Final Degree Project
ASTRO SOUL: FINAL DEGREE PROJECT
Design and implementation of an educational app based on interactive storytelling for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
Year :
2024-2025
Project Duration :
1 year
My role: UX/UI Designer · Product Designer · App Developer
Scope: Design and implementation of an educational app based on interactive storytelling for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
Tools: Figma · Unity · Notion · Visual Studio Code
Discovery & Key Challenge: Designing for sensitive contexts
Designing digital products for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) requires a deep understanding of cognitive accessibility, sensory overload, and emotional engagement. The primary challenge was to create an environment that felt safe, predictable, and engaging while teaching core human values like empathy.
Rather than applying standard UI patterns, every design decision was guided by accessibility standards and behavioral insights tailored for neurodivergent users.
——————————————————
Designing Interactive Stories for Empathy
The Challenge: Translating abstract emotional concepts (such as empathy) into tangible, low-friction interactions that children on the autism spectrum could easily comprehend and enjoy.
My Approach: Designed and developed two interactive stories centered around human values. I implemented simple, tap-based interaction patterns, prioritizing clean visual cues and predictable layouts to minimize cognitive friction.
User Testing & Implementation: A process of Iteration
User testing
Validation Process: Conducted structured user testing sessions with children and teenagers on the autism spectrum, closely observing interaction patterns to identify barriers, sensory triggers, and points of confusion.
Refinement: Iterated on navigation flows and visual cues based on testing findings to systematically improve clarity, user engagement, and comprehension.
——————————————————
Implementation
Cross-Disciplinary Execution: Bridged the gap between design and code by carrying out both the interface design in Figma and the technical implementation in Unity, supported by Notion for documentation and Visual Studio Code for scripting.
Outcomes & Key Learnings
————————————————————
Milestone:
The project was officially recognized and Awarded Honors (Matrícula de Honor) for its academic and practical excellence.
————————————————————
What I Contributed:
Designed and developed two interactive stories focused on human values such as empathy.
Applied simple, tap-based interaction patterns, prioritizing usability and accessibility.
Conducted user testing with children and teenagers on the autism spectrum, identifying barriers and refining interactions.
Iterated on navigation flows and visual cues to improve clarity, engagement, and comprehension.
What I Learned:
Applied user-centred design in a sensitive context, with a strong focus on accessibility.
Learned to translate research into meaningful interaction design decisions.
Gained experience building and validating an interactive product from concept to implementation.
all projects
Final Degree Project
ASTRO SOUL: FINAL DEGREE PROJECT
Design and implementation of an educational app based on interactive storytelling for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
Year :
2024-2025
Project Duration :
1 year
My role: UX/UI Designer · Product Designer · App Developer
Scope: Design and implementation of an educational app based on interactive storytelling for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
Tools: Figma · Unity · Notion · Visual Studio Code
Discovery & Key Challenge: Designing for sensitive contexts
Designing digital products for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) requires a deep understanding of cognitive accessibility, sensory overload, and emotional engagement. The primary challenge was to create an environment that felt safe, predictable, and engaging while teaching core human values like empathy.
Rather than applying standard UI patterns, every design decision was guided by accessibility standards and behavioral insights tailored for neurodivergent users.
——————————————————
Designing Interactive Stories for Empathy
The Challenge: Translating abstract emotional concepts (such as empathy) into tangible, low-friction interactions that children on the autism spectrum could easily comprehend and enjoy.
My Approach: Designed and developed two interactive stories centered around human values. I implemented simple, tap-based interaction patterns, prioritizing clean visual cues and predictable layouts to minimize cognitive friction.
User Testing & Implementation: A process of Iteration
User testing
Validation Process: Conducted structured user testing sessions with children and teenagers on the autism spectrum, closely observing interaction patterns to identify barriers, sensory triggers, and points of confusion.
Refinement: Iterated on navigation flows and visual cues based on testing findings to systematically improve clarity, user engagement, and comprehension.
——————————————————
Implementation
Cross-Disciplinary Execution: Bridged the gap between design and code by carrying out both the interface design in Figma and the technical implementation in Unity, supported by Notion for documentation and Visual Studio Code for scripting.
Outcomes & Key Learnings
————————————————————
Milestone:
The project was officially recognized and Awarded Honors (Matrícula de Honor) for its academic and practical excellence.
————————————————————
What I Contributed:
Designed and developed two interactive stories focused on human values such as empathy.
Applied simple, tap-based interaction patterns, prioritizing usability and accessibility.
Conducted user testing with children and teenagers on the autism spectrum, identifying barriers and refining interactions.
Iterated on navigation flows and visual cues to improve clarity, engagement, and comprehension.
What I Learned:
Applied user-centred design in a sensitive context, with a strong focus on accessibility.
Learned to translate research into meaningful interaction design decisions.
Gained experience building and validating an interactive product from concept to implementation.
all projects
Final Degree Project
ASTRO SOUL: FINAL DEGREE PROJECT
Design and implementation of an educational app based on interactive storytelling for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
Year :
2024-2025
Project Duration :
1 year
My role: UX/UI Designer · Product Designer · App Developer
Scope: Design and implementation of an educational app based on interactive storytelling for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
Tools: Figma · Unity · Notion · Visual Studio Code
Discovery & Key Challenge: Designing for sensitive contexts
Designing digital products for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) requires a deep understanding of cognitive accessibility, sensory overload, and emotional engagement. The primary challenge was to create an environment that felt safe, predictable, and engaging while teaching core human values like empathy.
Rather than applying standard UI patterns, every design decision was guided by accessibility standards and behavioral insights tailored for neurodivergent users.
——————————————————
Designing Interactive Stories for Empathy
The Challenge: Translating abstract emotional concepts (such as empathy) into tangible, low-friction interactions that children on the autism spectrum could easily comprehend and enjoy.
My Approach: Designed and developed two interactive stories centered around human values. I implemented simple, tap-based interaction patterns, prioritizing clean visual cues and predictable layouts to minimize cognitive friction.
User Testing & Implementation: A process of Iteration
User testing
Validation Process: Conducted structured user testing sessions with children and teenagers on the autism spectrum, closely observing interaction patterns to identify barriers, sensory triggers, and points of confusion.
Refinement: Iterated on navigation flows and visual cues based on testing findings to systematically improve clarity, user engagement, and comprehension.
——————————————————
Implementation
Cross-Disciplinary Execution: Bridged the gap between design and code by carrying out both the interface design in Figma and the technical implementation in Unity, supported by Notion for documentation and Visual Studio Code for scripting.
Outcomes & Key Learnings
————————————————————
Milestone:
The project was officially recognized and Awarded Honors (Matrícula de Honor) for its academic and practical excellence.
————————————————————
What I Contributed:
Designed and developed two interactive stories focused on human values such as empathy.
Applied simple, tap-based interaction patterns, prioritizing usability and accessibility.
Conducted user testing with children and teenagers on the autism spectrum, identifying barriers and refining interactions.
Iterated on navigation flows and visual cues to improve clarity, engagement, and comprehension.
What I Learned:
Applied user-centred design in a sensitive context, with a strong focus on accessibility.
Learned to translate research into meaningful interaction design decisions.
Gained experience building and validating an interactive product from concept to implementation.