Designing for users with ADHD
Learn how to design accessible digital experiences for users with ADHD by simplifying navigation, minimising distractions, and enhancing usability.
When designing digital experiences, it’s important to consider the needs of users with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder).
ADHD affects attention, impulse control and working memory, which means that cluttered interfaces, excessive distractions and complex navigation can create barriers to engagement.
By implementing a few key design principles, we can create a more accessible and user-friendly experience for individuals with ADHD.
Do
✅ Use clear and consistent layouts
Predictability reduces cognitive load.
Keep layouts structured and avoid sudden changes in formatting or navigation placement.
✅ Keep navigation simple and predictable
Straightforward menus and intuitive pathways help users stay focused.
Minimise deep hierarchies and ensure key content is easy to find.
✅ Break up content into small, manageable chunks
Large blocks of text can be overwhelming.
Use headings, bullet points and visual cues to structure information.
Well-organised content helps users process and retain information more easily.
Visual markers such as icons or highlighted text can assist in guiding attention.
✅ Consider browser options that minimise distractions
Modern browsers have in-built tools to view HTML content in reader views and there are plugins which allow pages to be displayed in an often inverted dark mode.
Keep content simple and use clear HTML mark-up so it performs as expected.
✅ Allow users to customise notifications and animations
Autoplaying media, pop-ups and excessive movement can be distracting.
Giving users control over these elements enhances usability.
✅ Offer reminders and prompts for important actions
Users with ADHD may struggle with working memory.
Gentle reminders, progress indicators and auto-saves can help prevent frustration and task abandonment.
Don’t
❌ Don’t overwhelm users with too much information at once
Avoid presenting multiple tasks or options in a single view.
Progressive disclosure – revealing information only when necessary – can help maintain focus.
❌ Don’t use excessive animations, auto-playing videos or flashing elements
While animations can enhance engagement, excessive movement can be distracting and make it harder for users to concentrate.
❌ Don’t make navigation overly complex or bury key content
Users with ADHD may have difficulty recalling where they saw specific information.
Keep menus logical, with a clear path back to key pages.
❌ Don’t use long paragraphs without breaks or visual structure
Dense text can be difficult to process.
White space and concise formatting improve readability and comprehension.
❌ Don’t rely on users remembering previous steps without guidance
Breadcrumbs, progress indicators and review screens help users stay oriented without requiring them to recall previous interactions.
❌ Don’t set short time limits for actions without an option to extend
Time-sensitive actions, such as completing forms or making selections, should include options to pause, extend or save progress.
Why this matters
Designing with ADHD in mind benefits everyone by promoting clarity, usability and engagement.
By making digital experiences more structured, distraction-free and adaptable, we create an environment where all users can interact with content more effectively.
For more guidance on designing for accessibility, explore our related posts on designing for autism, dyslexia and users with screen readers.
ADHD friendly is everyone friendly.
Universal design
No one should be excluded because of their disability.
As well as being the ‘right thing to do’, it is a legal requirement to treat people with disabilities equally, in terms of opportunities and experiences. When designing a service, accessibility should be a priority.
Understanding accessibility means we can build services that work for everyone, whatever their access needs.
For best practice, follow current accessibility and plain English guidelines, as well as the requirements of the Equality Act 2010 and Northern Ireland equality legislation.