Katie McIntyre
Sensory Overstimulation Coping Tool
Challenge
Increase accessibility of community events by empowering people with sensory sensitivities to alleviate stress and overwhelm experienced in public.
Team
Ashley Frith, Benedicte Knudson, Margot Lin, and Hang Wang @ Georgia Tech
Solution
A highly personalized coping tool enabling sensory-sensitive individuals to engage with community events, decreasing feelings of alienation and unwanted isolation.
Role
Lead UX Researcher
Process
Orienting to the Problem Space
Generative Research
Findings and Communication
Iterative Design and Feedback
Evaluative Research
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background research
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literature and social media review
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competitive analysis of existing systems
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ethnographic observation
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semi-structured interviews
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survey
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participatory design workshop
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qualitative coding
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affinity mapping
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quantitative data visualization
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discussion of research findings
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user journey map
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empathy map
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task analyses
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user needs and design implications
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ideation, storyboards, sketches, and wireframes
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high-fidelity prototype
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feedback sessions
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concept testing
Problem Space
Methods
Our key goal through this project was to dive deeply into observing, listening to, and understanding people with sensory sensitivities. With this in mind, we aimed to ground our problem space, research strategy, and project objectives in real, concrete problems experienced by our target users. We conducted preliminary research to rapidly and effectively identify the most pressing problems and pain points to inform our chosen problem space.
Findings
Ideal Problem Space
Our initial research revealed the complex and varied nature of overstimulation experiences, emphasizing that a universal solution is unattainable. Recognizing this, we deliberately honed in on addressing overstimulation from sound at live, community events—a prevalent trigger for individuals with sensory sensitivities. This focus allowed us to effectively tackle a specific issue in a unique context where disengaging is not a preferred option, ensuring our solution is both impactful and precise.
Users
Through background research, we identified key traits and considerations unique to people with sensory sensitivities.
Stakeholders
Existing Systems
We analyzed the different systems which address this problem in order to identify important key features, shortcomings, and gaps in the currently available solutions.
Problem Statement
How might we support people with sensory sensitivities in alleviating overstimulation from sound at community events?
Generative Research
Research Questions
Grounded in our orientation to the problem space, we developed the following research questions.
Next, we developed an in-depth table of questions to answer through our generative research methods and chose methods based on their fit to our information needs (excerpt below).
Ethnographic Observation
We undertook a methodical approach to evaluate sensory-friendly accommodations by attending public events and visiting various public spaces. This involved systematically documenting the presence or absence of features designed to support individuals with sensory sensitivities. Our evaluation also extended to the overall experience of navigating these spaces with sensory sensitivity considerations in mind. Through direct engagement in these environments, we were able to assess the effectiveness of existing accommodations and identify areas where improvements are needed.
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Method Justification
Ethnographic observation was chosen to gain a nuanced understanding of the experiences of individuals with sensory sensitivities in real-world settings, going beyond theoretical models and gaining practical insights into how sensory sensitivities impact daily activities and interactions.
Information Goals
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Gather authentic and concrete observational data
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Holistically identify challenges and needs
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Evaluate accommodation effectiveness
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Gain inspiration from advantages and gaps of current solutions
Data + Analysis
We collected hand-written jottings, photos, and videos in five public contexts. Through qualitative coding and group discussion, we identified key findings and themes.
Semi-Structured Interviews
To achieve in-depth comprehension of users' longitudinal experiences and a full picture of users' pain points, we developed interview questions and conducted five semi-structured interviews with sensory-sensitive people.
Method Justification
Semi-structured interviews allowed us to collect qualitative, self-reported insights related to people's experiences with sensory sensitivities and related accommodations across their lifespan.
Information Goals
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Experiences with sensory sensitivities and community events over time
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Responses to overstimulation and preferred coping strategies
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Usage of tools and accommodations
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Needs, preferences, pain points, and challenges
Data + Analysis
We utilized qualitative coding and thematic analysis to derive large takeaway themes from interview transcripts.
Survey
We received survey responses from 27 people who experience sensory sensitivity. By asking quantifiable questions to a larger sample of users, we were able to gauge user group needs and preferences and back our qualitative findings with quantitative support.
Method Justification
Surveys enabled us to efficiently collect input from a diverse user base to identify and quantify common trends and priorities.
Using a survey allowed us to gather quantifiable data from a large audience and identify patterns, trends, and areas for improvement.
Information Goals
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Types of overstimulation experienced by the target population
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Frequency of event attendance and overstimulation
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Coping mechanisms
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Factors influencing choice of coping mechanisms
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Areas of improvement
Data + Analysis
We presented the survey data in graphs, charts, and lists. We applied the data via triangulation to validate and extend qualitative findings from other methods.
Participatory Design Workshop
We hosted a participatory design workshop with 26 individuals who have diverse sensory sensitivities. During the workshop, we facilitated the creation of multimedia art pieces, allowing participants to convey their experiences with overstimulation and sensory calmness. This creative process enabled us to deeply understand and empathize with the spectrum of sensory experiences. Leveraging these insights, we integrated visual elements that evoke sensory tranquility into our design language, enhancing our approach to user-centric visual communication.
