designing accessible investment experiences for users with adhd
created accessibility-focused design concepts and inclusive functional proof of concept aimed at improving financial-service experiences and portfolio management for ADHD users, delivered for the Fidelity Center for Applied Technology.
___________
team: michelle bai, subu sharma, johanna sam, ja'mesha robinson
ux research | inclusive design | system mapping | affinity mapping | prototyping
ADHD traits are linked to higher trading activity and risk-taking, but lower portfolio returns.
(Witry et al., 2025)
research insights
drawn from three phases of research: 10 investor discovery interviews last semester, 3 prototype iterations, and 8 moderated usability sessions this semester.
user workarounds
They check compulsively, delay trades manually, and use external tools to stay grounded. These aren't bugs in their behavior—they're coping strategies.
bad existing alternatives
Default experience rewards constant checking, fast decisions, and information density, all of which work against ADHD investors.
designing from feedback
Based on feedback from FCAT for the needs to focus on ADHD tendencies, we iterated on this focus.
how might we turn ADHD investors' self-made workarounds into built-in platform features?
universal experience canvas
prototype sketches & mockups
 |  |  |
|---|---|---|
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |
experience video
demo
user testing insights
8 moderated usability sessions with ADHD investors concluded to 2 distinct presentations
the compulsive checker
checks constantly, reacts, struggles to step back
"I do truly want to look at it a billion times a day."
— victoria
the cautious researcher
wants to feel informed before committing
"I need to make an informed decision before I'm locked into it."
— dempris
ADHD investors will not slow down unless the platform gives them a reason to
the pause was understood but did not change behavior for either persona
"It's not stopping me from being impulsive, it's just documenting the impulse."
dempris
compulsive checkers wanted something that physically stops the loop
cautious researchers wanted information that reduces uncertainty first
for ADHD investors, calm and Control are the same thing
reducing noise worked, but only when users felt oriented to their own situation
"it gave me permission to check once and just move on."
jill
reducing noise worked, the urge to check dropped
without seeing their own portfolio, calm turned into worry
you cannot feel calm if you do not know where you stand
coming back is just as hard as
stepping away
re-entry moment is critical, and this concept addresses it with gaps
"it just lets me know there's nothing that immediately needs my attention."
maddi
lowered the urge to immediately start checking everything
made it easier to re-engage without feeling behind or overwhelmed
both groups said this felt like the least stressful way to return to the app
risk areas
1
behavioral detection accuracy
a/b testing with larger, diverse sample sets
2
regulatory compliance
legal review of all intervention language
3
scalability cost
modular ui components powered by AI to reduce maintenance overhead
4
user self-identification
continued opt-in framing testing: goals-based, not diagnosis-based
1.
what does a pause look like when it actually responds to the user?
2.
how do you design a calm experience that still keeps users in control?
3.
how do you help ADHD investors come back to their finances without triggering the anxiety that made them leave?
future steps
-
Iterate on the prototype based on usability findings
-
Expand usability testing in other accessibility communities
-
FCAT launches an experimental trial
-
FCAT grows its user base in the neurodiverse community