Client work · App in development
SoundPals
A learning app helping dyslexic children master phonics through play
The Problem
Dyslexic children need phonics support that works with how they learn, not against it. Most educational apps treat accessibility as a checkbox - a high-contrast mode or a larger font. That's not enough when the core learning mechanic doesn't match how your audience processes information.
The gap isn't technology. It's empathy in the design process. Understanding that a child who struggles with reading needs to succeed through play, not through more reading.
The Approach
Audience-first design from the start. Every interaction was designed around how dyslexic children actually engage with content - multisensory feedback, consistent spatial layouts, progress that feels like achievement rather than correction.
Learning through play isn't a marketing phrase here - it's the core architecture. Phonics concepts are embedded in game mechanics so children practice without feeling like they're studying.
Accessibility as a core requirement shaped every decision from colour choices to interaction timing to how feedback is delivered.
The Product
Results & Status
- In active development - early-stage build
- Design validated against accessibility requirements for dyslexic users
What It Demonstrates
- Audience-specific UX that goes beyond surface-level accessibility
- Educational product thinking grounded in how people actually learn
- Design empathy - building for an audience whose needs are often overlooked