Method Justification
Participatory design enabled us to understand our users on an emotional level and draw our visual design language from subjective user portrayals of sensory tranquility.
Information Goals
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Personal visualizations of overstimulation and sensory calmness
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Comparisons of sensory experiences across individuals who experience varying levels of overstimulation
Data + Analysis
We consolidated the artistic interpretations of sensory experiences into two collages displaying overstimulation and sensory calmness respectively. Users completed a post-task survey on their level of personal experience with overstimulation, which informed our prioritization of the opinions of more sensory-sensitive individuals. We conducted group discussion of design elements across the artwork.
Overstimulation
Sensory Tranquility
Findings and Communication
Discussion of Research Findings
After collecting and presenting data from each method, we triangulated the data from our various methods to synthesize and discuss key findings. When certain themes reappeared across multiple methods, we took note and compiled a summary sorted by key research question.
User Journey Map
Based on our research findings, we created a user journey map to visualize the big picture of our users' experiences. We generated this research artifact to represent a physical manifestation of the user flow, as well as to highlight opportunities, facilitate the identification of pain points, and encourage ongoing empathy for the user throughout the design process.
Empathy Map
To anchor our design process in user-centric, evidence-based insights, we created an empathy map. This tool is pivotal for improving cross-functional team communication, sharpening our design focus, and guiding informed decision-making by vividly illustrating users' experiences, thoughts, and emotions.
Task Analyses
We completed two task analyses to understand the specific actions and decisions users undertake to achieve their goals, offering deep insights into user needs and pain points. We explored users' experiences preparing to attend public events and locating sensory spaces when overstimulated. This method enabled us to design more intuitive and efficient user interfaces by aligning the product’s functionality with users' expectations and workflows, thereby enhancing the overall user experience.
User Needs and Design Implications
Informed by our generative user research findings, we consolidated user needs into a list. To begin orienting to the design process, we translated the user needs into specific design implications. Through our design implications, we distilled actionable insights from research findings, bridging the gap between research outcomes and practical design decisions.
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Iterative Design and Feedback
Ideation, Storyboards, Sketches, and Wireframes
Ideation
Anchored in our research findings, user needs, design implications, and user research artifacts, we generated 50+ design concepts for overstimulation coping tools.
Prototype Functionality
We designed a high-fidelity, interactive prototype that empowers sensory-sensitive people to manage their feelings of overstimulation in public contexts. Sensease offers users a centralized place to create overstimulation plans to engage in their preferred coping mechanisms in times of stress. The prototype provides AI-powered noise cancellation to reduce overstimulating inputs, mindfulness exercises for psychological calm and grounding, and a sound library for replacing triggering input with calming stimuli. Additionally, our tool collects and visualizes biofeedback and self-report data to increase users' understanding of their own sensory experiences.
Prototype Functionality Chart
The prototype functionality chart below illustrates the key features and options offered by sensease.
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Prototype Features
Our high-fidelity, interactive prototype addressed all of our identified user needs and design implications. Derived from our high-fidelity prototype, here are visual explanations of how our prototype implements each design implication.
Overstimulation Plan
The sensease homepage is a collection of shortcuts to coping mechanisms. The shortcuts displayed include user-chosen favorites and frequently used coping mechanisms. Shortcut buttons may lead to full overstimulation plans or individual coping mechanisms. The full overstimulation plans are user-customized, fully automated sequences of coping mechanisms.
The homepage supports the design implications to automate users' pre-existing coping strategies, support flexible customizability, and display predictability and consistency.
High-Fidelity Prototype
Explore our interface and walk through the process of preparing to manage overstimulation!
Evaluative Research
Concept Testing
We conducted task-based usability testing with five users. Users completed four tasks- adjusting a noise cancellation preset, making a custom soundscape in the sound library, making a custom overstimulation plan, and responding to a stress-triggered notification by enacting an overstimulation plan. We instructed users to think aloud during the usability testing to elicit deep qualitative data and collected concrete quantitative data from a post-test survey. By conducting usability tests with, we directly observed and quantified prototype effectiveness. We also identified gaps and shortcomings in our prototype to address in future iterations.
Method Justification
Usability testing enabled us to systematically evaluate the product by observing real users as they interact with it, thereby identifying usability issues and gathering actionable insights to improve user experience and satisfaction.
Information Goals
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Quantify alignment with user needs
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Assess compliance with design requirements
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Explore and identify accessibility concerns
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Evaluate effectiveness and efficiency in core functions
Data + Analysis
We used qualitative coding and thematic analysis to derive large takeaway themes from usability testing transcripts. Additionally, we graphed data from post-test surveys to quantify our levels of success in meeting user needs.
We found that 100% of users were able complete each task, indicating our overall success. However, user perceptions varied and we identified concrete areas for improvement.
