Dyslexia
Simulation Font
I was inspired to create this dyslexia simulation font because I wanted to create more empathy and understanding of dyslexia. The font does this by reversing the letters as the user types. I drew inspiration from backward and misspent dyslexic writing. In addition to simulating dyslexia, the font communicates the disconnect between what the user is thinking and what comes out. This is something I struggled with as a dyslexic person. I often found it difficult to explain what I was thinking and to communicate my ideas.
User Testing
These user tests were very causal. People were prompted to write whenever came to mind while using the font. I would later ask someone else to try and read what they wrote.
At first, many people thought they were making typos. When they realized something was wrong with the font, they started having fun with it. It took the user longer to communicate their thoughts, they had trouble spelling, and it was difficult for them to read their own ideas. It was almost impossible for other people to understand their thoughts.
Many users struggled when they tried to read the font. The font was very successful in simulating dyslexia and opened up important conversations.