Voices of the spectrum
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Overview
"Voices of the Spectrum" is a series of empowering stickers designed to support individuals on the Autism Spectrum in expressing themselves more effectively while accommodating their unique sensory needs. Many individuals with ASD experience sensory processing difficulties, which can manifest as heightened sensitivity to bright lights, loud noises, and strong smells, often leading to sensory overload, distress, and anxiety. These stickers are thoughtfully crafted to be gentle on the senses, providing a visual communication tool that helps convey emotions, needs, and thoughts clearly. By understanding and respecting these sensory sensitivities, "Voices of the Spectrum" aids in enhancing expressive abilities, contributing to greater autonomy, comfort, and understanding in daily interactions.
Audience
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- General public without any age or gender restrictions.
- Doesn’t identify with a specific culture, race, religion or group
- It is important that the general public acknowledges the increased vulnerability of autistic children to sensory overstimulation, particularly in crowded and noisy environments and provide them with the comfort and protection they need.
Sticker Personality
Emotion - Audience to be patient, compassionate and empathetic to the autistic kids they come across.
Voice/tone used - Kind and empathetic
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Style - Illustrative and bold simultaneously, not overstimulating to autistic kids.
Project Details
Skills Applied - Graphic Design, Illustration, Design Research, Ideation, Prototyping
Tools - Adobe Illustrator & Photoshop, Procreate
Institution - M.A in design focused on Health, The University of Texas at Austin
Message
- Address the factors that trigger sensory overload in autistic kids, like loud noise, bright light/colors, and Strong smells. It helps to create a sensory-friendly environment that accommodates the needs of autistic children and promotes their well-being.
- Sign language is a crucial communication method for many individuals who have autism. I believe it's important to acknowledge this fact and ensure that the sticker design includes this aspect of their communication needs. By doing so, we can create a more inclusive and accommodating environment for everyone
Call To Action
I want my sticker to communicate to the people coming across an autistic kid to be aware of their presence in their surroundings and their sensitivity to sensory stimuli like loud noises and bright light, try to be patient with them, and provide a comforting environment to Autistic individuals in public spaces.
Brain Storming
Sketches
Final Sketches
SENSORY DIET
A Sensory diet, created by occupational therapists, is an individualized plan of physical activities and accommodations to help an autistic person meet their sensory needs. This plan provides the sensory input needed to stay focused and organized throughout the day.
This sticker serves as a useful tool for instructors and caregivers working with autistic individuals who follow a sensory diet. By wearing the sticker, the individual's sensory diet needs can be quickly and easily identified, allowing for appropriate and timely action to be taken by those around them. This helps to ensure that the individual's sensory needs are met, creating a comfortable and safe environment for them to learn and thrive in.
SENSORY OVERLOAD
Sensory overload is a condition where an individual takes in an excessive amount of information related to their five senses - hearing, smell, touch, sight, and taste. Autistic individuals are more susceptible to sensory overload, which can be overwhelming for their brains to handle. During such moments, the brain enters into a fight, flight, or freeze mode, triggering a sense of crisis that makes the individual feel unsafe and overwhelmed. A sticker could help individuals communicate their susceptibility to sensory overload to others and encourage them to create a safe environment.
SENSITIVITY TO LOUD NOISE
Many people with autism experience a heightened sensitivity to sound, a condition known as hyperacusis. This sensitivity can cause discomfort, especially when exposed to loud or high-pitched noises. By wearing this sticker,individuals with hyperacusis can inform others about their sensitivity requesting a safe and noise-free space. When people come across these individuals, they can help create a calm and supportive environment.
SIGN LANGUAGE
Sign language offers a functional and socially-acceptable way for children with autism toexpress a need, while also saving the need forcaregivers and the others they come across toguess what they require.
This sticker enables the caregivers or anystranger coming across the autistic individualusing this sticker helps them to identify that they use signs to talk reducing the stress and confusion they would normally face when only addressed with verbal speech.
