Another area I want to explore is awareness of neurodiversity. What is it actually like to have a brain that functions differently? To answer this, static descriptions often fall short. This is where interactive simulations, such as VR or AR applications, come into play. There are already impressive tools helping neurotypical people understand sensory processing in autism and ADHD.
In the world of design, we often repeat the mantra: “You are not your user.” But how do you design for someone whose neurological sensory processing is calibrated fundamentally differently? This is where Experiential Design becomes essential. Instead of just reading facts about neurodivergence, simulations allow us to physically bridge the “empathy gap” and experience the Double Empathy Problem (the mutual struggle for understanding between neurodivergent and neurotypical individuals) firsthand.
Simulations: Feeling the Sensory Overload
A “sensory overload” is not just mere discomfort; it is a neurological flood. Interactive systems use visual and auditory distortions to make this state tangible:
- The Party (The Guardian VR): This VR experience places users in the shoes of an autistic teenager at a birthday party. You experience how harmless sounds—laughter, the clinking of ice cubes—gain the same priority in the brain as the main conversation, eventually leading to a “meltdown.”
- Too Much Information (National Autistic Society): A simulation of a supermarket visit. It uses extreme contrasts, flickering lights, and amplified audio frequencies to represent the failure of “sensory gating”—the neural filter that normally sifts through stimuli.
The Next Level: Simulating Cognitive Barriers
While sensory input is often the focus, other aspects of neurodiversity remain largely invisible in the design process. It would be fascinating to incorporate concepts like Time Blindness or Object Permanence into these interactive experiences:
- Time Blindness: A simulation could manipulate the perception of time—perhaps by having a UI clock run irregularly or by delivering notifications in a way that dissolves the sense of “soon” versus “now.” For designers, this highlights the need for clear progress bars and visual timers rather than vague temporal cues.
- Object Permanence: In the world of ADHD, the phrase “out of sight, out of mind” is often a literal cognitive hurdle. A simulation could demonstrate how quickly vital tasks or tools “cease to exist” once they vanish from the immediate field of vision. This would underscore the importance of persistent navigation and visual anchors.
Why This Matters for Designers
These tools are not built for “spectacle” but for awareness. When we, as designers, experience how paralyzing a flashing banner or a loud autoplay video can be during sensory overload, it permanently shifts our priorities in the UI/UX process.
It’s no longer just about aesthetics or conversion rates; it’s about cognitive accessibility. We learn that accessibility isn’t a “plug-in” or a secondary feature, it is the foundation of an inclusive digital space. It is time we stop designing for a “standard user” who doesn’t actually exist in reality.
This is a really good example of sensory overload. It would be interesting to incorporate other issues, such as time blindness or object permanence, into the experience. It’s something to consider further.
Sources & Links:
- The Guardian VR (2017): The Party: A virtual experience of autism. Link to Project
- National Autistic Society (2016): Too Much Information (TMI) Campaign. Link to Campaign
- Damian Milton (2012): On the ontological status of autism: the ‘double empathy’ problem. In: Disability & Society. Link
Note: This text was developed with the assistance of artificial intelligence for research purposes and to refine the linguistic clarity and flow of the final draft.
