Fiddle.
Fiddle.
A tool to empower kids on the
spectrum through play therapy.
A tool to empower kids on the spectrum through play therapy.
Understanding ASD
(Autism Spectrum Disorder)
Understanding ASD
(Autism Spectrum Disorder)
ASD is a developmental disability that affects how a person perceives and interacts with the world. It's a spectrum, which means that everyone with ASD experiences it differently. Some children may be nonverbal, while others may have advanced vocabularies. Social interaction, however, is often a shared challenge.
ASD is a developmental disability that affects how a person perceives and interacts with the world. It's a spectrum, which means that everyone with ASD experiences it differently. Some children may be nonverbal, while others may have advanced vocabularies. Social interaction, however, is often a shared challenge.
Social Cues 🔎
Social Cues 🔎
Children with ASD may struggle to read facial expressions, body language, and understand the hidden messages behind words (like sarcasm).
Children with ASD may struggle to read facial expressions, body language, and understand the hidden messages behind words (like sarcasm).
Friendships 🫱🏼🫲🏾
Friendships 🫱🏼🫲🏾
Initiating conversations, taking turns, and understanding emotions can be tricky, making it difficult to build relationships.
Initiating conversations, taking turns, and understanding emotions can be tricky, making it difficult to build relationships.
Sensory Overload 😵💫
Sensory Overload 😵💫
Bright lights, loud noises, or even the feel of certain fabrics can be overwhelming and lead to meltdowns.
Bright lights, loud noises, or even the feel of certain fabrics can be overwhelming and lead to meltdowns.
"The world we design often excludes many."
One in 36 (2.8%) 8-year-old children have been identified with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), according to an analysis published in CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2023).
One in 36 (2.8%) 8-year-old children have been identified with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), according to an analysis published in CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2023).
From Assumptions to Empathy:
The Fiddle Design Journey
From Assumptions to Empathy: The Fiddle Design Journey
Through research, I identified the key areas to target within the app, transforming challenges into opportunities for growth. This app focuses on integrating auditory, verbal, sensory and spatial facets of a child while playing the game.
Contrary to the popular belief, autistic kids; despite lagging on social skills show an exemplary aptitude for arithmetic and visual abilities and are often quicker than regular kids when it comes to artistic tasks.
Through research, I identified the key areas to target within the app, transforming challenges into opportunities for growth. This app focuses on integrating auditory, verbal, sensory and spatial facets of a child while playing the game.
Contrary to the popular belief, autistic kids; despite lagging on social skills show an exemplary aptitude for arithmetic and visual abilities and are often quicker than regular kids when it comes to artistic tasks.
Key Features
Key Features
01
Autonomy and personalisation
Autonomy and personalisation
Customisable avatars enhance agency and engagement through self-expression and choice
Customisable avatars enhance agency and engagement through self-expression and choice
02
creative freedom
with colours
Creative freedom
with colours
Open ended colour exploration fosters creativity, cognitive flexibility and intrinsic motivation.
Open ended colour exploration fosters creativity, cognitive flexibility and intrinsic motivation.
03
Navigating Emotions
with Animal Avatars
Navigating Emotions
with Animal Avatars
Animal avatars serve as cognitive scaffolds, helping children navigate emotions through relatable, playful interactions.
Animal avatars serve as cognitive scaffolds, helping children navigate emotions through relatable, playful interactions.
04
Progressive Learning for Engagement
Progressive Learning for Engagement
Adaptive difficulty and reward loops drive motivation, reinforcing a growth mindset and problem-solving skills.
Adaptive difficulty and reward loops drive motivation, reinforcing a growth mindset and problem-solving skills.
05
Math Through Play
Math Through Play
Gamified math concepts enhance cognitive development, reducing anxiety and improving retention.
Gamified math concepts enhance cognitive development, reducing anxiety and improving retention.
06
Parental Insights & Support
Parental Insights & Support
Real-time progress tracking, strength identification, and resources to support caregivers in their child's learning journey.
Real-time progress tracking, strength identification, and resources to support caregivers in their child's learning journey.
Keeping it Fun & Functional:
Meeting the Needs of Young Users
Keeping it Fun & Functional: Meeting the Needs of Young Users
Designing interfaces and apps for kids is not just a matter of simplification or making the buttons bigger, it requires us to consider interaction models and user experience from the child’s perspective.
