[ToC]

# AutSPACEs: Graphic Design short term contract

## Summary

We are co-designing a citizen science platform with a community of autistic people. The platform will be used to gather qualitative data about how autistic people are influence by sensory processing differences in their daily lives, with the end goal of collecting data which will inform positive changes to environments so they are more accessible and better suited to autistic people. Participatory research is core to the AutSPACEs approach, and people with lived experience of autism have been involved at every stage of the project in order to ensure that we create a citizen science platform which meets the needs and priorities of those for whom there is most at stake.

In response to community feedback and to improve both accessibility and experience, the project seeks to commission a series of illustrations. The illustrations should help convey the purpose of the project and platform, make its main functionalities clear and provide a welcoming feeling.

These images must be clear and appeal to a diverse range of autistic people. It is important to consider accessibility requirements, and to harmonise with the existing design system.

The images will also be used in presentations about AutSPACEs, as well as in other communications, such as newsletters and Twitter posts. The candidate will work closely with the AutSPACEs team to make sure their designs are integrated into the platform.

**We are looking for someone who is able to produce invoices.**

## Task and payment

* The illustrator or designer will produce a series of approximately 5 cartoons or sketches. These should be simple graphics and should help users to quickly and vividly understand the key concepts and features of the AutSPACEs platform. Examples of designs which have a similar function are the cartoons created by [Scriberia for The Turing Way](https://zenodo.org/records/3332808). We have considered the following:
* Project logo design: text logo with the project name, AutSPACEs
* Two front page images: illustrating the concept of sensory processing in every day life
* Platform features image: a single image or diagram that makes clear the main actions that can be taken in the platform (share, view, edit, learn)
* Data processing: a visual explanation of how participants data is used in the platform
* The designs produced for fulfillment of the work will be owned by The AutSPACEs community and will be publicly released under an open license, which will make them free to use and reuse provided the AutSPACEs community is credited.
* We will pay £750 for this work after receiving the appropriate invoice, in a maximum of 30 days

## Criteria for selection

We are looking for a freelance contributor who has:
* Lived experience of autism.
* Experience of graphic design work.
* Desirable experience in User Interfaces or User Experience (making things explainable via images)
* Prior familiarity with the AutSPACEs project is a plus but not a requirement.

## Images we would like/need
- two front page graphics: replace video/animation still with artistic image that's more related to the project
- What we are missing: the idea of sensory processing
- Pros of current: visually appealing (people like dogs), keeping some of that is not a bad idea
- two different examples of sensory processing in day to day live?
- Logo for the project: we are just using text
- unified "how to use the platform" image/visual explainer
- can be used on front page, help page etc.
- Visually convey the different things you can do, rather than an explainer of how to do each
- Explainer of what happens to your Data
- research/public, moderation?

for later:
- "Generic" images for main handpicked stories: a busy restaurant, watching tv, underground, hospital/school, strong smell, too loud,

## old summary

We are seeking to recruit a designer to help us make the AutSPACEs platform clear and engaging for autistic users. The designer will work with the AutSPACEs team at The Alan Turing Institute to create images and icons that will be used to guide users as they navigate the AutSPACEs platform, as well as for illustrations in communications and presentations, to share the AutSPACEs project.
The AutSPACEs platform is an online space where autistic people and their supporters will be able to share their stories about how their senses affects them in their daily lives. These stories can be shared with researchers or publicly with others to increase understanding and awareness of autistic people's lives. The platform has text which describes the purpose of the platform, the background to the research, and the options users have about sharing their stories. It also has written guidelines for how to use the platform.

We want to add images and diagrams to the platform which help illustrate the purpose of the platform, make it clear how to use the platform, and make it fun and welcoming. These images must be clear and appeal to a diverse range of autistic people. It is important to consider accessibility requirements, and to harmonise with the existing design system.

The images will also be used in presentations about AutSPACEs, as well as in other communications, such as newsletters and Twitter posts. The candidate will work closely with the AutSPACEs team to make sure their designs are integrated into the platform. The work will take place remotely over Zoom.