What were the main findings?

Recognizable and suitable well-designed visuals reflecting societal diversity are crucial.. Comprehensible naming of the platform enhances findability.. Accessible onboarding processes and intuitive navigation are important.. General design characteristics like clarity, readability, and comprehensibility remain fundamental.

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2025 journal from Computers in Human Behavior Reports.

What are the limitations?

The study focused on a specific digital platform and user group, so findings may not be universally generalizable without further testing across different contexts and demographics.

Short answer

Designers should move beyond generic accessibility guidelines and focus on specific visual and linguistic elements that cater to users with mild intellectual disabilities and low literacy, ensuring their digital products are truly inclusive.

Field: User-Centred Design
Source: Computers in Human Behavior Reports (2025)
Method: Qualitative research, Usability testing
Evidence: Strong effect

Designing digital platforms with recognizable, diverse visuals and comprehensible naming significantly enhances accessibility and participation for individuals with mild intellectual disabilities or low literacy. This user-centred design research insight is drawn from a 2025 study published in Computers in Human Behavior Reports. Using Qualitative research, usability testing, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Designers should move beyond generic accessibility guidelines and focus on specific visual and linguistic elements that cater to users with mild intellectual disabilities and low literacy, ensuring their digital products are truly inclusive.

Study

User-Centred DesignNew This WeekStrong effect

Visuals and clear naming boost digital platform inclusivity for users with mild intellectual disabilities or low literacy.

Computers in Human Behavior Reports · 2025

Key Findings

01Recognizable and suitable well-designed visuals reflecting societal diversity are crucial.
02Comprehensible naming of the platform enhances findability.
03Accessible onboarding processes and intuitive navigation are important.
04General design characteristics like clarity, readability, and comprehensibility remain fundamental.

Application

Design takeaway

How to apply

When designing any digital interface, conduct user research with individuals who have mild intellectual disabilities or low literacy to test the clarity of visuals, naming, and navigation.

Project actions

01When choosing images, think about whether they are clear, familiar, and represent a variety of people.
02Test your product's name and labels with potential users to ensure they understand them easily.

Method & Evidence

AimWhat are the key design elements that make digital platforms accessible and inclusive for individuals with mild intellectual disabilities or low literacy skills?

MethodQualitative research, Usability testing

ProcedureThe study involved re-designing a digital research platform ('I co-research') for users with mild intellectual disabilities or low literacy. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews and usability tests to identify crucial design elements.

ContextDigital platform design, accessibility for specific user groups

Variables

IV["Design of visuals (recognizability, diversity)","Platform naming clarity","Onboarding process accessibility","Navigation intuitiveness"]

DV["User participation","User access to digital platforms","Usability","Comprehensibility"]

CV["User group (mild intellectual disability or low literacy)","Digital platform context"]

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

+Focuses on an under-researched user group.
+Employs a user-sensitive and inclusive research approach.

Limitations

The sample size may be small, and the specific digital platform studied might have unique characteristics that influence the results.

Reliability & validity

Reliability could be enhanced by using standardized usability testing protocols and multiple researchers to observe and record data. Validity is supported by the qualitative depth of interviews and direct observation during usability tests, directly addressing the research aim.

Think critically

How might the principles of visual design and naming conventions identified in this study be adapted for other forms of communication, such as physical products or public signage?

Design Principles

"Inclusive digital design requires careful consideration of visual representation and clear, comprehensible language to ensure accessibility for all users."

This research highlights that beyond general accessibility principles, specific design choices in visual representation and terminology are critical for inclusive digital experiences. By considering these elements, design teams can create platforms that are not only usable but also welcoming and empowering for a broader user base.

What This Means for Your Design

To make websites and apps easier for everyone to use, especially people with learning differences or who find reading difficult, use clear pictures that show different kinds of people and give things easy-to-understand names.

How to use in your project

1.Reference this study when discussing the importance of visual design and clear language in your design process, particularly if your target audience includes individuals with cognitive differences.

Add to My Project

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

This research underscores the critical role of specific design elements in achieving digital inclusivity. For instance, the use of recognizable and diverse visuals, coupled with comprehensible platform naming, has been shown to significantly enhance accessibility for users with mild intellectual disabilities or low literacy skills, suggesting a need to move beyond generalized accessibility standards to more targeted design considerations.

Source

Computers in Human Behavior Reports

Inclusive digital platforms: Designing for and with users with mild intellectual disabilities or low literacy skills

journal · 2025

View source

Related studies

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about visuals and clear naming boost digital platform inclusivity for users with mild intellectual disabilities or low literacy?: Designers should move beyond generic accessibility guidelines and focus on specific visual and linguistic elements that cater to users with mild intellectual disabilities and low literacy, ensuring their digital products are truly inclusive. Evidence: Computers in Human Behavior Reports (2025).
Why does "Visuals and clear naming boost digital platform inclusivity for users with mild intellectual disabilities or low literacy." matter for design?: This research highlights that beyond general accessibility principles, specific design choices in visual representation and terminology are critical for inclusive digital experiences. By considering these elements, design teams can create platforms that are not only usable but also welcoming and empowering for a broader user base.
How can designers apply this research?: Designers should move beyond generic accessibility guidelines and focus on specific visual and linguistic elements that cater to users with mild intellectual disabilities and low literacy, ensuring their digital products are truly inclusive.
What were the main findings?: Recognizable and suitable well-designed visuals reflecting societal diversity are crucial.. Comprehensible naming of the platform enhances findability.. Accessible onboarding processes and intuitive navigation are important.. General design characteristics like clarity, readability, and comprehensibility remain fundamental.
What research method was used?: Qualitative research, Usability testing.
How strong is the evidence?: Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2025 journal from Computers in Human Behavior Reports.
What should I do differently in my next project?: When designing any digital interface, conduct user research with individuals who have mild intellectual disabilities or low literacy to test the clarity of visuals, naming, and navigation.
What are the limitations?: The study focused on a specific digital platform and user group, so findings may not be universally generalizable without further testing across different contexts and demographics.