Designing for Every Brain

Every single person in the world is different, and do you know what, I love that. I have always wanted to be different, the odd one out, the black sheep. Why? I think because being different is so much more interesting than trying to conform to what is perceived as normal, to try and fit in, to try and mould myself into something I am not, or usually something I really don’t want to be.

I get it, we are animals and the main driving force as an animal is to keep the species going. That means being liked and accepted. But the great thing about being human is that we have the brain power to allow us to think outside the box. We have the capacity to be whoever we want to be, and still be liked and loved just as much. But society doesn’t like things to be different. It wants us to conform and fit a mould. There are rules, and if you don’t fit into those rules, well tough, we’re not going to help. No matter your capacity or abilities, you’re expected to go to school until you’re sixteen, then do something educational for another two years, then make money, have some kids, buy a house and work until the government says you can stop, and then try to make the most of your final days when your body is giving up and you’re just rather a bit too knackered to do anything.

Even though most people must do this, or are expected to at least, most people don’t really fit this mould at all. Our brains are amazing and we can use them in so many incredible ways. I mean just take a look at the device you’re using to read this, a tablet, a phone, a computer. Our brains made that, along with the internet you’re using to stream this, the building you’re in, the clothes you’re wearing, and all the other wonderful things we’ve created. But for us to invent, build, and care for all these things, our brains have to be different from one another. We need that diversity to survive.

Neurodiversity, a term derived by June Singer in 1998, recognises that all brains are different and develop in unique ways. No two brains, not even identical twins, are the same. Neurodiversity covers every single person as a whole. Some people’s brains might develop or work differently to others, which means they might have difficulties or strengths compared to someone whose brain has developed in a more typical way. People with these brain differences are known as neurodivergent. People with a more typical brain are known as neurotypical. These aren’t medical terms, but they help us avoid the outdated ideas of ‘normal’ versus ‘abnormal’.

So what does this actually mean for Instructional Designers? If everyone’s brains are different, we have to design learning that works for all kinds of minds. Sadly though, a lot of instructional designers don’t always see it as important enough to bother about.

‘Well, I can see all the colours, I think it will be OK.’

‘They shouldn’t be in this job if they can’t cope with lots of information at once.’

‘It’s a lot of information we have to share, it’s just how eLearning is.’

‘It’s easier to design it this way, they can just cope.’

‘No one really uses screen readers, we don’t need to cater for that.’

‘The software has limitations, it’s not our fault.’

And the list goes on (and yes - I have heard all of these). Quite frankly though, it’s just not good enough. These are excuses, without any attempt to find a solution. We must do better.

When we improve something for someone with a disability, say by adding a ramp, it benefits others too. A person can push a pram on the ramp. A child can wheel their bike up and down safely. A pregnant woman doesn’t have to struggle up the stairs. The same goes for brain differences. If we design with neurodivergence in mind, we end up designing better experiences for everyone.

If we make text and background colours contrast well, everyone benefits. If we break information into smaller, more manageable chunks, everyone benefits. If we add recognisable icons to text, everyone benefits. You get the idea.

This is what I’m passionate about. As an instructional designer, I create eLearning that’s engaging, inclusive and accessible. I update existing courses so they meet accessibility standards, and I teach others how to design their own digital learning, especially in tools like Articulate Storyline, in ways that work for every learner.

Through this blog, I want to share what I’ve learned along the way, how to make eLearning that feels human, how to design with empathy, and how small changes can make a huge difference. Because when we design with difference in mind, we create learning that truly works for everyone.