Project Overview

From isolation to interaction: How I designed a safe social ecosystem for children with ASD to overcome digital anxiety.

From isolation to interaction: How I designed a safe social ecosystem for children with ASD to overcome digital anxiety.

As the UX Researcher and Product Designer for MyWorld, I collaborated with academic researchers, developers, and families to design a social platform tailored to children with ASD. I led user research, defined core interaction stages, and translated medical insights into accessible design features. Over 26 weeks, I helped shape a product that fosters emotional growth, communication, and peer connection through personalized digital companions.

As the UX Researcher and Product Designer for MyWorld, I collaborated with academic researchers, developers, and families to design a social platform tailored to children with ASD. I led user research, defined core interaction stages, and translated medical insights into accessible design features. Over 26 weeks, I helped shape a product that fosters emotional growth, communication, and peer connection through personalized digital companions.

ROLE

ROLE

  • Product Designer

  • UX Researcher

  • Product Designer

  • UX Researcher

TOOLS

TOOLS

  • Figma

  • LottieFiles

  • Spline 3D Design

  • Figma

  • LottieFiles

  • Spline 3D Design

TIME FRAME

TIME FRAME

  • 26 Weeks

  • 26 Weeks

TEAMS

TEAMS

  • Product Manager

  • Academic Researcher

  • Front-end Developer

  • Back-end Developer

  • Product Manager

  • Academic Researcher

  • Front-end Developer

  • Back-end Developer

The Process

Discover: The Starting Points

The Project Began with a Lack of Focus

The Project Began with a Lack of Focus

A Disconnected Starting Point

A Disconnected Starting Point

When the 'Myworld' project began, our cross-disciplinary team of medical researchers, tech experts, and parent advocates was full of powerful ideas. However, these feature requests were often disconnected and competing, ranging from parent portals and wearable syncs to AR/VR therapy experiences. This created an 'ambiguous and disorganized' starting point.

When the 'Myworld' project began, our cross-disciplinary team of medical researchers, tech experts, and parent advocates was full of powerful ideas. However, these feature requests were often disconnected and competing, ranging from parent portals and wearable syncs to AR/VR therapy experiences. This created an 'ambiguous and disorganized' starting point.

Prioritizing Real Needs Over Ideas

Prioritizing Real Needs Over Ideas

While every suggestion was valuable, we lacked a unified vision grounded in the primary user's needs—the children with ASD. I recognized that building features based on these assumptions would be risky. It was the right moment to pause and advocate for a foundational user research phase to truly understand our users first."

While every suggestion was valuable, we lacked a unified vision grounded in the primary user's needs—the children with ASD. I recognized that building features based on these assumptions would be risky. It was the right moment to pause and advocate for a foundational user research phase to truly understand our users first."

How I Aligned the Team on the Value of User Research

Acknowledged and Aligned Stakeholders: I hosted a meeting with the product manager and medical researchers to acknowledge the value of every idea while emphasizing the need for a unified vision. This built a sense of shared purpose around our primary user.

Acknowledged and Aligned Stakeholders: I hosted a meeting with the product manager and medical researchers to acknowledge the value of every idea while emphasizing the need for a unified vision. This built a sense of shared purpose around our primary user.

Acknowledged and Aligned Stakeholders: Instead of just saying "we need research," I created two distinct sets of research questions: one for the medical team to capture research needs, and another designed for parents to complete with their children. This provided a clear, actionable path forward.

Acknowledged and Aligned Stakeholders: Instead of just saying "we need research," I created two distinct sets of research questions: one for the medical team to capture research needs, and another designed for parents to complete with their children. This provided a clear, actionable path forward.

Centered the Conversation on the Core User: I championed the idea that for a highly sensitive group like children with ASD, design decisions must be driven by direct observation and empathy, not assumptions. This shifted the focus from "what features can we build?" to "what needs must we meet?".

Centered the Conversation on the Core User: I championed the idea that for a highly sensitive group like children with ASD, design decisions must be driven by direct observation and empathy, not assumptions. This shifted the focus from "what features can we build?" to "what needs must we meet?".

Tied Research Back to Project Goals: I explained how a deep understanding of user needs would directly lead to a more effective and engaging platform. This would ultimately achieve everyone's goals: collecting valuable research data, creating a successful therapeutic tool, and ensuring long-term user adoption.

