The city as interface: What neurodivergent experiences can teach us about designing for every mind
at UX Australia 2026
Type
keynote
Walking interviews with neurodivergent adults in Sydney reveal how sensory clarity, predictable environments and recovery spaces affect participation. Fatemeh Aminpour connects these findings to the design of more inclusive interfaces and public spaces.
People
Fatemeh Aminpour
Methods
User InterviewsUser interviews explore people’s circumstances, experiences and needs through a guided conversation. Use them when you need to understand a problem in depth or learn how a service fits into someone’s life. Recruit current or likely users, prepare open questions and possible follow-ups, and ask for concrete examples rather than idealised accounts. Start with consent, listen carefully, and allow useful unexpected topics to emerge. A discussion guide keeps the research focused without turning it into a rigid questionnaire. Interviews can accompany usability tests when you also need to observe people using a service.
Inclusive DesignInclusive design identifies who an experience excludes and involves people with different abilities and perspectives in shaping it. Start by examining assumptions and mismatches between a person and the product or environment. Work with people who experience those barriers, then explore solutions that address their needs and may benefit others. Use this approach throughout product and service development, including decisions about interaction, communication and participation. Revisit whose perspectives are missing as the design evolves.