Design for Neurodiversity: Inclusive Content and UX
This case study outlines the rebranding and digital transformation of “Klaq Studio,” a contemporary architectural studio known for its innovative designs and sustainable practices. The project included developing a new brand identity, website, and comprehensive digital marketing strategy to enhance the studio's market presence and attract high-profile clients.
Date
Sep, 2024
Role
Sr. Designer, UX
Company
Understanding Neurodiversity
Neurodivergent people operate with different systems in their brains.
Neurotypical people have brains that function similarly to those of most of their peers.
Depression and anxiety are comorbidities, but they may also be classified differently depending on the individual’s specific neurological makeup.
Research
Goals and needs of neurodivergent people.
Biggest pin points as neurodivergent.
Examples of inaccessible design for neurodivergent people.
Why do we need accessible neuroinclusive design. especially for consumption of copy and content.
Goals and needs of neurodivergent people
(1) Visual CAPTCHA Challenges
Visual CAPTCHAs can be difficult to distinguish and understand for several reasons:
Fuzzy Letters: The letters and characters are often blurred or distorted, making it hard to identify which character they represent.
Image Recognition Tasks: Tasks like "click all the buses" or "identify the longest road" can be time-consuming and confusing. It's difficult to determine what qualifies as a bus, whether it be a coach, minibus, or school bus.
Complexity: The overall complexity and ambiguity of these tasks lead to user frustration and potential errors in solving the CAPTCHA.
Solutions:
Enhance Visual Clarity: Use clear characters that are easy to distinguish, without excessive blurring or distortion. Ensure that letters and numbers are spaced out and not overlapping.
Reduce Task Complexity: Design CAPTCHAs with minimal complexity. For instance, instead of identifying objects in multiple images, use single-image challenges with straightforward instructions (e.g., "Click the red car").
Multiple CAPTCHA Options: Allow users to select from various CAPTCHA types (e.g., text-to-speech, speech-to-text, or visual) based on their preference or needs.
Leverage User-Friendly CAPTCHAs: Implement user-friendly CAPTCHA alternatives like reCAPTCHA v3, which operates in the background and assesses user behavior instead of requiring explicit challenges.
(2) Joining Communities: Challenges and Solutions
When users consider joining online communities or subscribing to services, several concerns and challenges often arise:
Fear of Not Fitting In: Users may worry about whether they will fit in with the community. They might question if they will be able to connect with other members or if the community aligns with their interests and values.
Content Relevance: There is often uncertainty about whether the content provided through the subscription will meet their needs and expectations. Users want to ensure that the information or resources they receive are valuable and relevant to them.
Financial Concerns: Financial worries can also be a significant barrier. Users might be hesitant to commit to an annual or lifetime subscription due to the cost, especially if they are not sure about the value they will receive.
Fear of Mistakes: Users might fear making a mistake during the sign-up process that leads to unintended commitments, such as accidentally selecting an annual or lifetime subscription that they cannot easily cancel.
Solution: Offer a Trial Period
To address these concerns, offering a trial period can be an effective solution:
Trial Period Benefits: A trial period allows users to explore the community and its content without making a long-term financial commitment. This helps them assess whether the community is a good fit and if the content meets their needs.
Risk Reduction: By providing a risk-free trial, users can engage with the community and experience its benefits firsthand, which can alleviate fears of not fitting in or receiving irrelevant content.
Financial Flexibility: A trial period offers users the opportunity to evaluate the service without immediate financial pressure, making it easier for them to make an informed decision about whether to continue with a paid subscription.
Implementing a trial period can build trust and confidence, encouraging more users to join and engage with the community.
(3) Sensitivity to Light and Sound: Addressing User Needs in Minimalistic Apps
When users consider joining online communities or subscribing to services, several concerns and challenges often arise:
Light Sensitivity
Bright Backgrounds: Many apps and websites use white or bright backgrounds, which can be harsh on the eyes for users sensitive to light.
Lack of Dark Mode: Dark mode reduces eye strain by using darker colors for backgrounds and lighter colors for text. However, many websites and apps do not offer this option, forcing users to deal with the discomfort of bright screens.
