Neurological conditions are among the hardest to design for. These 11 tips make interfaces clearer and safer for people with Alzheimer's, dementia and Parkinson's.
To design better UIs for people with Alzheimer’s, dementia or Parkinson’s: involve affected people in research, use high contrast and avoid blue, keep navigation clear with an obvious way home, write plain unambiguous language, use calm simple imagery, choose large sans-serif type, design for asynchronous (not multitasking) interaction, avoid recognition errors, preserve the user’s locus of control, apply Universal UX, and reduce visual clutter.
Key takeaways
- These conditions cause cognitive decline, memory loss and disorientation, so clarity and consistency are critical.
- High contrast, plain language, large sans-serif type and minimal clutter help everyone, not just patients.
- Design for asynchronous interaction; multitasking overwhelms users with dementia.
- Preserve locus of control and avoid confusing changes to familiar objects and layouts.
- It is ethical and good business: families of disabled users are your users too, and they choose one shared experience.
The 11 tips
| Tip | What to do | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Involve affected people | Include people with dementia or PD at every stage; visit them in context, use dementia communities and specialist recruiters. | Research |
| 2. Proper color and contrast | Use high-contrast schemes and solid backgrounds; avoid blue, especially for key components. | Visual |
| 3. Clear layout and navigation | Obvious link home, clear section breaks, visible link states; do not split tasks across screens or hide navigation. | Navigation |
| 4. Plain writing and terms | Simple, concise, unambiguous language; dementia-friendly wording (‘living with’); no jargon, acronyms or loaded words. | Content |
| 5. Careful imagery | Minimal background imagery, little scrolling media, spaced images; use text headings over emotive icons. | Visual |
| 6. Text and typography | Sans-serif, larger sizes, high contrast; avoid multiple fonts and thin or light weights. | Type |
| 7. Asynchronous design | Build around before, during and after instead of multitasking; reduce simultaneous notifications and interruptions. | Interaction |
| 8. Avoid recognition errors | Do not rely on very familiar objects or behaviors that, when they act unexpectedly, cause dangerous misinterpretation. | Safety |
| 9. Preserve locus of control | Keep control with the user; avoid confusing changes to familiar objects and layouts (careful with skeuomorphism). | Control |
| 10. Consider Universal UX | Account for cultural differences in symbols, color and language so designs work meaningfully across contexts. | Inclusion |
| 11. Reduce visual clutter | Simplify; use large, universally recognized icons and easy navigation so users can focus and find things fast. | Clarity |
For color and contrast specifics, see the visual accessibility principles; for the cultural side, see inclusive and Universal UX.
Use high contrast, clear navigation with an obvious way home, plain unambiguous language, large sans-serif type, minimal clutter, and design for asynchronous interaction. Involve affected people in research.
High-contrast schemes on solid backgrounds, and avoid blue, especially for important interface components.
Switching between tasks and simultaneous notifications cause cognitive overload. Asynchronous design, structured around before, during and after, works better.
One of Shneiderman’s golden rules: keep the user in control. For people with dementia, avoid confusing changes to familiar objects and layouts that disorient them.
Yes. Beyond the ethical case, families of disabled users are also your users, and they will choose a product they can share with their loved ones.
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