Designing Social Understanding For Neurodivergent Individuals
Designing Social Understanding For Neurodivergent Individuals
What if learning social skills wasn't about memorizing the right response, but helping people understand situations well enough to find their own — through guidance that adapts to the individual rather than expecting the individual to adapt to it.
What if social understanding isn't built through answers—but through understanding?
What if learning social skills wasn't about memorizing the right response, but helping people understand situations well enough to find their own — through guidance that adapts to the individual rather than expecting the individual to adapt to it.
What if social understanding isn't built through answers—but through understanding?
Sit back and relax as you watch through this short video before we deep dive!
Sit back and relax as you watch through this short video before we deep dive!
Social understanding doesn’t usually break because people lack awareness. It often breaks in the space between—when conversations move too quickly to process, when meaning depends on subtle context, or when understanding only arrives after the moment has passed.
For many neurodivergent individuals, these moments aren’t occasional—they are a regular part of navigating social interactions.
This project explores a more adaptive approach to social learning, helping individuals move beyond memorizing responses and toward building a deeper understanding of social situations over time.
Social understanding doesn’t usually break because people lack awareness. It often breaks in the space between—when conversations move too quickly to process, when meaning depends on subtle context, or when understanding only arrives after the moment has passed.
For many neurodivergent individuals, these moments aren’t occasional—they are a regular part of navigating social interactions.
This project explores a more adaptive approach to social learning, helping individuals move beyond memorizing responses and toward building a deeper understanding of social situations over time.
What Goes Wrong in Social Moments?
Social situations often require rapid interpretation of tone, intent, and context all at once. For many neurodivergent individuals, this creates a high cognitive load that makes real-time processing difficult, even when there is an understanding of general social behavior.
What Goes Wrong in Social Moments?
Social situations often require rapid interpretation of tone, intent, and context all at once. For many neurodivergent individuals, this creates a high cognitive load that makes real-time processing difficult, even when there is an understanding of general social behavior.
This can result in delayed responses, overthinking after interactions, or reliance on prepared scripts that don’t always fit fluid, unpredictable situations.
The problem isn’t learning social rules — it’s reading situations in real time.
This can result in delayed responses, overthinking after interactions, or reliance on prepared scripts that don’t always fit fluid, unpredictable situations.
The problem isn’t learning social rules — it’s reading situations in real time.
What Felt Missing
What Felt Missing
Most support tools are designed around a simple idea: if users are given the right advice, guidance, or response, they'll be better equipped to navigate social situations.
While these approaches can be helpful, social situations are rarely fixed. The same interaction can feel completely different depending on context, timing, and individual perception.
What seemed to be missing was support for understanding the situation before responding to it.
Most support tools are designed around a simple idea: if users are given the right advice, guidance, or response, they'll be better equipped to navigate social situations.
While these approaches can be helpful, social situations are rarely fixed. The same interaction can feel completely different depending on context, timing, and individual perception.
What seemed to be missing was support for understanding the situation before responding to it.
the Shift in Perspective
the Shift in Perspective
The more I thought about social situations, the clearer it became that there was rarely a single "correct" response. They require interpretation, flexibility, and an understanding of context that changes from moment to moment.
At its core, the challenge wasn't teaching better responses—it was deciding what users should actually be developing.
So instead of asking:
"How do I teach users what to say?"
I reframed the question:
"How do I help users understand what's happening?"
The more I thought about social situations, the clearer it became that there was rarely a single "correct" response. They require interpretation, flexibility, and an understanding of context that changes from moment to moment.
At its core, the challenge wasn't teaching better responses—it was deciding what users should actually be developing.
So instead of asking:
"How do I teach users what to say?"
I reframed the question:
"How do I help users understand what's happening?"
The more I thought about social situations, the clearer it became that there was rarely a single "correct" response. They require interpretation, flexibility, and an understanding of context that changes from moment to moment.
At its core, the challenge wasn't teaching better responses—it was deciding what users should actually be developing.
So instead of asking:
"How do I teach users what to say?"
I reframed the question:
"How do I help users understand what's happening?"
Designing for Social Growth
Designing for Social Growth
To address this, I designed the experience around a broader goal: supporting long-term social growth through understanding, guidance, and regulation, rather than relying on predefined responses alone.
To address this, I designed the experience around a broader goal: supporting long-term social growth through understanding, guidance, and regulation, rather than relying on predefined responses alone.
This approach is built on three key ideas:
This approach is built on three key ideas:
Developing Understanding Before Responses
Developing Understanding Before Responses
Moving beyond memorized scripts by helping users recognize patterns, interpret context, and build a deeper understanding of how social situations unfold.
Moving beyond memorized scripts by helping users recognize patterns, interpret context, and build a deeper understanding of how social situations unfold.
Extending Support Beyond Exercises
Extending Support Beyond Exercises
Bringing guidance and reflection into everyday moments, so support remains accessible beyond dedicated practice sessions.
Bringing guidance and reflection into everyday moments, so support remains accessible beyond dedicated practice sessions.
Supporting Regulation Throughout Growth
Supporting Regulation Throughout Growth
Creating space for regulation when situations become overwhelming, helping users regulate themselves during cognitively or emotionally demanding moments.
Creating space for regulation when situations become overwhelming, helping users regulate themselves during cognitively or emotionally demanding moments.
Let’s look at how these play out in the product, one by one:
Let’s look at how these play out in the product, one by one:
Developing Understanding Before Responses
Developing Understanding Before Responses
Many social skills tools focus on helping users respond to situations. While this can be helpful, the challenge often begins much earlier. Before deciding what to say, users first need to interpret the situation itself — understanding context, emotions, intentions, and the social dynamics at play.
This led to a different question: What if the goal wasn't teaching responses, but developing understanding?
Many social skills tools focus on helping users respond to situations. While this can be helpful, the challenge often begins much earlier. Before deciding what to say, users first need to interpret the situation itself — understanding context, emotions, intentions, and the social dynamics at play.
This led to a different question: What if the goal wasn't teaching responses, but developing understanding?