Tied Research Back to Project Goals: I explained how a deep understanding of user needs would directly lead to a more effective and engaging platform. This would ultimately achieve everyone's goals: collecting valuable research data, creating a successful therapeutic tool, and ensuring long-term user adoption.

Define: Definition of User

Understanding Our Unique User

Understanding Our Unique User

Finding Common Ground

The "Myworld" project began with passionate stakeholders from both medical research and parent communities. The researchers needed a tool for data collection, while parents desperately needed a safe, engaging space for their children. My first step was to bridge these two worlds and establish a unified, user-centered direction.

To do this, I hosted a kickoff meeting to align on our core goals and designed two distinct sets of research questions. This ensured we could capture the specific needs of the medical team while also uncovering the deep, nuanced needs of the children and their parents.

The "Myworld" project began with passionate stakeholders from both medical research and parent communities. The researchers needed a tool for data collection, while parents desperately needed a safe, engaging space for their children. My first step was to bridge these two worlds and establish a unified, user-centered direction.

To do this, I hosted a kickoff meeting to align on our core goals and designed two distinct sets of research questions. This ensured we could capture the specific needs of the medical team while also uncovering the deep, nuanced needs of the children and their parents.

Key Insights: Balancing Researcher Goals with Parent Needs

Our research revealed two critical, sometimes conflicting, sets of perspectives. On one side, the research team focused on the platform's potential to gather data and promote positive behaviors. On the other, parents voiced their deep concerns about safety, accessibility, and the emotional well-being of their children, who have often had negative experiences on other social platforms.

Our research revealed two critical, sometimes conflicting, sets of perspectives. On one side, the research team focused on the platform's potential to gather data and promote positive behaviors. On the other, parents voiced their deep concerns about safety, accessibility, and the emotional well-being of their children, who have often had negative experiences on other social platforms.

The Final Definition: Designing for Sensitivity and Strength

Synthesizing these insights, we arrived at a clear, actionable definition of our user. We weren't just designing for a child; we were designing for a unique individual with specific sensitivities and preferences. This definition became the bedrock for all subsequent design decisions, ensuring every feature we built was effective, empathetic, and truly met their needs.

Synthesizing these insights, we arrived at a clear, actionable definition of our user. We weren't just designing for a child; we were designing for a unique individual with specific sensitivities and preferences. This definition became the bedrock for all subsequent design decisions, ensuring every feature we built was effective, empathetic, and truly met their needs.

From Clinical Traits to Human Stories: Building Empathy with Personas

To design effectively for children with ASD, we needed to move beyond a simple list of traits. I synthesized our foundational research from both parents and medical experts into two core personas. These personas transformed abstract data into relatable human stories, ensuring our team kept the child's unique emotional world at the heart of every design decision. Meet Leo and Maya.

To design effectively for children with ASD, we needed to move beyond a simple list of traits. I synthesized our foundational research from both parents and medical experts into two core personas. These personas transformed abstract data into relatable human stories, ensuring our team kept the child's unique emotional world at the heart of every design decision. Meet Leo and Maya.

To design effectively for children with ASD, we needed to move beyond a simple list of traits. I synthesized our foundational research from both parents and medical experts into two core personas. These personas transformed abstract data into relatable human stories, ensuring our team kept the child's unique emotional world at the heart of every design decision. Meet Leo and Maya.

To design effectively for children with ASD, we needed to move beyond a simple list of traits. I synthesized our foundational research from both parents and medical experts into two core personas. These personas transformed abstract data into relatable human stories, ensuring our team kept the child's unique emotional world at the heart of every design decision. Meet Leo and Maya.

See Full Persona

See Full Persona

See Full Persona

See Full Persona

Defining Our Creative Challenges with "How Might We?"

With a clear understanding of our users' needs and sensitivities, the next step was to frame our creative challenges. I used 'How Might We' (HMW) questions to turn our research insights into actionable prompts for brainstorming. This helped focus our ideation on solving the right problems.

With a clear understanding of our users' needs and sensitivities, the next step was to frame our creative challenges. I used 'How Might We' (HMW) questions to turn our research insights into actionable prompts for brainstorming. This helped focus our ideation on solving the right problems.

POV

A young, hesitant child with ASD like Leo needs a way to form a trusted, non-judgmental connection on his own terms because the immediate expectation of social interaction on most platforms creates overwhelming anxiety, causing him to withdraw before he can even begin.

