Connect Ease

Project Overview

Connect Ease is an application designed to aid social communication for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The application focuses on bridging the communication gap, particularly for users who struggle with social interactions due to social anxiety or sensory overload. Its main objective is to provide a communication tool that enables users to interact confidently without the fear of losing track of their thoughts. This project was driven by the need to support people like Rizwan, our primary persona, who struggles with social communication, by offering him a platform where he can store preferences and communicate on his behalf.

My Role

As the lead UX designer, I was responsible for every stage of the design process:

User Research: Conducted interviews and surveys with individuals with autism, along with beta user testing, to understand their needs and challenges.
Wireframing and Prototyping: Created initial wireframes and interactive prototypes to test usability and functionality with real users.
UI/UX Design: Designed an intuitive user interface that was simple to use, visually calm, and easy to navigate.
Collaboration: Worked closely with developers to ensure design feasibility and with experts in autism to align the app's features with users' needs.
Usability Testing: Conducted several rounds of testing, gathering feedback from users and experts to iterate on the design and refine the final product.

User Research

To create a solution that best addresses the needs of individuals with autism, our team embarked on a comprehensive user research journey. We conducted qualitative surveys and face-to-face interviews with autistic individuals to understand their daily challenges and communication preferences. We also engaged with beta users who helped us track the usability and effectiveness of the features in real-world scenarios. The research highlighted the need for a simplified and intuitive interface to avoid overwhelming the users while maintaining accessibility and user-friendly features. Insights from these interactions informed our decision to focus on customization and personalization within the app, allowing users to set up preferences for daily activities, food orders, and other common tasks.

User Personas & Journey Map

The user journey map helped visualize how students and instructors would interact with the MR system during lectures, from entering the virtual classroom to manipulating 3D models and engaging in collaborative activities.

The Socially Anxious Adult

A 28-year-old man with Asperger’s syndrome who struggles with social communication and needs assistance in expressing his preferences and needs.

The Teenage Student

A 16-year-old student with autism who needs structured communication to manage social situations and daily routines.

The Teacher

A 45-year-old special education teacher who needs a tool to help students with autism express their needs in class.

Wireframes

In the early stages, we developed both paper and digital wireframes. The goal was to ensure the design reflected an intuitive flow that minimized cognitive load. Early wireframes incorporated basic layouts and navigational elements, which were then tested and refined. We made sure to focus on the core features that directly addressed the needs of our personas, such as customizable settings and easy-to-use templates for different social scenarios.

Low-Fidelity Prototypes

We started with lo-fi prototypes, using paper sketches to visualize and test the flow of the app. This initial stage allowed us to explore the user interface's basic functionality and user interaction. During this phase, we also tested how users interacted with simple interface elements like buttons and menus. Feedback from our testing revealed that a streamlined design with clear visual cues was crucial to avoid overwhelming the user. Thus, we focused on creating an environment where the user could feel comfortable and in control of their interactions.

High-Fidelity Mockups & Prototypes

Once the low-fidelity prototypes were tested and refined, I developed high-fidelity mockups that included more polished visuals. These prototypes featured interactive 3D models, spatial audio, and real-time student collaboration tools. The 3D Model Interaction allowed students to manipulate objects, providing them with a hands-on learning experience that was particularly useful for complex or abstract concepts. Spatial Audio was integrated to give a sense of immersion, where auditory cues would align with the student’s position in the virtual space. The Instructor Dashboard allowed teachers to seamlessly manage content, track student progress, and engage with students in real-time through spatial audio and gestures. These high-fidelity prototypes were tested in simulated classrooms, where we fine-tuned the interactions based on user feedback.

Usability Testing

During usability testing, we gathered valuable feedback from users and experts. Early testing showed that users needed more intuitive and dynamic interactions, such as interactive elements with clear feedback (e.g., sound or visual cues). Users were particularly appreciative of the personalization feature, but we discovered that terms like "Socialize" and the flow of certain sections needed more clarity. We iterated on the design based on this feedback, simplifying some aspects and adding features like customizable voice input to gauge tone, which was a key improvement in the final design.

Final Designs

In the final design, we enhanced the user experience by implementing smoother transitions, refining the navigation system, and introducing a calming color scheme. Future work for the app includes expanding its capabilities to accommodate more scenarios, integrating additional sensory-friendly features, and ongoing community engagement to ensure the app remains relevant and effective.

Product Successes

Increased Confidence: Users, especially those with autism, reported feeling more confident in social situations with the app's assistance in communication.
Positive Feedback from Stakeholders: Parents and teachers appreciated the app for helping children communicate their needs more clearly.
Effective Personalization: The app's customization options allowed users to input personal preferences, creating a tailored experience.
Simplified Design: The minimalist, calming design helped reduce user anxiety and made the app easy to navigate.
Continuous Improvement: Usability testing led to several refinements, enhancing overall usability and effectiveness.

Challenges

The biggest challenge we faced was designing an app that was both functional and comforting for users with autism. Initially, users felt overwhelmed by the multitude of options in the app. This led us to focus on simplifying the interface by reducing unnecessary features and making key actions more accessible. Another challenge was making the app visually appealing without triggering sensory overload. We decided to use a calming pastel color palette and integrated smooth animations to help create a relaxed user experience.

Moreover, due to the unique needs of the target users, the app had to be adaptable, particularly for scenarios where users required a high degree of customization. The design had to accommodate various types of social interactions and preferences, and after each round of testing, we fine-tuned the app to ensure clarity and accessibility.

What I Learned

This project taught me the importance of combining empathy with design principles. By deeply understanding the challenges faced by individuals with autism, we were able to craft a solution that met their specific needs. The iterative design process, with its focus on constant testing and refinement, helped me recognize the significance of user feedback in shaping the final product.

One of the most profound lessons from this project was the power of inclusive design. Designing for users with autism required an understanding of both their cognitive and sensory processing challenges. As a result, I focused on making every interaction meaningful, ensuring the app was both usable and supportive.

Additionally, working on Connect Ease helped me understand the critical role of collaboration in design. We worked with experts in autism, conducted thorough user testing, and adjusted the design based on real-world feedback, which ultimately made the project stronger and more impactful.