From Situations To Skills
From Situations To Skills
Social situations can look very different on the surface. A classroom discussion, a difficult conversation with a friend, and meeting someone for the first time all require different responses.
Yet beneath them, many of the same underlying abilities are at work. This shifted the focus away from teaching individual situations and toward developing the core abilities that shape them.
Social situations can look very different on the surface. A classroom discussion, a difficult conversation with a friend, and meeting someone for the first time all require different responses.
Yet beneath them, many of the same underlying abilities are at work. This shifted the focus away from teaching individual situations and toward developing the core abilities that shape them.
Breaking Complexity Into Smaller Steps
Breaking Complexity Into Smaller Steps
Social development is often discussed as a single skill. In reality, it is made up of many smaller abilities working together.
A user may feel confident starting conversation but struggle to maintain them.
They may recognize emotions in others easily but find it difficult to express their own.
To support this, the learning experience was organized around four core areas of social development: Communication, Emotional Understanding, Social Confidence, and Connections & Relationships.
Social development is often discussed as a single skill. In reality, it is made up of many smaller abilities working together.
A user may feel confident starting conversation but struggle to maintain them.
They may recognize emotions in others easily but find it difficult to express their own.
To support this, the learning experience was organized around four core areas of social development: Communication, Emotional Understanding, Social Confidence, and Connections & Relationships.
Social development is often discussed as a single skill. In reality, it is made up of many smaller abilities working together.
A user may feel confident starting conversation but struggle to maintain them.
They may recognize emotions in others easily but find it difficult to express their own.
To support this, the learning experience was organized around four core areas of social development: Communication, Emotional Understanding, Social Confidence, and Connections & Relationships.
Communication
Communication
Many social challenges don't stem from a lack of things to say, but from uncertainty around how conversations naturally unfold. Questions like:
"How do I start?"
"What do I say next?"
"Am I talking too much?"
"Should I respond differently?"
can create enough friction to make interactions feel exhausting.
Communication became the first pillar because conversations sit at the center of most social experiences. Instead of teaching ideal responses, it focuses on helping users understand how interactions naturally unfold.
Many social challenges don't stem from a lack of things to say, but from uncertainty around how conversations naturally unfold. Questions like:
"How do I start?"
"What do I say next?"
"Am I talking too much?"
"Should I respond differently?"
can create enough friction to make interactions feel exhausting.
Communication became the first pillar because conversations sit at the center of most social experiences. Instead of teaching ideal responses, it focuses on helping users understand how interactions naturally unfold.
Emotional Understanding
Emotional Understanding
Similarly, understanding emotions plays just as important a role as communication, as social interactions are shaped as much by emotions as they are by words. Yet emotions are rarely communicated directly.
People may sound frustrated without saying they're frustrated. They may need support without explicitly asking for it.
Emotional Understanding became a dedicated pillar because interpreting emotions, recognizing patterns, and building empathy are often essential to understanding a situation before deciding how to respond to it.
Similarly, understanding emotions plays just as important a role as communication, as social interactions are shaped as much by emotions as they are by words. Yet emotions are rarely communicated directly.
People may sound frustrated without saying they're frustrated. They may need support without explicitly asking for it.
Emotional Understanding became a dedicated pillar because interpreting emotions, recognizing patterns, and building empathy are often essential to understanding a situation before deciding how to respond to it.
Connections & Relationships
Connections & Relationships
Social interactions rarely end after a single conversation or exist in isolation. Over time, they become friendships, support systems, communities, and relationships.
This pillar was created to focus on the skills that help maintain those connections over time — building trust, respecting boundaries, participating in groups, and navigating the ongoing dynamics that shape relationships.
Social interactions rarely end after a single conversation or exist in isolation. Over time, they become friendships, support systems, communities, and relationships.
This pillar was created to focus on the skills that help maintain those connections over time — building trust, respecting boundaries, participating in groups, and navigating the ongoing dynamics that shape relationships.
Social Confidence
Social Confidence
Understanding a situation doesn't automatically make participating in it easier. Many people know what they want to say but still hesitate because of uncertainty, fear of judgment, or previous negative experiences.
This pillar focuses on helping users gradually become more comfortable engaging in social situations by creating opportunities for exposure, reflection, and practice in lower-pressure environments.
Understanding a situation doesn't automatically make participating in it easier. Many people know what they want to say but still hesitate because of uncertainty, fear of judgment, or previous negative experiences.
This pillar focuses on helping users gradually become more comfortable engaging in social situations by creating opportunities for exposure, reflection, and practice in lower-pressure environments.
Why These Four Areas?
Why These Four Areas?
Rather than organizing learning around social rules or predefined scenarios, the experience was structured around four broader areas of social development. Each pillar represents a skill that continues to matter across age, context, and situation, forming a foundation users can build upon over time.
These were chosen as they consistently proved to be the most useful lenses for understanding how social situations break down in real life.
Rather than organizing learning around social rules or predefined scenarios, the experience was structured around four broader areas of social development. Each pillar represents a skill that continues to matter across age, context, and situation, forming a foundation users can build upon over time.
These were chosen as they consistently proved to be the most useful lenses for understanding how social situations break down in real life.
Rather than organizing learning around social rules or predefined scenarios, the experience was structured around four broader areas of social development. Each pillar represents a skill that continues to matter across age, context, and situation, forming a foundation users can build upon over time.
These were chosen as they consistently proved to be the most useful lenses for understanding how social situations break down in real life.
Building Skills, Not Scripts
Building Skills, Not Scripts
The goal wasn't to prepare users for every possible social situation. That would be impossible. Instead, the focus was on helping users strengthen the underlying abilities that appear across many different situations.
Once the foundation was established, the next challenge became: How do users actually practice these skills?
The goal wasn't to prepare users for every possible social situation. That would be impossible. Instead, the focus was on helping users strengthen the underlying abilities that appear across many different situations.
Once the foundation was established, the next challenge became: How do users actually practice these skills?
