An interdisciplinary collaboration between design and cultural science students on the topic of neurodivergence.

About the Exhibition

The projekt.VIELFALTER is about perception, neurological diversity and identity.

A small group of cultural science students studying at FHP aimed to provide a platform for neurodivergent individuals to exhibit different perspectives of perception through their artistic creations. In addition to the exhibition, there was a supporting program that complemented the artistic works with theoretical and autobiographical inputs.

Archiving & Digitization

Our task was to archive the exhibition, which up until this point was only accessible through Instagram, and simultaneously digitize it to make it as accessible as possible.

This meant that we spent the first few weeks of the semester focusing on theoretical input from our instructor, Jolanta Paliszewska, and dedicating a lot of time to researching other inclusive web designers, as well as analyzing accessibility guidelines we found online.

Accessibility in Interface Design

Developing an Information Hierarchy

We were able to give ourselves more creative freedom by consolidating the content into the most important topics. This way we managed to develop clear distinctions in the importance of individual pieces of information so that the user does not have to focus on unnecessary information and is less likely to be overwhelmed by overstimulation.

Colors, contrasts & Fonts

To stay as close to the original CI as possible, we used the Figma Plugin „Contrast Checker“ to test the existing color contrasts and did minimal changes to make them more accessible.

We did, however, face some difficulties when trying to make the given font work. Sans-serif, humanist typefaces with suitable letter and word spacing are known to increase retention time, reduce fatigue, and support good stress, which are attributes that didn't fit the CI Font. Although we were willing to compromise on certain things, readability wasn't one of them. So, together with the VIELFALTER Team, we reevaluated the typography choice and selected a different font.

Button & other clickable stuff

To prevent misleading icons, we used clearly labeled buttons and stayed away from symbols that some users might have difficulties identifying. As a staple of navigation and connection these buttons should appear with an intention to action ('it looks clickable') and therefor reduce hesitation and ambiguity. A larger hit radius also improves agility for learners with finer motor skill difficulties.

Challenges & Solutions

In-Person Meet-ups or Via Zoom?

One challenge that pops into mind is probably getting seven people to agree on a time and place for weekly meet-ups. But being able to discuss a lot of the progress via WhatsApp, Zoom, and other platforms was a great help. And we are sure that there are many more meetings to come since the project isn't finished quite yet. Another benefit of online meetings is that space doesn't really matter and we will therefore be able to continue the process as a small team working remote from Tel Aviv, Berlin and Potsdam of course!

Prototyping in Figma

Lessons Learned

User Research and Time Management

One lesson we have learned is that conducting a diverse range of user research takes time and effort. It should unquestionably be one of the first steps to undertake. However, it's crucial not to underestimate the workload required for good user research. And sometimes a task as simple as asking the right questions is one of the most difficult.

We are (only) Allies

Another one is probably that taking a step back once in a while isn't that bad of an idea. Especially as a group of designers who can only call themselves Allies. We can educate ourselves as much as we want but getting first hand feedback from people who still have to face ableism and are therefore the only ones who can really tell the difference between tokenism and real accessibility is still the best way to go.

What's next?

Throughout this course, we have learned how important user research is, and we intend to continue prioritizing this aspect, particularly by involving people who are directly affected by the topic. We strongly believe that gaining insights from these individuals is crucial for a more inclusive design process.

A Big Shout-Out

To wrap up this insight into the project, we would like to express our gratitude to the course, especially to Jolanta, for creating a fantastic learning atmosphere. Throughout the semester, we acquired valuable knowledge that we will undoubtedly need and apply in our future careers as (Interface-) Designers.

Sources

In addition to in-course analysis I (Lilly) did some further research including Analytical Sketching, a Figma analysis and Mental-Map Interviews with the help of Prof. Constanze Langer to get to know more about the initial exhibition and how to transfer the physical atmosphere into the digital space. 

Background-Research_projekt.vielfalter