This document introduces a master's thesis research project that aims to explore how design can help autistic children communicate emotions and interact socially. Specifically, the research will investigate how form, color, and function in design can support autistic children. The hypothesis is that creative, emotional design interventions could aid socialization and communication for autistic people. The researcher plans to develop design concepts and prototypes, test them with autistic children and gather feedback from parents and experts. The goal is to help autistic children reduce repetitive behaviors while encouraging creative, interactive activities.

1. DESIGN & AUTISM
INTRODUCTORY
PRESENTATION
of MASTER THESIS RESEARCH
BY MAJID DADGAR
Nov. 2009

2. RESEARCH Q
How could form, color and function help autistic children communicate
their emotions and interact socially?
DESIGN and AUTISM INTRODUCTORY PRESENTATION of MASTER THESIS RESEARCH

3. KEY WORDS
Inclusive Design
Emotional Design
Experience Design
Human-Centered Design
Social Interaction and Development
Behavioral/ cognitive intervention
empathic design
experiential learning
DESIGN and AUTISM INTRODUCTORY PRESENTATION of MASTER THESIS RESEARCH

4. HYPOTHESIS
CURRENT
Autism is characterized by:
impaired social interaction and communication,
and by restricted and repetitive behavior.
There is no known cure.
In the U.S. 1 percent of the children ages 3-17 have an autism.
It is the fastest-growing developmental disability with 1,148% growth
rate and 10 - 17 % annual growth.
There is $60 billion annual cost that 60% of costs are in adult services.
FUTURE
Cost of lifelong care can be reduced by 2/3 with early diagnosis and
intervention. Early behavioral or cognitive intervention can help
autistic children gain self-care, social and communication skills.
DESIGN and AUTISM INTRODUCTORY PRESENTATION of MASTER THESIS RESEARCH

5. CONTEXTUAL RATIONALE
Creative, emotional and exploratory engaging intervention of design
could help autistic people communicating and socializing.
What has been done …
LINKX: a language learning toy for autistic toddlers @ tudelft
Chair + Beanbag Arms Concept for sensory integration @ Stanford
What I will do …
Emotionally and socially engaging autistics
Reducing repetitive behaviors
Encouraging creative and interactive life
The concept: LINKX The concept Chair + Beanbag Arms
<http://studiolab.io.tudelft.nl/vanrijn/projects> <http://ldt.stanford.edu/~emobrien/autism_details1.html>
DESIGN and AUTISM INTRODUCTORY PRESENTATION of MASTER THESIS RESEARCH

6. AUDIENCE
Autistic Children
at the ages that using solutions are highly effective developing emotional
expressions and creative life
Parents and other children with normal mental health
Repetitively stacking or lining up
objects may indicate autism.
DESIGN and AUTISM INTRODUCTORY PRESENTATION of MASTER THESIS RESEARCH

7. METHOD
Literature Review Books, Papers, …
Interviewing Parents, Psychologists, Experts
Observing Autistic children behaviors and reactions
Context Mapping
Concept Development Product, Environment, Pattern, …
Building a Prototype
DESIGN and AUTISM INTRODUCTORY PRESENTATION of MASTER THESIS RESEARCH

8. DESIGN & AUTISM
INTRODUCTORY PRESENTATION of MASTER THESIS RESEARCH
Thank You
Froukje Sleesvijk Visser, Pieter Jan Stappers, Remko Van Delrugt, Contextmapping: experiences from practice
Helma van Rijn, Froukje Sleeswijk Visser and Pieter Jan Stappers, Connecting through interacting
Autism Society of America, www.autism-society.org
Autism Research Institute, www.autism.com
Data Accountability Center (DAC), www.ideadata.org
ME223 - Topics in Design: Design for Autism., ldt.stanford.edu
TUDelft ID Studio Lab., studiolab.io.tudelft.nl