The goal wasn't to prepare users for every possible social situation. That would be impossible. Instead, the focus was on helping users strengthen the underlying abilities that appear across many different situations.
Once the foundation was established, the next challenge became: How do users actually practice these skills?
Social understanding isn't built through a single type of exercise. Some situations require observation. Others require interpretation, communication, reflection, or active participation. To support this, the platform introduces multiple ways of engaging with social situations—each designed to strengthen a different aspect of social understanding.
Together, these formats support different stages of social understanding — from recognizing cues to applying that understanding in practice.
Social understanding isn't built through a single type of exercise. Some situations require observation. Others require interpretation, communication, reflection, or active participation. To support this, the platform introduces multiple ways of engaging with social situations—each designed to strengthen a different aspect of social understanding.
Together, these formats support different stages of social understanding — from recognizing cues to applying that understanding in practice.
Social understanding isn't built through a single type of exercise. Some situations require observation. Others require interpretation, communication, reflection, or active participation. To support this, the platform introduces multiple ways of engaging with social situations—each designed to strengthen a different aspect of social understanding.
Together, these formats support different stages of social understanding — from recognizing cues to applying that understanding in practice.
Learning Through Different Perspectives
Learning Through Different Perspectives
Different situations require different ways of thinking. Rather than relying on a single exercise type, the platform combines multiple formats that develop different aspects of social understanding.
Different situations require different ways of thinking. Rather than relying on a single exercise type, the platform combines multiple formats that develop different aspects of social understanding.
Different situations require different ways of thinking. Rather than relying on a single exercise type, the platform combines multiple formats that develop different aspects of social understanding.
Learning To Read The Situation
Learning To Read The Situation
These formats focus on helping users recognize cues, interpret intent, and understand the context behind an interaction before deciding how to respond.
These formats focus on helping users recognize cues, interpret intent, and understand the context behind an interaction before deciding how to respond.
These formats focus on helping users recognize cues, interpret intent, and understand the context behind an interaction before deciding how to respond.
Tone and Emotion Recognition
Tone and Emotion Recognition
Audio Interpretation
Audio
Interpretation
Scenario Interpretation
Scenario Interpretation
Exploring Different Responses
Exploring Different Responses
Once users begin understanding situations, the next step is actively engaging with them. These formats create opportunities to experiment with responses, practice communication, and explore how different choices can influence an interaction.
Once users begin understanding situations, the next step is actively engaging with them. These formats create opportunities to experiment with responses, practice communication, and explore how different choices can influence an interaction.
Once users begin understanding situations, the next step is actively engaging with them. These formats create opportunities to experiment with responses, practice communication, and explore how different choices can influence an interaction.
Voice Conversation
Voice Conversation
Voice Conversation
Voice Interpretation
Voice Interpretation
Voice Interpretation
Interactive Storytelling
Interactive Storytelling
Reinforcing Patterns
Reinforcing Patterns
Not every learning experience needs to be complex. These lighter formats reinforce recurring patterns, expressions, emotional cues, and social concepts through quick, focused practice.
Not every learning experience needs to be complex. These lighter formats reinforce recurring patterns, expressions, emotional cues, and social concepts through quick, focused practice.
Not every learning experience needs to be complex. These lighter formats reinforce recurring patterns, expressions, emotional cues, and social concepts through quick, focused practice.
Flashcards
Flashcards
Flashcards
Match the Following
Match the Following
Designing Meaningful Choice - Interactive Storytelling Exercise
Designing Meaningful Choice - Interactive Storytelling Exercise
While designing the storytelling format, a question kept coming up:
While designing the storytelling format, a question kept coming up:
If social situations rarely have one correct response, should the story have only one outcome?
If social situations rarely have one correct response, should the story have only one outcome?
Option 1
Option 1
At first, the obvious approach was to create multiple branching paths where every choice leads to a different story. The idea was appealing because it reflects how real conversations can unfold in many different ways.
This creates a highly personalized experience, but quickly becomes difficult to scale.
With each additional scene and choice, the number of possible paths grows exponentially, making content creation, maintenance, and expansion increasingly complex.
At first, the obvious approach was to create multiple branching paths where every choice leads to a different story. The idea was appealing because it reflects how real conversations can unfold in many different ways.
This creates a highly personalized experience, but quickly becomes difficult to scale.
With each additional scene and choice, the number of possible paths grows exponentially, making content creation, maintenance, and expansion increasingly complex.
Option 2
Option 2
At the other extreme was a single-outcome structure, where every user experiences the same story regardless of their choices. This is easier to build and maintain, but removes much of the meaning behind decision-making. Choices begin to feel performative rather than impactful.
At the other extreme was a single-outcome structure, where every user experiences the same story regardless of their choices. This is easier to build and maintain, but removes much of the meaning behind decision-making. Choices begin to feel performative rather than impactful.
Rather than creating hundreds of unique outcomes or reducing choices to cosmetic interactions, the final approach uses a limited set of outcome categories. Choices contribute toward broader behavioral patterns, allowing multiple paths to converge into shared outcomes. This creates meaningful variation without requiring an entirely unique story for every possible combination.
Rather than creating hundreds of unique outcomes or reducing choices to cosmetic interactions, the final approach uses a limited set of outcome categories. Choices contribute toward broader behavioral patterns, allowing multiple paths to converge into shared outcomes. This creates meaningful variation without requiring an entirely unique story for every possible combination.
Why This Approach?
Why This Approach?
The goal wasn't to create endless branches. It was to help users explore how different approaches can influence an interaction. Two users may reach the same outcome through different decisions, conversations, and learning moments along the way. The experience remains personalized, while staying realistic to build and maintain.
The goal wasn't to create endless branches. It was to help users explore how different approaches can influence an interaction. Two users may reach the same outcome through different decisions, conversations, and learning moments along the way. The experience remains personalized, while staying realistic to build and maintain.
The goal wasn't to create endless branches. It was to help users explore how different approaches can influence an interaction. Two users may reach the same outcome through different decisions, conversations, and learning moments along the way. The experience remains personalized, while staying realistic to build and maintain.
