DailyDoodle

Adaptive Tech for Inclusive Art with Daily Doodle

1st Place / 60 Teams in UCI's 2024 Design-a-thon. Empowering people with disabilities using adaptive tools like voice-activated commands & eye-tracking technology for inclusive & user-friendly art creation.

CONTEXT

At the end of the semester, my friends and I took part in UCI's 2024 Design-a-thon, themed "True to You," which focused on fostering creative expression for a more inclusive and equitable society. As designers, we recognize the joy in transforming ideas into visuals, leading us to design a platform that uses eye-tracking, voice commands, haptic feedback, and overlay navigation to empower individuals of all abilities to express their creativity and connect through art. We worked through the night and ended up placing 1st place out of 60 competing teams!!!

TEAM

4 designers

ROLE

Product Designer

TIMELINE

(48 hours)
May 2024

SKILLS/TOOLS

Accessible Design, Futuristic
Design, Figma, Notion

AN ACCESSIBLE SOLUTION

Introducing Daily Doodle ↗

Many disabled individuals face barriers to creative expression due to traditional art tools' limitations, leading to feelings of isolation and underrepresentation. Without accessible tools, their ability to share personal narratives and develop artistic skills is stifled.

Let's change that with...

HOW DID WE GET HERE?

Imagine being unable to use your dominant hand...

How would you go about using your phone and other technology? Your nose, elbow, toes? We asked potential users to consider similar scenarios to gather insights and conduct user research.

Here's what we found:

01. Alternative Methods

Users with disabilities (or if they had a disability) often resort to alternative body parts and vocal tools if they feel limited.

02. Online Connections & Stories

Often times, users feel connected through online storytelling and finding like-minded communities that share interests.

03. Hesitant with New Technology

Users are hesitant about using new technologies due to having less confidence in themselves.

04. Positive Feedback & Encouragement

When it comes to users sharing art online with other people, they want positive feedback for encouragement.

DOES THE TECHNOLOGY EXIST?

Apple announces new accessibility features, including Eye Tracking, Music Haptics, and Vocal Shortcuts

After coming up with an idea to address the prompt while also fulfilling insights found from our user research, we decided to do some quick research to determine whether eye-tracking, voice commands, and haptic feedback were possible.

So how does it work?

Eye Tracking

Lets users navigate with their eyes. It allows control of app elements and functions like swipes and gestures using AI.

Voice Commands

Users can assign custom voice commands for tasks, and listen for Atypical Speech, enhancing recognition for diverse speech.

Haptic Feedback

Haptics allows deaf users or hard of hearing to experience sound through taps and vibrations using the Taptic Engine.

After establishing feasibility, we immediately jumped into designing given our 48 hour timeline.

ESTABLISHING AN ACCESSIBLE HIGH-TECH CANVAS

Pixels or a blank canvas?

While deciding on how to design our main feature (a daily doodle prompt + canvas), our team considered two different iterations. We initially considered a pixelated design to reduce errors for users with disabilities but found that a blank canvas with graph paper markings was more effective.

Blank Canvas + Graph Paper

Pixelated Product

We chose the blank canvas with graph paper over the pixelated design to avoid complicating other features while still allowing precise point placement. This approach also met our users' need for Alternative Methods.

Our solution allows all types of users to make use of a blank canvas, allowing for creative freedom and expression. Additionally, with graph paper, users can still use eye tracking to indicate start and end points.

ESTABLISHING SAFE COMMUNITIES

Introducing creative communities.

To meet users' needs for Online Connections and Positive Engagement, we added a feature for joining interest-based communities and posting work. To foster a supportive environment, reactions to posts are designed to encourage and uplift.

Find Your Community

Postings + Reactions

Catered Communities

By providing users with communities, we not only foster a safe environment, but also communicate to users that they aren't alone in their creative journeys. Additionally, users can gain inspiration to continue pursuing their artistic pursuits.

ONBOARDING

Turning hesitation into confidence.

Since many users expressed hesitation towards new technology, we prioritized a guided onboarding experience for Daily Doodle, allowing users to specify their accommodation needs.

Selecting Interests

Self-Identification

Seting-Up Voice Commands

Powered by AI, our product uses onboarding information to tailor the user experience. Based on user interests, Daily Doodle recommends specific communities. Additionally, identifications and feature selections help us customize the drawing process to meet each user's specific needs.

THE END OF TODAY'S DOODLE

A doodle worth winning.

After an intense night and morning of designing, our team won the competition! Out of 60 teams, we placed 1st place at the final ceremony. We not only grew as designers but also embraced the thrill of sprinting through the design process and exploring the exciting world of accessible design.