advance registration is encouraged for those interested participate in the hands-on components. The program concludes with a panel on neuromarketing, equipping designers with strategies to communicate their value and inspire clients to invest in their services.

The Day’s Lineup Includes:

1. Designing the Emotional Home: Where Well-Being Begins

2. NeuroMaterials: How Touch, Texture and Temperature Influence Emotion

3. From Forest to Feeling: The Emotional Power of Wood

4. Rethinking Color: A Talk for Designers Who Trust Their Intuition

5. Timeless Appeal: Why Nostalgia and Story Stir the Soul

6. Doodle to Innovate: How Small Scribbles Spark Big Ideas

7. Neuromarketing for Interior Designers: The Brain Science of Client Attraction

All sessions are CEU-accredited, offering both insightful learning and professional development credits.

Info: What makes a home feel supportive, grounding, or safe? In this thought-provoking session, designer, Nicole Baxter, and neuroscience-based trauma informed-coach in training, presents her Emotional Home framework—a three-part theory that explores the relationship between our home, childhood programming, and current psychological states. Where these forces overlap, we find the emotional foundations of home: comfort, safety, and resilience.

This talk invites designers to consider not just how a space looks, but how it feels on a nervous system level. While neuroaesthetics focuses on how the brain processes beauty and sensory information, it doesn’t account for the mind—our internal stories, emotional imprints, and relationship experiences that influence our design preferences and sense of safety. Nicole’s work bridges the gap between theory and action by introducing trauma-informed and psychologically grounded insights into the design process.

Info: We don’t just see a space, we feel it. Literally. Every surface we touch sends signals to the brain that shape how we respond emotionally, physically, and even psychologically to our environment.
In this sensory-rich session, we explore the emerging science of materiality and emotion. We learn how texture, weight, temperature, and touch influence feelings of comfort, safety, and connection. You’ll learn how neuroscience explains the power of soft vs. hard materials, warm vs. cool surfaces, and rough vs. smooth textures and how these subtle cues inform memory, mood, and the way we experience a space. Designers will leave with a deeper understanding of how to specify materials that go beyond aesthetics to deliver embodied well-being, emotional resonance, and multisensory richness.

Info: Join us for a talk that redefines how wood shapes our experience of space. In this talk you will discover how every nuance from the whisper of grain, the depth of a finish, to the texture beneath your fingertips directly influences client well-being, perception, and comfort. Hear about the latest research and practical insights on tapping into wood’s grounding effect to create spaces that feel as welcoming as they look. This panel, moderated by Nicole Baxter, brings together leading voices in the wood industry: Brooke Pajkurich (Real American Hardwood) and Tom Iman (Solid Appalachian Wood). Together, they explore how wood – a biophilic material, influences human perception and why specifying wood intentionally and emotionally can elevate a space from functional to deeply felt. During this talk, you will be invited to participate in a tactile workshop where you’ll explore and stain real wood species, discovering how subtle shifts in color and texture can spark emotional response.

Info: Designers are constantly told what certain colors mean—blue is calming, red is energizing, green is peaceful. But is that really how people experience color in real life? In this refreshing and thought-provoking session, Ellen Divers, a leading color researcher, educator, and creator of the Color Character Compass, invites designers to move beyond outdated color psychology and lean into what really matters: intuition backed by science and insight. Ellen challenges the blanket statements and trend cycles that often drive color decisions, offering instead a smarter, more flexible framework grounded in research and emotional response. You’ll learn why calming doesn’t always mean blue, why trend colors should be approached critically, and how your design instinct is often more accurate than the rules you’ve been taught.
This isn’t a theory-heavy lecture—it’s an empowering, practical talk that helps designers work with color in a way that feels authentic, emotional, and client-focused.

Info: From cherished vintage pieces to timeworn antiques and storied objects, nostalgia has become both a cultural and interior design movement, backed by market trend data. This reflects a lasting desire for memory, story, and connection. Trend forecaster Jaye Anna Mize (Future Snoops), and Julia Reinert (The Lifestyle Historian), explore how “modern heritage,” cultural memory, and biographical objects shape interiors that feel grounding, personal, and restorative. From worn leather to hand-carved wood, they show how objects become emotional anchors through story, turning interiors into reflections of identity, place, and legacy while supporting well-being. Linda Kafka (NeuroDesign Academy), explores why our brains and bodies respond to age, patina, materiality, and sensory detail, explaining how certain textures, shapes, patterns, and forms evoke comfort, memory, and emotional resonance. They uncover how science, and story along with nostalgia intersect to create spaces feel meaningful.

Info: We all doodle, especially creatives. But with our lives dominated by screens and new technology, this simple, practice is fading away. Doodling is more than idle scribbling; it is a powerful tool for unlocking creativity, reducing stress, and sparking new ideas. Simple sketches activate the brain’s relaxation response, improve problem-solving, and enhance mental clarity. This playful, tactile act of putting pen to paper can reconnect us with the creative flow that technology often disrupts. Join Rochelle Porter (Rochelle Designs), whose business and doodles have evolved into wallpaper, bedding, throws and pillows sought after by leading consumer brands. Rochelle will share how her sketching practice transforms small marks into bold, colorful patterns. Linda Kafka (NeuroDesign Academy) will bring a neurodesign perspective, exploring why doodling calms the nervous system and ignites fresh, intuitive thinking. After, we engage in a mini doodle workshop, guided by Creative Doodle Designs

Info: In a world full of beautiful portfolios, why do some designers get hired while others get ignored? It comes down to brain science.
In this powerful and practical session, neurodesign strategist Linda Kafka and neuromarketing expert Marco Baldocchi reveal what most business coaches miss: the role of subconscious decision-making, emotional triggers, and trust signals in client attraction. Using neuroscience, they explain how to promote your design business in a way that aligns with how the brain actually chooses. You will learn how to craft marketing messages, visuals, and presentations that resonate emotionally, helping clients feel more connected, more confident, and more compelled to work with you. From your website and social presence to how you present your services, this session will give you a toolkit of neuroscience-backed strategies that position you as the designer they trust. This is marketing from the inside out, starting with how the human brain sees, feels, and decides.

Host or Publisher Science in Design