Neurodiversity Design System

What Is Neurodiversity Design System?

The Neurodiversity Design System (NDS) is a set of standards and principles that merges neurodiversity with user experience design to create accessible learning interfaces. As an educational resource available for free, the Neurodiversity Design System fits into the design workflow during the planning and research phases, where designers establish guidelines for inclusive interfaces, particularly for Learning Management Systems (LMS) and similar platforms. It provides foundational rules to address the needs of neurodiverse users, ensuring interfaces support diverse cognitive processing styles without requiring additional tools or software.

What Neurodiversity Design System Does

• Defines principles for typography to improve font readability and legibility for users with varying cognitive needs.
• Offers guidelines on color palettes to create visually accommodating interfaces that reduce sensory overload.
• Provides standards for interactive elements like buttons, links, and inputs to make navigation intuitive and predictable.
• Establishes rules for data representation, particularly numbers, to ensure comprehensible visualization for all learners.
• Structures interface layouts with clear hierarchies and progressive disclosure to minimize cognitive load.
• Supports personas representing neurodiverse users to inform design decisions across projects.

How Neurodiversity Design System Can Be Used

• In designing LMS platforms, apply Neurodiversity Design System principles to adjust typography and colors, reducing overstimulation for users with autism or ADHD.
• During interface audits, use the system's guidelines for buttons and inputs to verify intuitive navigation in educational apps.
• For new projects, incorporate its data representation standards to make charts and numbers accessible in learning dashboards.
• In team workflows, reference Neurodiversity Design System personas during user research to include neurodiverse perspectives from the outset.
• To implement progressive disclosure, structure content in expandable sections following the system's hierarchy rules for e-learning modules.

Who Is Neurodiversity Design System For?

The Neurodiversity Design System serves UX designers, developers, and product teams working on educational platforms or any interfaces requiring cognitive accessibility. It suits roles involved in creating Learning Management Systems, where inclusive design addresses needs like sensory sensitivities, information processing differences, and navigation challenges faced by neurodivergent users such as those with autism, ADHD, or dyslexia. Experience levels range from junior designers learning accessibility basics to senior teams systematizing neuroinclusive components in design systems. Developers integrating these principles ensure compatibility with assistive technologies and adaptability for diverse learners. Visit Neurodiversity Design System