Evaluating how indoor and outdoor spaces can be designed to accommodate people with dementia

On the 28th of May 2026, the BRIDGES Network+ held its first Ideas & Innovation Event at the UCL Institute of Education. Focussing on the theme of Indoor & Outdoor spaces, the objective was to connect people with lived experience, researchers, and innovators to explore how better-designed environments can empower those living with dementia.

The workshop was an inspiring session, with participants discussing how design, environmental science, and AI can offer personalised support. The conversations throughout the day spanned three key topics:

• Navigation: Finding ways to help people move confidently through both public and private spaces.
• Positive risk-taking: Balancing safety with independence to allow people to continue engaging with the world.
• Communication tools: Enhancing connection and understanding within different environments.

By placing the people with lived experience at the core of these discussions, the event highlighted the importance of inclusivity in design. The varied insights shared by participants demonstrated that creating supportive spaces requires a deep understanding of the day-to-day challenges faced by those living with dementia.

Overall, the event proved that the future of environmental design and assistive technology must be built with the people who need it most. The incredible contributions from the day have laid a strong foundation for future research, ensuring that upcoming innovations are both practical and empowering.

BRIDGES Network+ would like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who joined us and made the day such a success.

Discover the Full Findings

Following the incredible discussions across our workshop tables, we have published a comprehensive report detailing the full findings of the day. This explores how we can shift away from passive monitoring and towards active empowerment.

It covers six core environmental themes generated directly by our participants, offering brilliant insights into:

• Indoor comfort: Managing "invisible" conditions like air quality, lighting, and temperature to reduce distress.
• Smart navigation: Using simple digital tools, sensory support, and assistive robotics to make complex public spaces like hospitals and supermarkets less overwhelming.
• Confident outdoor living: Designing local streets, parks, and housing adaptations that support positive risk-taking, safety, and social connection on an ordinary budget.

The report also highlights essential cross-cutting takeaways on data privacy, the immense value of co-design, and the necessity of ensuring these technologies are rolled out equally across the UK to avoid a postcode lottery in care.

To read the full report, click here.

Summer Feasibility Funds: Open Call for Projects

To turn the insights from this report into tangible solutions, the BRIDGES Network+ is delighted to announce that our latest funding call is officially open!

BRIDGES N+ is looking to fund high quality small projects that can improve indoor and outdoor spaces for people living with dementia. The focus of this call is Indoor & Outdoor Spaces. We welcome practical, early-stage ideas that bring together technology, design, environmental science, community knowledge, policy, health and social care, and lived experience.

All projects must involve people with lived experience of dementia in a meaningful way from design through delivery. This includes people living with dementia, family carers and other supporters. Their involvement should shape the research question, the design of the work, the interpretation of findings and the way outputs are shared.

For full details, criteria, and application guidelines, please visit our Funding Opportunities page.