Many of the difficulties neurodivergent people experience are not personal failures.
They are signals that environments are misaligned with how different nervous systems work.
Stimpunks calls this system friction.
Friction appears when environments disrupt attention, overload sensory systems, drain energy, or demand constant social performance.
The friction map shows how these signals connect to the patterns and design responses that can resolve them.
experience↓friction↓pattern↓recipe↓environmentUnderstanding friction allows us to move from surviving systems to redesigning them.
The Four Friction Types
Most neurodivergent system friction falls into four categories.
Attention Friction
Attention friction occurs when environments repeatedly interrupt or redirect focus.
Examples include:
- constant notifications
- frequent meetings
- multitasking expectations
- rapid task switching
Related Experiences
Related Patterns
- Pattern 01 — Monotropism
- Pattern 05 — Deep Attention
- Pattern 13 — Context Switching Cost
- Pattern 16 — Cognitive Load Windows
Design Responses
Environments
Sensory Friction
Sensory friction occurs when environments overwhelm the nervous system.
Examples include:
- bright lighting
- loud environments
- crowded spaces
- unpredictable noise
Related Experiences
Related Patterns
Design Responses
Environments
Energy Friction
Energy friction occurs when environments demand more cognitive, emotional, or social effort than people can sustain.
Examples include:
- extended social interaction
- high cognitive load
- masking expectations
- lack of recovery time
Related Experiences
Related Patterns
Design Responses
Environments
Social Friction
Social friction occurs when environments demand constant social performance.
Examples include:
- forced eye contact
- synchronous meetings
- rigid communication expectations
- constant participation
Related Experiences
Related Patterns
Design Responses
Environments
The Friction → Design Pipeline
Stimpunks transforms friction into design knowledge.
experience↓pattern↓recipe↓environmentExample 1
sensory overload↓sensory load↓sensory-safe spaces↓neurodivergent environmentsExample 2
attention fragmentation↓context switching cost↓attention sanctuaries↓studio environmentsWhy the Friction Map Matters
Many systems treat neurodivergent struggles as individual problems.
The friction map shows that these experiences are often design failures in environments.
By identifying the patterns behind friction, we can redesign systems so that diverse minds can flourish.
Continue Exploring
Understanding Experience
- Experiences of Neurodivergent Life
- The Ecology of Neurodivergent Attention
- The Ecology of Neurodivergent Energy
- The Ecology of Neurodivergent Burnout
Pattern Language
Design
- The Stimpunks Design Method
- The Neurodivergent Design Handbook
- The Neurodivergent Architecture Handbook
