Field guide · 8 principles

Neurodiversity-Friendly Design Principles

Simple, practical design rules that make digital experiences calmer, clearer, and easier for more people to use.

01 Keep it clean and simple 02 Stay consistent and organized 03 Optimize readability and typography 04 Design for sensory sensitivity 05 Communicate clearly and directly 06 Simplify and clarify navigation 07 Offer personalization and flexibility 08 Emphasize empathy and inclusion
Zack Stewart · UX Research 1 / 5
Principles 01—02

Clarity & structure

Reduce cognitive load

Keep it clean and simple

  • Use short, familiar words.
  • Keep each screen focused on one clear purpose.
  • Make the primary action obvious and specific.
  • Remove anything that does not help someone move forward.

Design check: Could anything be removed without making the task harder?

Build predictable patterns

Stay consistent and organized

  • Put similar information in similar places.
  • Use size and weight to show what matters most.
  • Create clear patterns, then apply them consistently.
  • Give every element a logical, expected place.

Design check: Would someone recognize the pattern on the next screen?

Neurodiversity-Friendly Design Principles 2 / 5
Principles 03—04

Reading & sensory comfort

Support comfortable reading

Optimize readability and typography

  • Choose highly readable sans-serif typefaces.
  • Avoid all caps and long passages of italic text.
  • Use comfortable type sizes, line heights, and spacing.
  • Maintain strong contrast and a clear text hierarchy.

Design check: Does the hierarchy remain clear when the page is zoomed?

Lower sensory noise

Design with sensory sensitivity in mind

  • Use a calm, considered color palette.
  • Avoid flashing, sudden motion, and neon backgrounds.
  • Keep sound off by default and provide clear controls.
  • Reduce competing visual and audio signals.

Design check: Can motion, sound, and optional visual content be paused?

Neurodiversity-Friendly Design Principles 3 / 5
Principles 05—06

Communication & wayfinding

Remove ambiguity

Communicate clearly and directly

  • Prefer literal language over metaphors or sarcasm.
  • Give each message one clear meaning.
  • Label controls with specific actions, such as “Send message.”
  • Avoid jokes or wordplay where clarity is essential.

Design check: Could the message be interpreted in more than one way?

Help people keep their bearings

Simplify and clarify navigation

  • Keep navigation compact, visible, and predictable.
  • Label every page and destination clearly.
  • Show progress during multi-step tasks.
  • Make the current location and route back easy to find.

Design check: Can someone tell where they are and what happens next?

Neurodiversity-Friendly Design Principles 4 / 5
Principles 07—08

Control & co-design

Give people control

Offer personalization and flexibility

  • Let people adjust text size and color schemes.
  • Offer calm and vivid display options where useful.
  • Allow optional content, motion, or sound to be hidden or paused.
  • Remember and respect each person’s preferences.

Design check: Are useful preferences easy to find and remembered?

Design with, not just for

Emphasize empathy and inclusive practices

  • Learn how neurodivergent people experience your product.
  • Include neurodivergent participants in research and testing.
  • Involve diverse people throughout the design process.
  • Treat inclusion as a product requirement, not a final check.

Design check: Who shaped the decision, and whose experience is missing?