Kaku Pacha started as something small. A simple daily doodle practice. A quiet, repetitive ritual that helped calm my nervous system. At the time, I wasn’t thinking about sensory design or nervous system regulation. I was just trying to get through a difficult period of my life.

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What I didn’t realise was that those scribbled lines weren’t just marks on a page. They were self-regulation. Movement, rhythm, pattern - tools I had been using instinctively. A way to navigate overstimulation and burnout when nothing else worked.

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Curiosity led me deeper. Why had creativity always felt essential, not just for expression, but for survival? That search for answers brought me to an unexpected discovery: a dual diagnosis of autism and ADHD. The missing piece. The thing that finally made everything make sense.

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Kaku Pacha grew from there. A personal experiment turned design exploration, mapping the connection between creativity, rest, and regulation, and how sensory experiences can support neurodivergent wellbeing.

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Kaku Pacha now focuses on:

• Sensory-Friendly Object & Space Design – Creating acoustic panels, tactile art, and neurodivergent-inclusive environments.

• Rest as Rebellion – Challenging traditional self-care norms and designing tools that meet neurodivergent needs.

• Creative Self-Regulation – Exploring how play, movement, and pattern can function as active self-care.

• XR & Digital Sensory Exploration – Prototyping immersive digital spaces that support self-regulation and play.
   

The Challenge

Traditional self-care often fails neurodivergent people because it doesn’t account for:

• Sensory Overload – Most environments are overstimulating, making focus and relaxation difficult.

• Rigid Self-Care Norms – Most wellbeing advice assumes stillness rather than active regulation.

• Creativity & Regulation – Many neurodivergent people self-soothe through creative outlets but lack structured tools to support this.
   

Research & Development

Kaku Pacha merges art, design, and scientific research to create new ways of thinking about rest and self-regulation.

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Key Focus Areas:

• Neuroscience & Sensory Regulation – Researching polyvagal theory, tactile stimulation, and sound absorption.

• Textile & Acoustic Experimentation – Testing tufted panels, layered materials, and sculptural elements to reduce overstimulation.

• Third Spaces & Public Design – Exploring how cafés, libraries, and co-working spaces can better support neurodivergent regulation.

• XR & Interactive Play – Prototyping digital calm spaces for overstimulated minds.
   

Design & Prototyping

Acoustic Panels & Sensory Objects

• Multi-textured tufting for sensory engagement.

• Soft, organic compositions to create bold, imaginative, non-clinical designs.

• Layered sound-absorbing materials to minimise environmental overstimulation.
   

XR & Digital Regulation Tools

• Augmented Reality (AR) spaces for interactive self-regulation.

• Adaptive interfaces designed for overstimulated minds.

• Digital prompts & environments that encourage sensory resets.
   

The Process

1. Research & Concept Development

• Doodling as Data – Exploring my own relationship with repetitive mark-making as a self-regulation tool.

• Material Testing – Investigating textures, pile heights, and layered surfaces.

• Sound & Space Studies – Experimenting with acoustic absorption and environmental triggers.
   

2. Prototyping & Testing

• Acoustic Panels – Developing sound-absorbing art pieces that combine texture, structure, and function.

• Interactive XR Concepts – Testing digital sensory spaces for play and rest.

• Mindful Mischief Framework – A structured self-regulation method for neurodivergent individuals.