Limited series exploring Neurodiversity Design, article 2/6
Introduction
Neurodiversity Design is an interdisciplinary approach that integrates insights from neuroscience, cognitive psychology, and design, resulting in a practice that produces inclusive solutions for various situations and capabilities. Neuroscience influences Neurodiversity Design through insights into how the nervous system functions and how people interact and respond to stimuli. Understanding neuroscience's goals helps designers understand users' learning styles and the impact of their environment.
Neurodiversity Design
Neurodiversity Design develops inclusive designs based on understanding how different neurotypes process information. It underscores the natural sensory processing variations of the human mind. In simpler terms, people process information and interact with the world differently, and Neurodiversity Design values those differences in perspectives and experiences.
Neurodiversity Design has shared goals with Neuro Design in utilizing cognitive psychology to understand people's mental models, which are formed by prior interactions, experiences, and expectations.
Social Model of Disability
A foundational aspect of Neurodiversity Design is the social model of disability, which shifts the perspective of disability from personal deficiency to impairments due to social barriers and lack of accommodations.
The Social Model of Disability suggests that the origins of disability are society's mental attitudes and physical structures. In essence, the model reveals that individual limitations are not the cause of disability but society's failure to provide appropriate services and accommodations.
Example: A building with stairs but no ramp creates difficulties for a wheelchair user. In a medical model, the burden of disability is placed on the individual, focusing on the person's limitations. In contrast, in a social model, the focus is placed on the context, situation, or environment.
Neurodiversity Design Principles
Neurodiversity Design emphasizes design solutions that prioritize enabling user engagement through Consistency, Predictability, and Flexibility. Design solutions utilize consistency through visual and content hierarchies that foster a sense of predictability with navigational clues and indicators, which promote a minimalist layout while offering the ability to change style elements to fit individual needs.
Consistency
Focus on Structure
Visual Hierarchy
Content Hierarchy
Focus on Clarity
Direct and concise language
Minimize distractions
Predictability
Focus on Cohesion
Consistent Layout
Navigational clues and indicators
Focus on Simplicity
Minimalist Cognitive load
Error Prevention and Feedback
Flexibility
Focus on Customizable
Switch between themes
Adjust font, color, sizes, types, etc.
Reorganize layout and panels
Focus on Persistence
Systems that bridges the Knowledge Gap
Systems that emphasize recognition
Next article: Unique aspects of Neurodiversity Design