Colors play a vital role – turquoise promotes serenity, while peach evokes feelings of safety. I steered clear of overwhelming reds and harsh whites, opting for a palette that fosters a sense of well-being.
Designing interfaces and apps for kids is not just a matter of simplification or making the buttons bigger, it requires us to consider interaction models and user experience from the child’s perspective.
Colors play a vital role – turquoise promotes serenity, while peach evokes feelings of safety. I steered clear of overwhelming reds and harsh whites, opting for a palette that fosters a sense of well-being.
Fiddle Buddy 🐼
Fiddle Buddy 🐼
Playful Icons ⭐️
Playful Icons ⭐️
Vibrant Colours 🎨
Vibrant Colours 🎨
Playful Learning Environment 🎉
Playful Learning
Environment 🎉
Playful Learning Environment 🎉
Rewards like badges and gold stars create a positive and motivating environment. Intuitive drawing tools, math games and more to empower their artistic and learning experiences.
Rewards like badges and gold stars create a positive and motivating environment. Intuitive drawing tools, math games and more to empower their artistic and learning experiences.
Primary Audience : Children diagnosed with ASD between the ages of 3 and 8.
Primary Audience : Children diagnosed with ASD between the ages of 3 and 8.
Empowering Caregivers 🫶🏼
Empowering
Caregivers 🫶🏼
With the help of personalized reports and valuable resources, Fiddle should be able to equip parents and therapists to become active partners in a child's development.
With the help of personalized reports and valuable resources, Fiddle should be able to equip parents and therapists to become active partners in a child's development.
Secondary Audience : Parents, teachers and caregivers who play a role in the child's development.
Secondary Audience : Parents, teachers and caregivers who play a role in the child's development.
Empowering Cognitive & Social Growth
Empowering Cognitive &
Social Growth
Empowering Cognitive & Social Growth
Making Expressions Easy to Read
Making Expressions Easy to Read
A game-based approach helps kids recognize and remember emotions through interactive feedback, making social interactions more intuitive.
A game-based approach helps kids recognize and remember emotions through interactive feedback, making social interactions more intuitive.
Encouraging Artistic Expression
Encouraging Artistic Expression
A curated color palette ensures a sensory-friendly experience, allowing kids to express creativity without
feeling overwhelmed.
A curated color palette ensures a sensory-friendly experience, allowing kids to express creativity without
feeling overwhelmed.
Math as a Fun Challenge
Math as a Fun Challenge
Adaptive arithmetic games adjust difficulty levels, ensuring kids stay engaged while building problem-
solving skills.
Adaptive arithmetic games adjust difficulty levels, ensuring kids stay engaged while building problem-
solving skills.
Visualizing Ideas: Early Wireframes
Visualizing Ideas: Early Wireframes
Learnings & Next Steps
Learnings & Next Steps
01
Embracing Mistakes
as Learning
Embracing Mistakes
as Learning
Instead of a right-or-wrong approach, kids should be encouraged to explore, make mistakes, and learn creatively.
Instead of a right-or-wrong approach, kids should be encouraged to explore, make mistakes, and learn creatively.
02
Letting Kids Set
Their Own Pace
Letting Kids Set
Their Own Pace
Rather than unlocking levels, kids should freely choose their difficulty, fostering
independence and confidence.
Rather than unlocking levels, kids should freely choose their difficulty, fostering independence and confidence.
Rather than unlocking levels, kids should freely choose their difficulty, fostering independence and confidence.
03
Prioritizing
Visual Learning
Prioritizing
Visual Learning
Replacing text with icons and illustrations makes learning intuitive and stress-free, reducing cognitive overload.
Replacing text with icons and illustrations makes learning intuitive and stress-free, reducing cognitive overload.
Other projects
Other projects
Other projects
Have a question, some feedback,
or an outrageous idea? - Send it my way!
© 2025 Dharini Kamdar | All Rights Reserved
Have a question, some feedback,
or an outrageous idea? - Send it my way!
© 2025 Dharini Kamdar | All Rights Reserved
Have a question, some feedback,
or an outrageous idea? - Send it my way!
© 2025 Dharini Kamdar | All Rights Reserved