HMW - A

How might we build a child's confidence to interact, starting from a place of absolute safety?

HMW - B

How might we leverage a child's existing emotional attachments to build trust in a digital product?

Co-Designing Solutions with Our Users and Experts

Our team was unique, comprising both tech experts and medical professionals. To brainstorm effective solutions, I facilitated a unified ideation process that bridged these different worlds.

Using our "How Might We" questions as a foundation,I led discussions that translated clinical insights and parent feedback into actionable design concepts. This approach ensured our solutions were not only creative and user-focused but also grounded in scientific rigor and real-world viability.

Our team was unique, comprising both tech experts and medical professionals. To brainstorm effective solutions, I facilitated a unified ideation process that bridged these different worlds.

Using our "How Might We" questions as a foundation,I led discussions that translated clinical insights and parent feedback into actionable design concepts. This approach ensured our solutions were not only creative and user-focused but also grounded in scientific rigor and real-world viability.

From Ideas to a Roadmap: Prioritizing Our V1 Features

With a highly sensitive user group, our biggest challenge wasn't a deadline, but the risk of building the wrong thing. A single overwhelming feature could cause a user to abandon the app permanently.

After brainstorming a wide range of solutions, I used an Effort/Impact matrix to guide our prioritization. This framework helped our team focus on features that delivered the highest therapeutic and emotional impact for the lowest development effort.

With a highly sensitive user group, our biggest challenge wasn't a deadline, but the risk of building the wrong thing. A single overwhelming feature could cause a user to abandon the app permanently.

After brainstorming a wide range of solutions, I used an Effort/Impact matrix to guide our prioritization. This framework helped our team focus on features that delivered the highest therapeutic and emotional impact for the lowest development effort.

Define: The Chosen Concept

The Companion-Led Journey

The core of the "Myworld" experience is not a single feature, but a guided journey led by a personalized digital companion—the "Ideal being." This approach puts the user's emotional needs first, creating a safe and structured path toward social connection.

The core of the "Myworld" experience is not a single feature, but a guided journey led by a personalized digital companion—the "Ideal being." This approach puts the user's emotional needs first, creating a safe and structured path toward social connection.

Why "The Companion-Led Journey"?

Creates an immediate foundation of trust and safety by using the child's favorite real-world object as the basis for their digital companion.

Reduces social anxiety by introducing interactions gradually, starting with a non-judgmental AI companion in a safe, one-on-one environment.

Provides a smooth, paced transition through three distinct stages, empowering families to progress only when the child feels ready and confident.

Empowers users with deep customization, allowing them to choose their own color themes to create a world that feels personal, inclusive, and visually comfortable.

Bridges the digital and physical worlds through companion-led quests, gently encouraging real-world exploration and family engagement.

Provides a safe, peer-to-peer social environment where users connect based on shared interests and similar experiences, fostering genuine friendships.

Some other concepts we explored

Before zeroing in on "The Companion-Led Journey," we explored several other directions. This divergent thinking process was crucial for ensuring our final concept was the most effective and empathetic solution for our users.

Before zeroing in on "The Companion-Led Journey," we explored several other directions. This divergent thinking process was crucial for ensuring our final concept was the most effective and empathetic solution for our users.

Develop: An Empathetic Path

Mapping the Myworld Experience Flow

With a complex, multi-stage product and a diverse team of designers, researchers, and medical experts, establishing a shared understanding of the user experience was critical. We began the development phase by mapping out the core user journey flow.

This artifact served as our blueprint, ensuring every stakeholder could visualize the entire experience from onboarding to peer interaction , and providing a clear, sequential guide for the engineering team to build upon.

With a complex, multi-stage product and a diverse team of designers, researchers, and medical experts, establishing a shared understanding of the user experience was critical. We began the development phase by mapping out the core user journey flow.

This artifact served as our blueprint, ensuring every stakeholder could visualize the entire experience from onboarding to peer interaction , and providing a clear, sequential guide for the engineering team to build upon.

Sketching, Presenting, and Refining

My approach to wireframing was iterative and collaborative. I began by sketching out the initial user flows to translate our ideas into a tangible format.

Then, I facilitated review sessions where I presented these sketches to the entire team, including our parent advocates. Based on their invaluable feedback and our discussions, I would refine the sketches, iterating on the layouts and interactions until we reached a collective agreement on the best path forward for our high-fidelity designs.

