Screen showing completed framework built at the end of the project, with collapsed notes and related references.
Project Overview
This project explores how individuals with aphantasia — those who experience little to no mental imagery — can better engage with dense, academic material using alternative, cognitively accessible tools. Through a research-through-design approach, I developed a browser-based tool that supports associative memory and strengthens spatial reasoning for nonvisual thinkers.
The result was a functional web extension and a flexible framework-building system. Rather than removing visuals, I reimagined how we use interaction metaphors, leveraging external cues and spatial memory aids to support different cognitive strengths.
❓ Problem Space
Most UI and educational tools assume users rely on a "mind's eye" to understand and remember content. But that doesn't work for everyone.
Many nonvisual learners benefit from:
External cues instead of internal imagery
Repetition and spatial consistency to retain information
Core question: How can we design memory tools that help nonvisual learners create, recall, and organize information, without relying on mental imagery?
Tools
Adobe Acrobat
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe InDesign
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe XD
Figma
Google Suite
Zoom
1. Precedent Research
I explored memory systems, cognitive accessibility, and speculative UX design, with a focus on how individuals with aphantasia, those lacking voluntary visual mental imagery, develop alternative strategies for processing and retaining information. This included analyzing:
Dual Coding Theory, Multimedia Learning
Accessible design for cognitive diversity
Using visual cues like layout, color, and shape to support nonvisual memory
2. Framework Design
I developed a prototype for a machine-learning-powered web extension to support memory recognition through association building. The system was designed to:
Reformats text for better readability and reduced cognitive load
Offers visual association tools (color highlights, shape indicators, spatial markers)
Let users build custom frameworks from text content, reinforcing memory through structure
Encourages users to input their own associations, actively shaping how they interact with content
3. Visual Language & Testing
Rather than prioritizing visual style, I focused on clarity and usability for diverse cognitive profiles:
High clarity in text, interactions, and structure
Explicit roles for each UI element to avoid confusion
A modular system that supports recognition-based memory, not visualization
This project can be viewed online via the button below.
Task complexity pyramid from thesis documentation, illustrating how sub-questions progressively build from basic associations (SQ1) to integrated, framework-level reasoning (SQ4).
Interface view of the web extension's framework builder, showing color-coded sections and a modular layout designed for clarity and nonvisual memory support.
Outcomes & Reflections
This thesis challenged conventional UX assumptions about cognition and design. Instead of targeting a generalized cognitive model, I focused on neurodivergent inclusion, especially in contexts requiring intensive reading and memory.
Key Takeaways:
Metaphors in interface design can unintentionally exclude users with different cognitive profiles, particularly nonvisual thinkers.
Consistent spatial structure offers more reliable memory cues than visual appeal or graphic richness.
Aphantasia reframes design needs: it's a catalyst for developing adaptive, user-controlled systems that respect cognitive diversity.
This work forms a starting point for future inclusive tools that do not rely on internal visualization but instead enable users to construct meaning through interaction, spatial logic, and system-supported associations.