Creating Inclusive Spaces: Understanding the Mental and Emotional Impacts of Alcohol and Drugs on Digital Experiences
People with alcohol and other drug (AOD) challenges represent an often marginalised and diverse group, experiencing a range of mental and emotional impacts that can affect how they interact with a digital product.
When accessing a website, they may be intoxicated, experiencing trauma or emotional distress, or facing another health challenge.
So how do we design truly inclusive digital experiences that take into account the range of emotional and cognitive impacts they’re facing?
Ally Tutkaluk
Ally has a background in digital project management, UX design, and content, and currently works at mental health and alcohol and other drug charity Lives Lived Well. She is passionate about creating digital experiences that are valuable, meaningful, and designed with empathy.
Most recently, her work has concentrated on working with users facing trauma or other distresses, and how design and copy can help – not hinder.
Based in Brisbane, she also teaches design and creative project management at the Queensland University of Technology, where she is an MPhil candidate.
Her proposed MPhil thesis explores digital interface design for people facing mental health and alcohol and other drug challenges.