While reading Web Design for Neurodiversity, I contemplated what sacrifices might a designer make in favor of neurodivergence accessibility without compromising their goals. When the goal is not aesthetics, which it should never be, changes can be made. I feel some designers might feel as if certain choices such as listed in the writing might compromise aesthetic. But to me, this take is quite naive and rudimentary. Like Artis Carolyn Lazard said, art that is “tied to and interested in the world and social conditions” can have aesthetic value.

Lazard also stated that she considers what will happen to her art that goes into institutions and hopes her work to be praxis with an impact on the “material world.” This is something that I resonate with in many ways. Because I am a Latino artist here at UCLA surrounded by a lot of non-Latino artist, there are topics that I have had to reconsider discussing in my work for the sake of protecting it. I believe there are some things that I feel I must gatekeep and showcase only to my community. I do not want to exploit my community or my heritage for my own benefit in an institution.

How do your design choices reflect your values and ethics?