Sensory Overload: Navigating ADHD Through Interactive Art
If you’ve ever felt like the world was screaming at you in flashing neon signs while also whispering in 12 different languages at the same time, congrats! You might have experienced sensory overload. Welcome to the ADHD brain—it’s a party, but sometimes the DJ is just playing emergency sirens on repeat.
What Is Sensory Overload, Anyway?
For ADHD folks (hi, it’s me), the world isn’t just loud—it’s a full-body experience. Textures, sounds, lights, smells—all competing for attention like a bunch of toddlers hyped up on Fun Dip. Something as simple as a crowded coffee shop can feel like you’re trapped inside an over-caffeinated pinball machine.
Sensory overload happens when our brains get too much input and can’t filter it out fast enough. Instead of calmly processing one thing at a time, we get hit with everything, all at once. It’s why certain noises, bright lights, or unexpected textures can make us want to flee the scene faster than a Weeble wobbling off a table.
➡ Want the science-y details? Read more about sensory overload.
How Interactive Art Helps
Traditional art museums? Beautiful, inspiring… also kind of a nightmare. (Don’t touch, don’t talk, don’t breathe too close.) But interactive art? Now we’re talking.
I make art that invites you to touch, move, experience—because sometimes the best way to process sensory chaos is by engaging with it on purpose. Interactive art can actually be grounding for an overstimulated brain, giving it a tactile focus instead of letting it spiral into oblivion.
Some ways interactive art helps:
Touching textures → Helps regulate sensory input.
Moving through a space → Gives our brains a sense of control.
Engaging different senses → Redirects overwhelming stimuli into something fun.
Being allowed to fidget → Game changer.
For example, my installation “Lost & Found Meditation” turned a labyrinth into an ADHD-friendly journey—walking paths, soft sculptures, and looping music are among the sensory experiences that celebrate our natural way of thinking. Instead of fighting sensory input, the piece makes space for it.
➡ Explore the Top Interactive Museums for Neurodivergent Minds: Read more here.
Everyday Sensory Hacks for ADHD Brains
Not everyone has an immersive art installation in their living room (though, honestly, 10/10 would recommend). But you can still curate your own sensory experience to help manage overload. Some favorites:
Weighted blankets or lap pads (like a comforting hug, minus the social pressure)
Noise-canceling headphones (because why is everything beeping?)
Chewable jewelry or textured objects (stimming = focus)
Dimmable lights & color-changing bulbs (goodbye, fluorescent doom lighting)
Fidget tools (bonus points if they also double as art)
➡ Want more ADHD-friendly sensory solutions? Read more here.
Bright Outlook - Tactile Wood
Art can be more than art—with my tactile works it can be an experience. Its flowing, layered design and vibrant colors invite both touch and sight, bringing movement and calm to your space. Art meant to be felt.
Let’s Keep Making Art That Gets It
Interactive art isn’t just fun—it’s a way of communicating in a world that sometimes forgets how to accommodate different brains. For me, creating tactile, immersive work is a way of saying:
"Hey, your brain is awesome. Let’s give it an experience it actually enjoys."
So next time someone tells you to “just ignore” the blinking lights, buzzing sounds, and chaotic energy of literally everything around you—maybe just don’t. Instead, lean into the sensory world in a way that works for you. Whether that’s through art, music, movement, or making your own ADHD-friendly space, you deserve to interact with the world in a way that makes sense for your brain.
Folks experiencing “Lost & Found Meditation” at Saint Louis Art Museum.
Find my interactive art and upcoming exhibitions on my calendar.