My approach to wireframing was iterative and collaborative. I began by sketching out the initial user flows to translate our ideas into a tangible format.

Then, I facilitated review sessions where I presented these sketches to the entire team, including our parent advocates. Based on their invaluable feedback and our discussions, I would refine the sketches, iterating on the layouts and interactions until we reached a collective agreement on the best path forward for our high-fidelity designs.

Lo-fi Usability Testing

Testing with our user group requires a gentle and deliberate approach. Before investing time in high-fidelity design, I conducted a lo-fi usability testing session using our initial wireframe sketches.

Testing with our user group requires a gentle and deliberate approach. Before investing time in high-fidelity design, I conducted a lo-fi usability testing session using our initial wireframe sketches.

Finding: The core concepts were validated

Testing with our user group requires a gentle and deliberate approach. Before investing time in high-fidelity design, I conducted a lo-fi usability testing session using our initial wireframe sketches.

Testing with our user group requires a gentle and deliberate approach. Before investing time in high-fidelity design, I conducted a lo-fi usability testing session using our initial wireframe sketches.

Received a 95% positive feedback score from parents regarding the overall concept and its potential to help their child.

Feedback from both parents and the medical team confirmed that the companion-led, staged approach was a promising way to reduce social anxiety and encourage engagement.

“I love that it starts with his favorite toy. It makes it feel like his space right from the beginning. It’s a much gentler start than any other app we've tried.”

Finding: The core concepts were validated

Testing with our user group requires a gentle and deliberate approach. Before investing time in high-fidelity design, I conducted a lo-fi usability testing session using our initial wireframe sketches.

Received a 95% positive feedback score from parents regarding the overall concept and its potential to help their child.

Feedback from both parents and the medical team confirmed that the companion-led, staged approach was a promising way to reduce social anxiety and encourage engagement.

“I love that it starts with his favorite toy. It makes it feel like his space right from the beginning. It’s a much gentler start than any other app we've tried.”

Hi-fi Usability Testing

With our high-fidelity prototype ready, we moved into our final round of usability testing. The focus was now on validating the end-to-end user journey, the effectiveness of the visual design, and the overall emotional impact on both the children and their parents.

With our high-fidelity prototype ready, we moved into our final round of usability testing. The focus was now on validating the end-to-end user journey, the effectiveness of the visual design, and the overall emotional impact on both the children and their parents.

The concepts we tested:

  • If the final visual design and color themes are perceived as calming and not overstimulating.

  • If users can successfully and intuitively navigate the three-stage journey without confusion.

  • If the companion-led quests effectively motivate users to complete a real-world task.

  • If the initial peer-to-peer interaction (e.g., sending a "wave") feels safe and low-pressure.

Metrics

To measure the success of "Myworld," we focused on metrics that captured not just usability, but genuine user progress and well-being.

The concepts we tested:

  • If the final visual design and color themes are perceived as calming and not overstimulating.

  • If users can successfully and intuitively navigate the three-stage journey without confusion.

  • If the companion-led quests effectively motivate users to complete a real-world task.

  • If the initial peer-to-peer interaction (e.g., sending a "wave") feels safe and low-pressure.

Metrics

To measure the success of "Myworld," we focused on metrics that captured not just usability, but genuine user progress and well-being.

Finding: The design proved effective and impactful

88% of users successfully progressed to Stage 3, showing high long-term engagement with the core journey and a willingness to enter the social phase.

Parents reported a 25% improvement in their child's adaptability and learning, which was supported by a notable decrease in communication errors during chat sessions.

The project's companion-led model was recognized by the academic research community for its innovative approach to digital therapy, with a second phase of testing planned for Summer 2025.

Achieved a 95% positive feedback score from parents, who reported that the app was a beneficial tool for their child's confidence and emotional well-being.

“This doesn't feel like 'therapy.' It just feels like a beautiful, fun world for her to explore. For the first time, she has friends she's excited to talk to every day. We've seen a real change in her confidence.”

The concepts we tested:

  • If the final visual design and color themes are perceived as calming and not overstimulating.

  • If users can successfully and intuitively navigate the three-stage journey without confusion.

  • If the companion-led quests effectively motivate users to complete a real-world task.

  • If the initial peer-to-peer interaction (e.g., sending a "wave") feels safe and low-pressure.

Metrics

To measure the success of "Myworld," we focused on metrics that captured not just usability, but genuine user progress and well-being.

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