I’m Orsolya Sarkadi-Kruk.
A UX researcher and UX/UI designer
Goodreads
Reading without barriers:
Enhancing Goodreads for users with ADHD & dyslexia
UX research, UX design case study.
Summary
Inclusive design improves digital experiences for everyone, including people with ADHD and dyslexia. In this case study, I examined how Goodreads, the world’s largest platform for readers and book recommendations, could be more user-friendly for neurodivergent users.
By analyzing design principles and user data, I identified key opportunities to enhance readability and navigation. At the end of the fourth week of this intensive course, I delivered a four-minute presentation, summarizing the entire process and my findings.
1. week
Design for all
The first week our focus was on designing for all, by incorporating universal design principles, inclusive empathy, and user data into the design process. A key part of this process was the selecting a digital product and developing a proto-persona. The goal was to understand user challenges during the usage of the product.
Choosing the product
Goodreads is the world’s largest site for readers and book recommendations.
As of September 2023, Goodreads reported having over 150 million members worldwide.The platform also attracts approximately 50 million monthly visitors. It works like a personal digital library combined with a social network. Despite of this amount of users a the site has lot of accessibility problems.
The accessibility factor
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ADHD: A neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. It affects focus, executive functioning, and self-regulation.
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Dyslexia: A learning disorder that primarily impacts reading, writing, and spelling due to difficulties with phonological processing. It is unrelated to intelligence but affects how the brain processes written language.
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Research indicates that 30–50% of individuals with ADHD may also have dyslexia.
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In 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that approximately 6.0% of U.S. adults have a current ADHD diagnosis, equating to about 15.5 million individuals.
Proto-Persona:
Name: Thomas White | Age: 22 | Location: Chicago | Occupation: College Student (Anthropology) | Conditions: ADHD & Dyslexia
Thomas condition, makes him the traditional studying methods and reading assignments challenging. He uses Goodreads as part of his effort to stay on top of assigned readings and discover books relevant to his coursework. He loves discussing ideas in book clubs and forums but finds it hard to navigate long discussions or dense text on the platform. He wants Goodreads to better support his academic and personal reading goals by integrating accessibility tools.
Usability heuristics
and best practices
In the second week, I gained a deep understanding of advanced usability methods and UI best practices, focusing on usability heuristics like Nielsen's Usability Factors and Shneiderman's Golden Rules. I also explored practical evaluation tools, such as the Heurio Chrome extension and made a short code audit, to assess digital products effectively.
A short code analysis
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Missing ARIA Attributes
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Insufficient heading hierarchy (h1-h6)
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Missing landmark roles (nav, main, search)
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Clickable elements missing keyboard focus state
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Low color contrast ratios
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No built-in high-contrast mode
Heurio findings
Goodreads not supporting usability or accessibility standards for users with ADHD and Dyslexia which leads to cognitive overwhelm and task abandonment. The cluttered interface, the complex navigation system is confusing for people with concentration and reading problems. Because of the barriers the users abandon their reading goals, can’t follow their tracking efforts and organize their books witch is leading to frustration a lack of motivation and negative user experiences.
2. week
3. week
Accessibility standards and tools
In the third week, I learned to implement and refine accessibility standards in Figma prototypes, focusing on colors, typography, and web content. To apply my knowledge, I conducted a thorough accessibility analysis of a chosen digital product using Chrome Lighthouse, evaluating both desktop and mobile versions. Then I identified key issues and made targeted UI improvements based on the findings of using Figma plugins like A11y and Stark.
Summary and recommendations
The Goodreads website has several major problems that make it hard for people who use tools like screen readers or special keyboards. With ADHD and dyslexia the site seems overwhelming and challenging, the layout the text presentation and the font and color choices are make the site usage difficult.
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Missing or inadequate ARIA labels on interactive element and improper heading hierarchy
solution: Add ARIA landmarks, Implement proper heading hierarchy (h1-h6), -
Poor keyboard navigation and focus management
solution: Ensure all interactive elements are keyboard accessible -
Insufficient color contrast in multiple UI components
solution: Increase contrast ratios for all text elements and links -
Small touch areas
solution: Follow Size Guidelines, Add Proper Spacing, Expand the Clickable Area -
Unclear button states and small sizes
solution: Clear Visual States, Proper Sizing, Visual Feedback, High contrast colors, Clear focus indicators -
Unclear button states and small sizes
solution: Clear Visual States, Proper Sizing, Visual Feedback, High contrast colors, Clear focus indicators -
Small touch areas
solution: Follow Size Guidelines, Add Proper Spacing, Expand the Clickable Area -
Insufficient color contrast in multiple UI components
solution: Increase contrast ratios for all text elements and links
Presentation
In the fourth week, I learned to integrate usability and accessibility assessments into design recommendations, emphasizing the business and ethical benefits of inclusive design. I explored how to use key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure and advocate for usability and accessibility improvements effectively. To apply these skills, I created a compelling case study presentation that highlighted my recommendations and provided a ready-to-implement action plan for Goodreads.