Rethinking A Familiar Format - Match the Following Exercise
Rethinking A Familiar Format - Match the Following Exercise
While designing exercises around social understanding, I knew I wanted a matching format. It works well for connecting situations, emotions, intentions, and possible responses. The challenge wasn't whether to include it, but deciding how it should work. A few approaches were explored:
While designing exercises around social understanding, I knew I wanted a matching format. It works well for connecting situations, emotions, intentions, and possible responses. The challenge wasn't whether to include it, but deciding how it should work. A few approaches were explored:
While designing exercises around social understanding, I knew I wanted a matching format. It works well for connecting situations, emotions, intentions, and possible responses. The challenge wasn't whether to include it, but deciding how it should work. A few approaches were explored:
Traditional Matching
Traditional Matching
The traditional match-the-following layout initially seemed like the obvious solution, where users connect items between two columns. This is familiar and easy to understand, but displaying multiple images and options simultaneously created visual clutter, while reducing the experience to text-only interactions felt disconnected from the rest of the product.
The traditional match-the-following layout initially seemed like the obvious solution, where users connect items between two columns. This is familiar and easy to understand, but displaying multiple images and options simultaneously created visual clutter, while reducing the experience to text-only interactions felt disconnected from the rest of the product.
Sequential Matching
Sequential Matching
A second approach explored a card-based interaction. Users view one situation at a time and select the matching option from a shared pool before moving to the next situation. This improved visual focus, but started feeling very similar to other recognition-based exercises already present in the platform.
A second approach explored a card-based interaction. Users view one situation at a time and select the matching option from a shared pool before moving to the next situation. This improved visual focus, but started feeling very similar to other recognition-based exercises already present in the platform.
The final direction combined strengths from both approaches. Instead of forcing users through one situation at a time or displaying everything in a dense worksheet-style layout, the final approach allows users to navigate between situations, compare multiple items, and create connections across the entire set before submitting their answers.
This retained the comparison and reasoning benefits of traditional matching while providing greater visual focus and a more engaging interaction model.
The goal wasn't to redesign matching for the sake of novelty. It was to retain the thinking process behind the exercise while making it feel more aligned with the rest of the product experience.
The final direction combined strengths from both approaches. Instead of forcing users through one situation at a time or displaying everything in a dense worksheet-style layout, the final approach allows users to navigate between situations, compare multiple items, and create connections across the entire set before submitting their answers.
This retained the comparison and reasoning benefits of traditional matching while providing greater visual focus and a more engaging interaction model.
The goal wasn't to redesign matching for the sake of novelty. It was to retain the thinking process behind the exercise while making it feel more aligned with the rest of the product experience.
Learning Beyond Right And Wrong
Learning Beyond Right And Wrong
Most learning experiences are built around correctness. A response is either right or wrong, rewarded or corrected. Social situations rarely work that way. The same interaction can be interpreted differently depending on context, prior experiences, tone, timing, and perspective.
Because of this, a traditional right-or-wrong feedback system felt misaligned with the goal of helping users understand situations. Instead of simply evaluating answers, the feedback system was designed to explain reasoning, encourage reflection, and expose users to multiple perspectives.
Not every social situation carries the same level of ambiguity. Some interactions can be interpreted in multiple valid ways, while others contain stronger emotional or contextual signals.
To reflect this, the platform uses two complementary feedback approaches.
Most learning experiences are built around correctness. A response is either right or wrong, rewarded or corrected. Social situations rarely work that way. The same interaction can be interpreted differently depending on context, prior experiences, tone, timing, and perspective.
Because of this, a traditional right-or-wrong feedback system felt misaligned with the goal of helping users understand situations. Instead of simply evaluating answers, the feedback system was designed to explain reasoning, encourage reflection, and expose users to multiple perspectives.
Not every social situation carries the same level of ambiguity. Some interactions can be interpreted in multiple valid ways, while others contain stronger emotional or contextual signals.
To reflect this, the platform uses two complementary feedback approaches.
Most learning experiences are built around correctness. A response is either right or wrong, rewarded or corrected. Social situations rarely work that way. The same interaction can be interpreted differently depending on context, prior experiences, tone, timing, and perspective.
Because of this, a traditional right-or-wrong feedback system felt misaligned with the goal of helping users understand situations. Instead of simply evaluating answers, the feedback system was designed to explain reasoning, encourage reflection, and expose users to multiple perspectives.
Not every social situation carries the same level of ambiguity. Some interactions can be interpreted in multiple valid ways, while others contain stronger emotional or contextual signals.
To reflect this, the platform uses two complementary feedback approaches.
Exploring Multiple Perspectives
Used in exercises where situations can reasonably be interpreted in different ways.
Rather than labeling answers as correct or incorrect, the feedback system helps users understand what their interpretation suggests, what alternative perspectives may exist, and which contextual cues might provide additional clarity.
Gentle Guidance
Gentle Guidance
Used when stronger signals are present and certain interpretations are more likely than others.
Instead of simply telling users they are right or wrong, the feedback system explains why a different interpretation may be more appropriate and highlights the cues that support it.
Used when stronger signals are present and certain interpretations are more likely than others.
Instead of simply telling users they are right or wrong, the feedback system explains why a different interpretation may be more appropriate and highlights the cues that support it.
Exploring Multiple Perspectives
Used in exercises where situations can reasonably be interpreted in different ways.
Rather than labeling answers as correct or incorrect, the feedback system helps users understand what their interpretation suggests, what alternative perspectives may exist, and which contextual cues might provide additional clarity.
The Thinking Behind It
The Thinking Behind It
As the goal was never to help users memorize social rules. It was to help them become more comfortable navigating uncertainty, considering different perspectives, and paying attention to context.
By shifting feedback away from evaluation and toward understanding, the platform reinforces the same principle that guides the rest of the learning experience: Social understanding isn't about finding the perfect answer. It's about learning how to make sense of situations.
As the goal was never to help users memorize social rules. It was to help them become more comfortable navigating uncertainty, considering different perspectives, and paying attention to context.
