Research-informed design

Built on evidence, designed for real life

We've reviewed academic and clinical research on ADHD and Autism to create a research-informed approach to the functional problems and mechanisms that impact daily life — so our tools actually help.

Collaborate with us → Share your experience ↓
Evidence-based Grounded in peer-reviewed research
ADHD & Autism Focused on traits that impact function
Open We welcome expert and lived-experience input
What we study

The functional challenges our research addresses

We focus on the mechanisms and traits of ADHD and Autism that create real barriers in learning, work and daily life — not labels, but the functional problems people actually face.

🎯

Executive function

Planning, prioritising and sequencing tasks can be significantly harder for ADHD and autistic people. Our research examines how to reduce the executive demand of everyday tools.

🧠

Working memory

Limited working memory capacity affects how information is held, processed and acted on. We study how to offload cognitive demands without adding complexity.

⏱️

Time blindness

ADHD time perception research shows time is experienced differently — not a discipline problem but a neurological one. We design around how time actually feels.

🔊

Sensory processing

Sensory sensitivities and overload are common across ADHD and Autism. Our interface research focuses on reducing visual noise, motion and unexpected stimuli.

💛

Emotional regulation

Rejection sensitivity, frustration intolerance and emotional flooding are well-documented. We research how tools can support regulation rather than trigger dysregulation.

🔄

Task initiation and transitions

Starting tasks and switching between them can be profoundly difficult. Our research looks at how to lower the activation energy needed to begin and move between activities.

From research to product

How evidence shapes what we build

Every design decision at Humble is traceable to a research finding. Here's how our review process translates into product choices.

📄

Literature review

We conduct structured reviews of peer-reviewed research on ADHD and Autism, focusing on functional impact rather than diagnostic criteria alone.

🔍

Clinical synthesis

Academic findings are cross-referenced with clinical practice guidelines and real-world practitioner feedback to ensure practical relevance.

🧩

Mechanism mapping

We map specific cognitive and sensory mechanisms to product features — understanding why something is hard before designing how to make it easier.

✏️

Design principles

Research findings become concrete design principles: reduce decisions, support memory externally, respect sensory thresholds, and build predictability.

👥

Co-design validation

Every feature is tested with neurodivergent users. Research tells us what should work — co-design tells us what actually does.

📊

Outcome tracking

We measure whether our research-informed designs improve real outcomes — task completion, reduced frustration, sustained engagement — and iterate accordingly.

For researchers and clinicians

Help us get this right

We're building our evidence base with experts, not in isolation. If you work in ADHD research, Autism studies, educational psychology or clinical practice, we'd value your input.

1

Review our approach

See our current research synthesis and methodology. We share openly because we want scrutiny, not just validation.

2

Provide expert input

Challenge our assumptions, point us to research we've missed, or help us interpret findings in clinical context.

3

Collaborate on outputs

Co-author practitioner guides, contribute to published resources, or help design research protocols for future studies.

4

Shape the product

Your expertise directly informs what we build. Expert advisors get early access and a direct line to the product team.

Your lived experience is the most important evidence we have

If you're impacted by ADHD or Autism traits, your perspective shapes everything we build. We're looking for people willing to share their experience — whether that's answering questions, volunteering time for user research, or joining ongoing studies.

Volunteer your time Answer questions
What to expect

Participation that respects your time and energy

We know that the people best placed to inform this work are often the same people most affected by poorly designed systems. We design our research participation to be accessible too.

⏱️
Flexible commitment Contribute as much or as little as works for you. No minimum hours, no pressure to continue.
🔒
Privacy protected All participation is anonymised. Your data is never sold or used for anything beyond improving our tools.
♿
Accessible formats Surveys, interviews and feedback sessions are designed for different communication preferences and energy levels.
💬
Your input matters We share what we learned and how it changed our product. You'll see the direct impact of your contribution.