Hyperconnected
Hyperconnected is a website and resource hub for ADHD adults.
Role
UX Designer, User Researcher
Duration
4 weeks
Tools
Figma
A Quick Note About Language
Throughout this case study I refer to adults diagnosed (and self-diagnosed) with ADHD as “ADHDers,” “ADHD adults,” and “adults with ADHD,” because that is how the people I interviewed described themselves.
As a rule, however, I encourage use of identity-first language, as it is largely the preferred method among the disability community.
The Challenge
There is a Lack of Reliable Information Provided to Newly Diagnosed ADHD Adults
As awareness of neurodiversity grows in mainstream culture, more adults are seeking information about ADHD every day. However, the diagnosis process for adults provides little to no information on how ADHD actually works. ADHDers seeking support have to find it themselves, and, in looking to the internet, they must wade through a slurry of stigmatized opinions to find any resource remotely useful.
The Problem:
Newly diagnosed ADHD adults lack a reliable resource to learn more about how their brains work.
The Outcome
I designed a website that functions as a resource hub for ADHDers, and contains materials written by other ADHDers.
Research
“I wouldn’t trust any resource about ADHD that didn’t include ADHD voices.”
User Interviews: What do ADHD Adults Really Need?
I interviewed 10 adults to gain insight into their diagnosis experience and what they wished was different.
My interviewees expressed that they wanted validation, insight, and support from their diagnoses, but their experiences were unanimously unsatisfactory.
When asked what resources they had found genuinely helpful, most interviewees cited blogs, social media accounts, or group forums by other ADHDers. “I wouldn’t trust any resource about ADHD that didn’t include ADHD voices,” one person said, wisely.
Key Takeaways
ADHD adults want information that offers validation of their experience, insight into their situation, and support when they need it.
A resource for the ADHD community must platform ADHD voices.
“My clients don’t have any issues during assessment; their biggest issue is finding good information outside the assessment.”
User Interview: An ADHD Coach’s Perspective
I interviewed Kathryn Feder, a coach and therapist at Hallowell Todaro ADHD Center, about her experience assessing ADHD adults. She said her clients didn’t have issues once they got to the assessment, but they struggled to get good information outside of it. Adults who were interested in possibly pursuing a diagnosis tended to take quizzes online, feel ambivalent about cookie-cutter results, and dismiss the idea altogether. Adults who received a diagnosis struggled to find good resources to continue their own self-education.
Key Takeaways
This resource hub needs to address the needs of both adults who have received an ADHD diagnosis, and adults who are considering pursuing one.
Competitor Analysis: What’s Not Working with Similar Sites?
I compared Additude, CHADD, and Embrace Autism to get a better understanding of what my users might experience looking for information. All three sites have an overwhelming amount of content, which leaves users confused and paralyzed by the number of options. To make my website more user-friendly, I decided to keep the content of my website minimal and to the point.
Crowd Sourcing: Getting ADHD Materials from ADHDers
I reached out to several neurodivergent LinkedIn groups I am a member of, asking if any ADHD adults would mind sharing resources that have been helpful to them. The resources they shared with me became the content of the website.
Information Architecture
I compiled the resources shared with me by the ADHDers who responded into three main categories: an onboarding quiz, information about ADHD, finding professional support, and strategies for self-directed support.
Defining the Users & Jobs To Be Done
To ensure I keep the needs of my users central to my design process, I've created two barebones user personas and identified a primary job to be done for each user.
User 1: ADHD-Confirmed Adult
They’ve received an ADHD diagnosis, and want to expand their understanding of ADHD. They’ve put up with enough stigma in their life, and want their resources to be trustworthy and supportive. They won’t consider reading any article that doesn’t include an ADHD perspective.
Job to be done: to learn while feeling supported and safe.
User 2: ADHD-Curious Adult
They suspect they might have ADHD (and maybe some other comorbidities), and want a low-stakes way to learn more about it. They would like to know about ways to support their own brain because they’re not sure they want to put up with the healthcare system yet.
Job to be done: to gain insight with ease.
Ah Ha Moment! Changing the Outcome of the Onboarding Quiz
My First Quiz Didn’t Test Well
The first onboarding quiz I designed gave users definitive results on their ADHD status. This quiz didn’t resonate with users, who said they didn’t trust a finite result like this from a website.
From a Yes/No Result to a Spectrum
Taking inspiration from an IDLRLabs test that is very popular among the autistic community, I redesigned the onboarding quiz to check for ADHD traits, resulting in a graphic representation of their scores.
User Flow: ADHD-Curious Adult
Onboarding
This onboarding quiz reflects how ADHD traits do or do not appear in the user. The results page provides further information for users who want to learn more about those traits, or seek out other ADHD resources.
Step 1: Trait Questionnaire
The questionnaire has 35 questions that check for common ADHD traits, including inattention, impulsivity, and emotional dysregulation. The content of this questionnaire comes from Additude and was approved by medical professionals.
Step 2: Check Results
The results page includes a visual graphic of how the tester scored on respective traits and definitions of the traits they scored most highly in.
Step 3: Explore More Resources
The results page ends with more resources for the tester to explore, so if their interest has been peaked by the onboarding quiz quality information is directly at their fingertips!
User Flow: ADHD-Confirmed Adult
Finding Resources
The flow for ADHD-Confirmed Adults focuses on finding resources for self-directed support.
Step 1: Search for Resources on the Home Page
Users looking for anything will land on the home page first. From here, they can find resources either through the nav bar, or the “Resources” card.
Step 2: Decide What Type of Resource You Need
On the resources page, users will be presented with options for self-directed, and professional support (including ADHD-affirming therapists and clinics, and ADHD coaching).
Step 3a: Read Your Choice Self-Directed Support Article!
The user looking for self-directed support will have a selection of ADHD-approved articles, this view shows an article on managing impulsivity.
Step 3b: Explore Professional Support
The resources page includes a list of ADHD coaches, therapists, and clinics. All the sources included in Hyperconnected came approved by a real person with ADHD.
Reflection & Resources
My inspiration for this project came from the many stories I’ve heard from the ADHDers in my life who underwent less than satisfactory assessments in adulthood. As a late-diagnosed autistic person myself, I am well aware of the difficulty and societal bias adults face when trying to get assessed for neurodivergence, and with this project, I hoped to explore if design could play a role in making the self-discovery process a little easier.
I think this project’s biggest success is its grounding in qualitative research. I am so thankful to all the ADHDers who shared their experiences and favorite resources with me. I am proud to have orchestrated this collection of ADHD-approved content.
I compiled the resources in Hyperconnected, along with other resources about DEI, in this Notion Page.