By shifting feedback away from evaluation and toward understanding, the platform reinforces the same principle that guides the rest of the learning experience: Social understanding isn't about finding the perfect answer. It's about learning how to make sense of situations.
As the goal was never to help users memorize social rules. It was to help them become more comfortable navigating uncertainty, considering different perspectives, and paying attention to context.
By shifting feedback away from evaluation and toward understanding, the platform reinforces the same principle that guides the rest of the learning experience: Social understanding isn't about finding the perfect answer. It's about learning how to make sense of situations.
Extending Support Beyond Exercises
Extending Support Beyond Exercises
Practice Has Limits. While exercises can build understanding. But social situations don't wait for users to finish a lesson. Questions often appear:
before a conversation
during a conversations
after a conversation
At the exact moment users need support, they aren't inside a structured exercise.
This raised a new challenge: How can support remain available when users aren't actively practicing?
Practice Has Limits. While exercises can build understanding. But social situations don't wait for users to finish a lesson. Questions often appear:
before a conversation
during a conversations
after a conversation
At the exact moment users need support, they aren't inside a structured exercise.
This raised a new challenge: How can support remain available when users aren't actively practicing?
Practice Has Limits. While exercises can build understanding. But social situations don't wait for users to finish a lesson. Questions often appear:
before a conversation
during a conversations
after a conversation
At the exact moment users need support, they aren't inside a structured exercise.
This raised a new challenge: How can support remain available when users aren't actively practicing?
Immediate Support
Immediate Support
Developing social understanding is a gradual process, but everyday interactions often demand decisions in the moment.
Developing social understanding is a gradual process, but everyday interactions often demand decisions in the moment.
Not every situation requires deep analysis or personalized guidance. Sometimes users simply need a starting point.
A way to begin a conversation.
A way to join an ongoing discussion.
A way to ask for help, reconnect with someone, or express themselves more comfortably.
To support these moments, I introduced the Toolkit — a collection of practical resources designed to provide immediate assistance when users need it.
Not every situation requires deep analysis or personalized guidance. Sometimes users simply need a starting point.
A way to begin a conversation.
A way to join an ongoing discussion.
A way to ask for help, reconnect with someone, or express themselves more comfortably.
To support these moments, I introduced the Toolkit — a collection of practical resources designed to provide immediate assistance when users need it.
Need For A Separate Toolkit?
Need For A Separate Toolkit?
While the exercise system focuses on developing underlying social abilities, real situations often demand support in the moment. A user preparing to message an old friend may not want to complete an exercise first. They may simply need ideas for how to begin.
Separating these resources from the learning experience allowed the platform to support two different needs:
Building skills over time - through practice and reflection.
Finding immediate support - when a situation requires action right now.
While the exercise system focuses on developing underlying social abilities, real situations often demand support in the moment. A user preparing to message an old friend may not want to complete an exercise first. They may simply need ideas for how to begin.
Separating these resources from the learning experience allowed the platform to support two different needs:
Building skills over time - through practice and reflection.
Finding immediate support - when a situation requires action right now.
While the exercise system focuses on developing underlying social abilities, real situations often demand support in the moment. A user preparing to message an old friend may not want to complete an exercise first. They may simply need ideas for how to begin.
Separating these resources from the learning experience allowed the platform to support two different needs:
Building skills over time - through practice and reflection.
Finding immediate support - when a situation requires action right now.
Finding The Right Structure
Finding The Right Structure
The Toolkit was designed to provide quick access to practical resources such as conversation starters, social scripts, and preparation tools. The challenge wasn't deciding what content to include - it was deciding how users should find it.
As the library grew, the structure needed to remain organized without slowing users down when they needed support. Several approaches were explored:
The Toolkit was designed to provide quick access to practical resources such as conversation starters, social scripts, and preparation tools. The challenge wasn't deciding what content to include - it was deciding how users should find it.
As the library grew, the structure needed to remain organized without slowing users down when they needed support. Several approaches were explored:
The Toolkit was designed to provide quick access to practical resources such as conversation starters, social scripts, and preparation tools. The challenge wasn't deciding what content to include - it was deciding how users should find it.
As the library grew, the structure needed to remain organized without slowing users down when they needed support. Several approaches were explored:
Hierarchical Navigation
Toolkit → Category → Subcategory → Script
Hierarchical Navigation
Toolkit → Category → Subcategory → Script
The hierarchical approach provided strong organization and scalability. However, users often had to make several navigation decisions before reaching useful content. The experience began to feel more like browsing folders than receiving immediate support.
The hierarchical approach provided strong organization and scalability. However, users often had to make several navigation decisions before reaching useful content. The experience began to feel more like browsing folders than receiving immediate support.
Flat Lists
Toolkit → Category → All Scripts
Flat Lists
Toolkit → Category → All Scripts
This provided the fastest route to content. However, as the number of scripts increased, finding something specific became increasingly difficult.
For example, users looking for a particular type of conversation starter often had to browse through multiple unrelated scripts before finding something relevant.
While simple, the responsibility of finding the right content shifted entirely to the user. As the library expanded, the experience became harder to scan and less effective for quick support.
This provided the fastest route to content. However, as the number of scripts increased, finding something specific became increasingly difficult.
For example, users looking for a particular type of conversation starter often had to browse through multiple unrelated scripts before finding something relevant.
While simple, the responsibility of finding the right content shifted entirely to the user. As the library expanded, the experience became harder to scan and less effective for quick support.
Final Direction — Categories + Context Filters
Final Direction — Categories + Context Filters
The final structure combines organization with speed. Users can enter a category and immediately begin exploring relevant content, while context-based filters help narrow results without introducing additional navigation layers. Instead of moving deeper into the interface through multiple screens, users refine the content already in front of them.
For example, someone looking for conversation starters can quickly switch between contexts such as Friends, Groups, Texting, or Reconnecting and instantly see relevant scripts update below. This allows users to compare different approaches without repeatedly moving between sections.
The result is an experience that remains easy to scan, flexible to explore, and scalable as more resources are added over time. Most importantly, it keeps users focused on finding support rather than navigating the system.