Sound Sensitivity
Unexpected Sounds: Apps and websites often include sound notifications or background music, which can be startling or uncomfortable for users with sound sensitivities.
Missing Sound Controls: Many minimalistic apps lack comprehensive sound control options, such as the ability to mute notifications, adjust volume levels, or disable sound effects.
Solutions:
User Control: Allow users to toggle between light and dark modes to suit their preferences and reduce eye strain.
Accessibility: Incorporate dark mode as a standard feature, especially for apps or websites that are used frequently or for extended periods.
Mute Options: Include a clear option to mute all sounds within the app.
Volume Control: Allow users to adjust the volume of different sound elements, such as notifications, background music, and sound effects.
Sound Preferences: Enable users to customise their sound settings according to their comfort levels.
The most significant pain points for neurodivergent individuals
(1) General Lack of Awareness and Persistent Stereotypes in the Population
Neurodivergent individuals often face unique challenges when interacting with digital interfaces. A general lack of awareness and persistent stereotypes can exacerbate these difficulties, especially in common scenarios such as signing up for services. Here's an in-depth explanation:
Complexity and Error-Prone Sign-Up Processes
Multiple Methods for Sign-Up:
Offering various methods to sign up can be confusing and overwhelming. Users may struggle to select the correct method, leading to errors and frustration.
Complex sign-up processes, with numerous fields and steps, increase the likelihood of mistakes. Each mistake can trigger multiple error messages simultaneously, making the experience even more daunting.
Offering various methods to sign up can be confusing and overwhelming. Users may struggle to select the correct method, leading to errors and frustration.
Complex sign-up processes, with numerous fields and steps, increase the likelihood of mistakes. Each mistake can trigger multiple error messages simultaneously, making the experience even more daunting.
Emotional Impact of Errors:
Internalised Shame: Neurodivergent individuals may internalise mistakes, believing they are personally at fault. This self-criticism is often rooted in past experiences where they were told they were not doing things correctly.
Negative Self-Talk: These negative perceptions can become an inner voice, reinforcing feelings of inadequacy. For example, every failed booking or error message may feel like a personal failure, causing significant emotional distress.
Reinforcement of Negative Beliefs:
Each error message or failed attempt can reinforce negative beliefs about oneself. Neurodivergent users may feel they are not capable or intelligent enough to complete the task, exacerbating feelings of shame and inadequacy.
Over time, the accumulation of these negative experiences can lead to a sense of defeat and diminished self-worth.
(2) Pacing and Pressure in Neurodivergent Individuals
For neurodivergent individuals, particularly those with ADHD, the experience of interacting with digital interfaces can be uniquely challenging due to differences in how they process and respond to stimuli. The pace that seems normal to neurotypical individuals can feel excruciatingly slow to neurodivergent people, creating a constant pressure to perform that eventually depletes their energy and capacity.
Constant Pressure to Perform
Neurodivergent individuals often feel a constant need to perform tasks efficiently. This ongoing pressure can lead to mental exhaustion, reducing their ability to focus and complete tasks..
The cognitive load of navigating a poorly designed interface can quickly drain their mental resources, leading to frustration and burnout.
Lack of Patience and Impatience
The lack of patience commonly associated with ADHD and other neurodivergent conditions is not just a superficial trait but a deeply felt experience. When faced with a slow or confusing interface, neurodivergent users can become quickly impatient.
This impatience is exacerbated when they cannot reach their desired outcome promptly, leading to feelings of frustration and defeat.
Boredom and Overwhelm
Neurodivergent individuals often oscillate between being unbelievably bored and completely overwhelmed. This can happen rapidly, especially when the interface does not provide clear and engaging paths to their goals.
ADHD users, for example, are continually searching for the next stimulating activity. If an interface is too slow or unresponsive, they may become bored and distracted, seeking instant gratification elsewhere, such as YouTube shorts or Instagram, leading to a feeling of paralysis.
Boredom and Overwhelm
ADHD users, in particular, crave stimulation and are always looking for the next engaging activity. When a digital interface fails to provide this stimulation, they can feel paralyzed, unable to move forward with their tasks.
This paralysis can result in an evening spent aimlessly scrolling through social media instead of accomplishing meaningful tasks, leading to feelings of guilt and failure.