The audience I chose to represent are students who are on the autism spectrum. Autism is very prevalent in a lot of college students, and people are not usually aware of that. When people initially think of autism, they automatically gravitate towards the lower functioning side of the spectrum. Usually, college students that are on the spectrum are on the higher functioning side, so they tend to be forgotten about because no one thinks about their needs. I have a little sister and friends on this campus that are on the spectrum which is why I wanted to bring this the GSR’s attention. The list of Do’s and Don’ts are very concrete.
The Do’s and Don’ts of students of the autism spectrum are very broad in the sense that they usually take pieces of concepts from people that suffer from ADHD or anxiety to name a few. Students on the spectrum vary because the spectrum is so extensive certain parts get triggered. One aspect we need to focus on is to use plain English and not use complex words or phrases. We must also refrain from use bright and loud colors and stick to the softer and warmer colors. Color and word use used the wrong way could trigger anxiety in the students. The last few Do’s and Don’ts focus on the simplicity of the site. We must have a simple layout of the content where everything is laid out bulleted or structured because clutter can also trigger panic, uneasiness, and even anxiety. To keep on the simplicity the navigation must be kept simple as well, nothing tricky to get you from point A to point B.
This poster is plain and simple. I used the soft and plain colors on top of a white background to create an open and inviting feeling (Vasile). The use of the boxes and circles kept the layout appeal yet simple and easy for the eye. I did not do images for on the list because I did not want it to be overwhelming or have a sense of being trapped Id. As far as the text goes, I chose to use whites and blacks for words on the poster because it is neutral and remained consistent with the simplicity of the poster.
Kent, Mike. “Disability, Mental Illness, and ELearning: Invisible Behind the Screen?” The Journal of Interactive Technology and Pedagogy, 17 Dec. 2015, jitp.commons.gc.cuny.edu/disability-mental-illness-and-elearning-invisible-behind-the-screen/.
Vasile, Christian. “Learning the Basic Elements and Principles of Graphic Design.” 1stWebDesigner, 4 Mar. 2019, 1stwebdesigner.com/graphic-design-basics-elements/.