The final structure combines organization with speed. Users can enter a category and immediately begin exploring relevant content, while context-based filters help narrow results without introducing additional navigation layers. Instead of moving deeper into the interface through multiple screens, users refine the content already in front of them.
For example, someone looking for conversation starters can quickly switch between contexts such as Friends, Groups, Texting, or Reconnecting and instantly see relevant scripts update below. This allows users to compare different approaches without repeatedly moving between sections.
The result is an experience that remains easy to scan, flexible to explore, and scalable as more resources are added over time. Most importantly, it keeps users focused on finding support rather than navigating the system.
The final structure combines organization with speed. Users can enter a category and immediately begin exploring relevant content, while context-based filters help narrow results without introducing additional navigation layers. Instead of moving deeper into the interface through multiple screens, users refine the content already in front of them.
For example, someone looking for conversation starters can quickly switch between contexts such as Friends, Groups, Texting, or Reconnecting and instantly see relevant scripts update below. This allows users to compare different approaches without repeatedly moving between sections.
The result is an experience that remains easy to scan, flexible to explore, and scalable as more resources are added over time. Most importantly, it keeps users focused on finding support rather than navigating the system.
Why Filters and not Subcategories?
Why Filters and not Subcategories?
Although filters and subcategories may appear similar visually, they support very different behaviors.
Subcategories create a hierarchy:
Category → Subcategory → Content
Filters refine content within the current view:
Category → Filter → Content
This distinction became important because users don't always know exactly what they're looking for. Someone reaching out to an old friend may want to explore scripts related to reconnecting, texting, or one-on-one conversations before deciding what feels most natural.
With subcategories, this would require moving between sections. Filters allow users to switch contexts instantly while staying in the same view, making exploration faster and easier. For a feature designed around immediate support, reducing navigation and keeping users focused on the content felt like the more effective solution.
Although filters and subcategories may appear similar visually, they support very different behaviors.
Subcategories create a hierarchy:
Category → Subcategory → Content
Filters refine content within the current view:
Category → Filter → Content
This distinction became important because users don't always know exactly what they're looking for. Someone reaching out to an old friend may want to explore scripts related to reconnecting, texting, or one-on-one conversations before deciding what feels most natural.
With subcategories, this would require moving between sections. Filters allow users to switch contexts instantly while staying in the same view, making exploration faster and easier. For a feature designed around immediate support, reducing navigation and keeping users focused on the content felt like the more effective solution.
Although filters and subcategories may appear similar visually, they support very different behaviors.
Subcategories create a hierarchy:
Category → Subcategory → Content
Filters refine content within the current view:
Category → Filter → Content
This distinction became important because users don't always know exactly what they're looking for. Someone reaching out to an old friend may want to explore scripts related to reconnecting, texting, or one-on-one conversations before deciding what feels most natural.
With subcategories, this would require moving between sections. Filters allow users to switch contexts instantly while staying in the same view, making exploration faster and easier. For a feature designed around immediate support, reducing navigation and keeping users focused on the content felt like the more effective solution.
Support When It Matters Most
Support When It Matters Most
Developing social understanding is a gradual process, but everyday interactions often demand decisions in the moment.
While exercises help users build understanding and the Toolkit provides immediate resources, real situations often require something more adaptive. This led to the introduction of the AI Helper — an always-available support system designed to help users prepare, practice, ask questions, and better understand social experiences as they happen.
Developing social understanding is a gradual process, but everyday interactions often demand decisions in the moment.
While exercises help users build understanding and the Toolkit provides immediate resources, real situations often require something more adaptive. This led to the introduction of the AI Helper — an always-available support system designed to help users prepare, practice, ask questions, and better understand social experiences as they happen.
Personalized Guidance - AI Helper
Personalized Guidance - AI Helper
The Toolkit works well for common situations, but social interactions are rarely identical. A conversation with a close friend, a colleague, or a new acquaintance may require different approaches even when the situation appears similar.
Rather than relying only on pre-written resources, the AI Helper adapts to the user's specific context, allowing support to become more flexible and personalized.
Users can:
Prepare for upcoming situations
Practice conversations
Ask social questions
Get help responding to messages
Explore interactions they find confusing.
The Toolkit works well for common situations, but social interactions are rarely identical. A conversation with a close friend, a colleague, or a new acquaintance may require different approaches even when the situation appears similar.
Rather than relying only on pre-written resources, the AI Helper adapts to the user's specific context, allowing support to become more flexible and personalized.
Users can:
Prepare for upcoming situations
Practice conversations
Ask social questions
Get help responding to messages
Explore interactions they find confusing.
Deeper Interpretation - Judge Mode
Deeper Interpretation - Judge Mode
While exploring potential AI interactions, I noticed that users weren't always looking for advice. Often, they were trying to understand something that had already happened.
Questions such as:
Did I misunderstand this?
What did they mean by that?
Am I overthinking this?
Why did they react that way?
felt fundamentally different from:
What should I do?
How should I respond?
Can you help me prepare?
This distinction led to the creation of Judge Mode. Social situations rarely provide enough information for certainty, so instead of presenting a single answer, the feature helps users explore ambiguity, reflect on context, and arrive at their own understanding.
While exploring potential AI interactions, I noticed that users weren't always looking for advice. Often, they were trying to understand something that had already happened.
Questions such as:
Did I misunderstand this?
What did they mean by that?
Am I overthinking this?
Why did they react that way?
felt fundamentally different from:
What should I do?
How should I respond?
Can you help me prepare?
This distinction led to the creation of Judge Mode. Social situations rarely provide enough information for certainty, so instead of presenting a single answer, the feature helps users explore ambiguity, reflect on context, and arrive at their own understanding.
One Assistant, Two Roles
One Assistant, Two Roles
The main AI Helper focuses on guidance and action, while Judge Mode focuses on interpretation. Separating these experiences helped support two different user needs:
Deciding what to do next.
Understanding what may have already happened.
