“By having an external specialist in writing for people with autism look at our product, I found out that the devil is in the details. Things that seem logical to us are not necessarily logical for people whose brains work slightly differently. For example, we had to stay away from abstract terms; the term “in-depth conversation” had to be replaced by “a conversation where we explore a topic more deeply”. Also, you can't write too concisely and in telegram style when explaining something, you have to describe things very literally and clearly.”
The visual design also required a different approach. Below are the lessons that we included in our design.
Keep it simple: People with autism can be dazed by too many visual stimuli. Keep your designs simple and structured, with a clear hierarchy and a limited color palette. Minimalism is the best approach.
Clear navigation: Make sure the product is intuitive and easy to understand. Use bright icons and labels, and skip complicated animations or exaggerated visual effects that distract.
Consistency and predictability: People with autism are often fans of a fixed rhythm and predictability. So make those interaction and design elements consistent throughout your project so they feel familiar.
Color and contrast: Find the right balance between color use and contrast. Don't use colors that are too bright, but make sure there is enough contrast so that text and important elements are easy to read.
The best thing about these design rules is that they are very inclusive; they also ensure that interactions are clear and unambiguous for other people.
Would you like to know more about this project or about inclusive design with and for neurodiverse target groups? Please contact our team at hi@ink.team
