Voices of the Spectrum
A gentle way to express sensory needs and create more inclusive spaces for Autistic Individuals.
Project Overview
"Voices of the Spectrum" is a sensory-friendly sticker series designed to help individuals on the Autism Spectrum express their emotions, needs, and preferences with ease. By offering gentle, visually clear communication tools that respect sensory sensitivities, the project supports autonomy, comfort, and smoother everyday interactions.
Duration - 2 Weeks
Skills applied - User Research, Inclusive & Accessible Design, Visual Design, Ilustration.
Institution - M.A in Design Focused on Health, The University of Texas at Austin
Challenge
The brief required creating a sticker series that addressed any health-related cause. I chose to focus on autism and sensory sensitivity, designing stickers that raise awareness, support communication, and promote more inclusive public interactions.
Outcome
I designed “Voices of the Spectrum,” a sensory-friendly sticker series that helps autistic individuals communicate their needs while educating the public about sensory sensitivities.
Define
My Audiance
The general public, people of all ages and backgrounds, who may interact with autistic children in everyday environments. The goal is to raise awareness of their sensory sensitivities and encourage more supportive, considerate behavior.
Sticker Personality
Kind, empathetic, and calm. The visual style is bold yet gentle, using clear illustrations that avoid overstimulation.
The 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.
Call to Action
Encourage people to be patient, aware, and mindful of autistic children’s sensory needs, helping create comforting and respectful public spaces.
Research Findings
01
Sensory Processing Challenges
Reviewed literature on how autistic individuals experience sensory overload from triggers such as loud noises, bright lights, strong smells, and crowded environments. This helped identify the key environmental stressors that the stickers needed to address
02
Communication Barriers
Studied common communication methods used by autistic individuals, including limited verbal expression and the importance of visual cues and sign language. This informed the need for clear, gentle, visual communication tools.
03
Public Behavior + Awareness Gaps
Observed how the general public often lacks understanding of sensory sensitivities, resulting in unintentional overstimulation. This revealed an opportunity to educate and gently guide people through visual reminders.
04
Best Practices in Sensory-Friendly Design
Explored design guidelines for autism-friendly visuals, such as simplified illustrations, soft color palettes, and calming tones, to ensure the stickers are supportive, not overstimulating.
Final Sketches
Test
I printed the sticker prototypes and tested them on everyday items bags, laptops, bottles, and clothing to evaluate visibility, clarity, and real-world usability. This helped refine the size, contrast, and overall sensory-friendliness of the designs.
© 2026 by Atchayaa Krishnan..