Date

5-23-2025

Department

School of Communication and the Arts

Degree

Master of Fine Arts in Graphic Design (MFA)

Chair

Chelsea M Bass

Keywords

Neurodiverse, Neurodiversity, ADHD, ASD, Autism, Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, publications, graphic design, guidelines, design, color theory, mind map, wireframe, Attention Difficet Hyperactivity Disorder, Autistic, learning, design production, graphics, digital, digital design, design process, design research

Disciplines

Fine Arts

Abstract

Current digital publications often fail to meet the needs of neurodiverse audiences, such as those with ADHD, which leads to low engagement and cognitive overload. This thesis explored how ADHD-friendly designs can be incorporated into current digital magazines to create accessible and engaging reading content for neurodiverse readers. Providing a guide can assist with creating more diverse content and allows designers to have a reference for future publications. The research applied also goes over the literature review, case studies, visual analysis, and surveys to help showcase the best results for designing for ADHD readers. Some of the case studies' main findings include simplified navigation, structured layouts, and a minimalistic visual design, allowing readers to focus and digest the information. There's also a focus on specific guides being implemented to make sure there are certain principles to avoid when designing for this audience, such as an abundance of body text, minimal animations, or graphics that distract the reader. The main impact of this research will help create actionable design strategies that will allow publications to feel more inclusive and set a guide for future research on ADHD-friendly digital designs.

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Fine Arts Commons

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