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UX Research & Design: Noteworthy App
Designing an accessible note-taking experience that reduces cognitive load and empowers users with dyslexia through assistive technology and inclusive design.
Focus: Accessibility • Inclusive Design • Assistive Technology • User Research
Purpose
The goal of Noteworthy was to design an accessible note-taking application tailored specifically to users with dyslexia by reducing cognitive load, improving readability, and incorporating alternative methods of consuming and creating content.
Scope
The project included:
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User research and accessibility analysis
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User interviews
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Secondary research
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User flow creation
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Low-fidelity wireframing
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High-fidelity prototyping
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Accessibility-focused design recommendations
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Exploration of assistive technologies
Methodology
Research
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User interview with a dyslexia advocate
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Secondary research on dyslexia accessibility guidelines
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Analysis of accessibility best practices
Ideation
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Defined accessibility-focused design principles
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Generated concepts addressing identified pain points
Design
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User flow mapping
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Low & High Fidelity wireframes in Figma
Evaluation
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Accessibility-focused review
Research
User Research
We conducted an interview with a user advocate (a 30 year old man with dyslexia) and uncovered the following insights:
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Software applications with large amounts of text can lead to frustrations and pain points
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All text used should be large and have a simple, clear font
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It is helpful to break text up with visual elements
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He prefers to utilize auditory or video elements instead of reading text when possible
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The ability to zoom in on text as needed is essential
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Text-to-speech/speech-to-text is a very helpful tool
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Having a search functionality is useful to not have to search through large amounts of text
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Clear navigability is essential
Secondary Research
We also conducted secondary research that supported these insights we gained from our primary research:
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limited scrolling
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appropriately sized text
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use of limited and simple language
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keep the interface structure and navigation simple and straightforward
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visual cues
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user control of interface
1. Text-Heavy Interfaces Create Cognitive Overload
Users with dyslexia can become overwhelmed when required to process large blocks of text.
2. Alternative Content Formats Improve Accessibility
Audio support, visual aids, and summaries can significantly improve comprehension.
3. User Control Is Essential
Users need flexibility to adjust text size, zoom levels, and preferred methods of consuming information.
4. Navigation Impacts Confidence
Simple, predictable navigation structures reduce frustration and improve task completion.
Key Findings
Main Issues
Main Issues
1. Reading Fatigue
Traditional note-taking applications rely heavily on text, creating barriers for users with dyslexia.
2. Poor Content Accessibility
Most note-taking tools lack built-in accessibility features such as speech-to-text, text-to-speech, and AI-assisted summaries.
3. Information Overload
Dense interfaces and excessive scrolling increase cognitive load.
4. Limited Support for Diverse Learning Styles
Existing solutions often fail to accommodate users who learn and process information visually or auditorily.
1. Prioritize Readability
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Use large, legible typography.
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Maintain strong contrast ratios.
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Avoid cluttered layouts.
2. Incorporate Assistive Technologies
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Speech-to-text
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Text-to-speech
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Image-to-text conversion
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AI-generated summaries
3. Reduce Cognitive Load
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Break content into manageable sections.
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Use visual elements to support comprehension.
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Minimize unnecessary reading.
4. Simplify Navigation
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Create clear navigation paths.
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Provide search functionality.
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Reduce scrolling requirements.
Recommendations
Design
Lo-Fi Designs – Paper and Figma
Hi-Fi Designs – Figma
Noteworthy demonstrates how thoughtful, accessibility-first design can create more inclusive digital experiences for users with dyslexia. Through user research, accessibility analysis, and iterative design, the project identified key barriers related to reading comprehension, cognitive load, and navigation, and addressed them through features such as speech-to-text, text-to-speech, AI-powered summaries, image-to-text functionality, and simplified interface design.