Time Frame: September to December 2023
Project Team Members : Ashley Frith, Benedicte Knudson, Margot Lin, Katie McIntyre, and Hang Wang
Tools : Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, Qualtrics, Tableau, Miro
BACKGROUND
People who experience sensory sensitivities face exclusion and non-belonging in public spaces, which makes existing in public spaces and participating in public events particularly challenging. Sensory sensitivities are generally approached through a medical model versus a social model, which has informed ableist design decisions that make existing public spaces especially difficult. Design for neurodivergent individuals has historically been used not to support, but to suppress.
We have identified a gap in support for individuals with sensory sensitivities while at public performances.
How might we empower individuals with sensory sensitivities while engaging in
public performances in their communities in a less stressful and overwhelming way?
public performances in their communities in a less stressful and overwhelming way?
RESEARCH METHODS
FINDINGS
DESIGN REQUIREMENTS
Based on our research, we produced six requirements we deemed necessary for our design.
1. Provide some form of feedback to users.
2. Behave predictably and consistently to prevent added stress.
3. Support flexible customizability for diverse tolerances to sensitivities.
4. Promote continued engagement with event versus remove an individual from the event.
5. Discrete and portable to prevent feelings of alienation in marginalized groups.
6. Enhance user comfort.
IDEATION
We sketched and discussed and refined... and settled on two ideas: the Sensease earbuds and the SerenitySync Wristband.
The Sensease earbuds allow the user to selectively cancel or amplify certain sounds in their environment.
The SerenitySync wristband provides users with a quick, in the moment grounding experience.
After much deliberation, we decided to move forward with the Sensease Earbuds and began sketching its companion application.
EXECUTION
We sketched and received feedback...
refined, lo-fi wire framed, and received feedback...
and finally, after more refinements, hi-fi wire framed and tested!
FINAL DELIVERABLE
Hi-fi wireframe. Take it for a spin!
