2024
Social Services
Visual Design, Accessible Design
Designed specifically to support events for individuals with neurological differences (such as Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, etc.), this platform aims to provide a more comfortable and tailored registration experience for these demographics. This case study was showcased at the Autism Spectrum & Developmental Disorder Pre-Conference.
The concept for PalettePass originated from Divertical, an organization dedicated to providing social opportunities for individuals on the autism spectrum. Currently, all Divertical events are hosted on Meetup.com, but as the organization expands and offers more events, both event organizers and attendees have encountered growing challenges with the Meetup platform.
The findings in this case study are derived from institutional research conducted at the request of Divertical staff. To ensure privacy, the content has been adjusted to protect the personal experiences and feedback of individuals with neurological differences.
Note: Responses and personal data will remain confidential and will only be shared with designated team members (Max, Austin, Jen).
Providing event organizers with meaningful insights into each attendee's unique needs and strengths, rather than relying on generalized or traditional classifications like "levels" of autism.
During events, timely communication with attendees is crucial, yet traditional platforms like Meetup only offer discussion boards, which can be inefficient for real-time updates.
Platforms like Meetup often see high RSVP rates but low actual attendance, leading to issues with space reservations and event preparations.
Our previous platform offered very limited customization in presenting content, often overwhelming attendees with too much information at once and lacking flexibility in how details were displayed.
Designed the app to meet the recommended 4.5:1 contrast ratio for text, enhancing readability and accessibility for users with low vision or color blindness.
To enhance usability, we've strategically introduced shadows, in order to improve the legibility of interactive components, as well as their statuses.
We've softened the sharp edges on our interactive components, creating a more approachable and user-friendly design.
PalettePass was featured at the 2024 Autism Spectrum and Developmental Disorders SIG Preconference, held during the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies' annual national conference at the CHOP Roberts Center for Pediatric Research in Philadelphia. During the keynote presentation, we shared the design journey and conceptual framework behind the app. The audience included mental health professionals, researchers, and advocates for neurological differences, particularly autism.
Our primary goal was to ensure the project resonated with attendees. At our booth, we engaged participants in discussions about the platform and collected their feedback. Here are some highlights of their insights:
"All people want to feel understood and to connect with like-minded folks. The PalettePass app concept would provide this type of safe space for neurodivergent people to gather and to have their accessibility needs met. This app does a great job of balancing disclosure and privacy, and I think the high level of customization that the app offers will be particularly appealing to users."
“I am very impressed by the PallettePass app concept and design. As an autistic adult, making new social connections is complicated. Knowing what to expect in a social environment and having a way to share my support needs and preferences in advance would be such a helpful aid. Austin and his team’s approach to development is thoughtful and addresses a clear gap in the autistic and disabled community."
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