The main AI Helper focuses on guidance and action, while Judge Mode focuses on interpretation. Separating these experiences helped support two different user needs:
Deciding what to do next.
Understanding what may have already happened.
The main AI Helper focuses on guidance and action, while Judge Mode focuses on interpretation. Separating these experiences helped support two different user needs:
Deciding what to do next.
Understanding what may have already happened.
AI Helper
What should I do?
Guidance
Preparation
Action-focused
Judge Mode
What might be happening?
Interpretation
Reflection
Understanding-focused
Supporting Emotional Regulation
Supporting Emotional Regulation
Building social understanding isn't only about learning new skills. It also requires supporting the emotional experiences that influence how users engage with learning, social situations, and the world around them.
Building social understanding isn't only about learning new skills. It also requires supporting the emotional experiences that influence how users engage with learning, social situations, and the world around them.
Building social understanding isn't only about learning new skills. It also requires supporting the emotional experiences that influence how users engage with learning, social situations, and the world around them.
Designing For Different Forms Of Overwhelm
Designing For Different Forms Of Overwhelm
The goal of the platform wasn't only to help users understand social situations. It was also to help them engage with those situations more comfortably. During the design process, I realized that learning, decision-making, and reflection all become more difficult when someone is overwhelmed.
A user may know how to start a conversation, understand a social cue, or recognize what they want to say, but still struggle to act on that knowledge in the moment.
Because of this, emotional regulation became an important part of supporting social confidence rather than a separate wellness feature.
The goal of the platform wasn't only to help users understand social situations. It was also to help them engage with those situations more comfortably. During the design process, I realized that learning, decision-making, and reflection all become more difficult when someone is overwhelmed.
A user may know how to start a conversation, understand a social cue, or recognize what they want to say, but still struggle to act on that knowledge in the moment.
Because of this, emotional regulation became an important part of supporting social confidence rather than a separate wellness feature.
Four Paths To Regulation
Four Paths To Regulation
Overwhelm doesn't always look the same. What helps in one situation may not be helpful in another. Rather than relying on a single exercise, the Calm & Regulation space provides four complementary methods that help users regulate through sensory, physical, emotional, and cognitive approaches.
Overwhelm doesn't always look the same. What helps in one situation may not be helpful in another. Rather than relying on a single exercise, the Calm & Regulation space provides four complementary methods that help users regulate through sensory, physical, emotional, and cognitive approaches.
Sensory Grounding
Sensory Grounding
Helps users reconnect with their immediate surroundings when they feel overwhelmed, disconnected, or overstimulated. By focusing on sensory input such as sight, sound, touch, and smell through the 5-4-3-2-1 grounding method, users can shift their attention away from racing thoughts and back to the present moment.
Helps users reconnect with their immediate surroundings when they feel overwhelmed, disconnected, or overstimulated. By focusing on sensory input such as sight, sound, touch, and smell through the 5-4-3-2-1 grounding method, users can shift their attention away from racing thoughts and back to the present moment.
Breathing Regulation
Designed to help users slow their breathing and regulate their physiological stress response. Guided breathing exercises create a sense of stability and can reduce feelings of anxiety, nervousness, or emotional overwhelm.
Breathing Regulation
Designed to help users slow their breathing and regulate their physiological stress response. Guided breathing exercises create a sense of stability and can reduce feelings of anxiety, nervousness, or emotional overwhelm.
Cognitive Grounding
Cognitive Grounding
Supports users when thoughts become difficult to organize or mental loops begin to take over. Through structured prompts and reflection exercises, it helps users separate facts from assumptions and focus on what is within their control.
Supports users when thoughts become difficult to organize or mental loops begin to take over. Through structured prompts and reflection exercises, it helps users separate facts from assumptions and focus on what is within their control.
Body Release
Addresses the physical tension that often accompanies stress and anxiety. Gentle movement, stretching, and release exercises help users become more aware of their body and reduce feelings of restlessness or built-up tension.
Body Release
Addresses the physical tension that often accompanies stress and anxiety. Gentle movement, stretching, and release exercises help users become more aware of their body and reduce feelings of restlessness or built-up tension.
Daily Practice And Reflection
Daily Practice And Reflection
Learning doesn't end when an exercise is completed. Meaningful growth often happens through small experiences that occur throughout everyday life for which is why a set of lightweight features helps encourage awareness, reflection, and real-world application over time.
Rather than teaching new skills, these features help users notice progress, build consistency, and create opportunities to apply what they've learned beyond the app.
Learning doesn't end when an exercise is completed. Meaningful growth often happens through small experiences that occur throughout everyday life for which is why a set of lightweight features helps encourage awareness, reflection, and real-world application over time.
Rather than teaching new skills, these features help users notice progress, build consistency, and create opportunities to apply what they've learned beyond the app.
Learning doesn't end when an exercise is completed. Meaningful growth often happens through small experiences that occur throughout everyday life for which is why a set of lightweight features helps encourage awareness, reflection, and real-world application over time.
Rather than teaching new skills, these features help users notice progress, build consistency, and create opportunities to apply what they've learned beyond the app.
Today's Focus
Today's Focus
Social understanding is built through real-world experiences, not just practice inside an app.
Social understanding is built through real-world experiences, not just practice inside an app.
While exercises help users develop understanding in a structured environment, applying those skills in everyday situations is where meaningful growth happens.
Because of this, Today's Focus was designed around small, manageable real-world challenges rather than additional in-app activities. Examples such as: Starting a conversation, Asking a follow-up question, Sharing an opinion or Reaching out to someone, encourage users to apply what they've learned in situations they may naturally encounter throughout the day
While exercises help users develop understanding in a structured environment, applying those skills in everyday situations is where meaningful growth happens.
Because of this, Today's Focus was designed around small, manageable real-world challenges rather than additional in-app activities. Examples such as: Starting a conversation, Asking a follow-up question, Sharing an opinion or Reaching out to someone, encourage users to apply what they've learned in situations they may naturally encounter throughout the day
An alternative approach was to surface exercises or activities from within the app as the daily focus. However, this would keep progress confined to the learning environment itself. Since the goal of the platform is to help users navigate real social situations, I chose to make Today's Focus action-oriented and connected to everyday life.
An alternative approach was to surface exercises or activities from within the app as the daily focus. However, this would keep progress confined to the learning environment itself. Since the goal of the platform is to help users navigate real social situations, I chose to make Today's Focus action-oriented and connected to everyday life.
This shifts the feature from practicing skills inside the app to applying skills outside of it, creating a stronger connection between learning and real-world experiences.
This shifts the feature from practicing skills inside the app to applying skills outside of it, creating a stronger connection between learning and real-world experiences.
Mood Check-In
Mood Check-In
Before practicing, reflecting, or engaging with challenges, users may not always have the same emotional capacity. How someone feels can influence how they interpret situations, approach interactions, and engage with the platform itself.
Before practicing, reflecting, or engaging with challenges, users may not always have the same emotional capacity. How someone feels can influence how they interpret situations, approach interactions, and engage with the platform itself.
The Mood Check-In creates a lightweight moment of self-awareness by encouraging users to pause and recognize how they're feeling. Rather than immediately offering solutions, the experience focuses on helping users identify both their emotional state and the factors contributing to it.
The Mood Check-In creates a lightweight moment of self-awareness by encouraging users to pause and recognize how they're feeling. Rather than immediately offering solutions, the experience focuses on helping users identify both their emotional state and the factors contributing to it.
The information gathered can also provide context for recommendations throughout the platform, allowing exercises and support to feel more appropriate to the user's current state. When appropriate, the check-in can also suggest relevant regulation activities, creating a natural connection between emotional awareness and the Calm & Regulation space.
The information gathered can also provide context for recommendations throughout the platform, allowing exercises and support to feel more appropriate to the user's current state. When appropriate, the check-in can also suggest relevant regulation activities, creating a natural connection between emotional awareness and the Calm & Regulation space.
Daily Reflection
Daily Reflection
The purpose of Daily Reflection is to help users look back on their experiences throughout the day in a structured and meaningful way.
The purpose of Daily Reflection is to help users look back on their experiences throughout the day in a structured and meaningful way.
The traditional journal or diary approach was intentionally avoided because open-ended journaling can feel overwhelming and often lacks direction. Instead, a small set of questions makes reflection more approachable while keeping it connected to the goals of the platform.
The traditional journal or diary approach was intentionally avoided because open-ended journaling can feel overwhelming and often lacks direction. Instead, a small set of questions makes reflection more approachable while keeping it connected to the goals of the platform.
Users can reflect on positive experiences, difficult moments, and their Today's Focus challenge, creating opportunities to recognize progress, identify patterns, and connect everyday experiences with the skills they are gradually developing over time.
Users can reflect on positive experiences, difficult moments, and their Today's Focus challenge, creating opportunities to recognize progress, identify patterns, and connect everyday experiences with the skills they are gradually developing over time.
Rather than focusing on success or failure, it encourages users to recognize moments that stood out, acknowledge challenges, and reflect on situations they encountered during the day.
Rather than focusing on success or failure, it encourages users to recognize moments that stood out, acknowledge challenges, and reflect on situations they encountered during the day.
the shift 'behind the screens'
the shift 'behind the screens'
One of the biggest shifts during this project happened when I stopped thinking about features and started thinking about understanding.
In the beginning, I approached the challenge by asking what the product should contain. What exercises? Which tools? More functionality? But as the product evolved -
One of the biggest shifts during this project happened when I stopped thinking about features and started thinking about understanding.
In the beginning, I approached the challenge by asking what the product should contain. What exercises? Which tools? More functionality? But as the product evolved -
'How can I help users build understanding for themselves rather than simply providing answers?'
'How can I help users build understanding for themselves rather than simply providing answers?'
I found myself asking a different question:
I found myself asking a different question:
that’s when things changed.
that’s when things changed.
That change influenced nearly every decision throughout the platform. Instead of thinking about how many exercises I could create, I became more interested in how each exercise could make complex situations easier to understand, more meaningful to engage with, and more effective at helping users develop their own reasoning. The goal was no longer to deliver information, but to create experiences that encouraged understanding, reflection, and confidence over time.
That change influenced nearly every decision throughout the platform. Instead of thinking about how many exercises I could create, I became more interested in how each exercise could make complex situations easier to understand, more meaningful to engage with, and more effective at helping users develop their own reasoning. The goal was no longer to deliver information, but to create experiences that encouraged understanding, reflection, and confidence over time.
One of the biggest constraints throughout the project was designing for a community I was not personally part of. Rather than treating that as a limitation, it became an opportunity to learn how to approach unfamiliar problem spaces through research, observation, and continuous questioning. It reinforced the importance of understanding people's experiences before attempting to design solutions for them.
One of the biggest constraints throughout the project was designing for a community I was not personally part of. Rather than treating that as a limitation, it became an opportunity to learn how to approach unfamiliar problem spaces through research, observation, and continuous questioning. It reinforced the importance of understanding people's experiences before attempting to design solutions for them.
The project also strengthened something that continues to shape how I approach design today: focusing on human behavior rather than screens alone. I became less concerned with what the product could do and more interested in how people learn, hesitate, engage, reflect, and build confidence over time. Many of the final decisions emerged from understanding those behaviors rather than simply adding functionality.
The project also strengthened something that continues to shape how I approach design today: focusing on human behavior rather than screens alone. I became less concerned with what the product could do and more interested in how people learn, hesitate, engage, reflect, and build confidence over time. Many of the final decisions emerged from understanding those behaviors rather than simply adding functionality.
More than anything, this project taught me that meaningful design isn't always about providing answers or reducing uncertainty.
More than anything, this project taught me that meaningful design isn't always about providing answers or reducing uncertainty.
Sometimes it's about helping people understand situations more clearly, trust their own judgment, and navigate challenges with greater confidence.
Sometimes it's about helping people understand situations more clearly, trust their own judgment, and navigate challenges with greater confidence.