Stephen Barun

As a designer, I strive to find real problems that deserve intuitive and inclusive solutions. For my major project, I looked back on my own college experience with ADHD to explore the challenges faced by my fellow students. This led to Bridge, a centralised platform designed to empower academic staff to better support students with additional educational needs, while bridging the communication gap between these groups.

Through research and interviews across Irish colleges, I found that the “Profile of Needs” system was messy, overwhelming for staff, and left students feeling in the dark. While I began by focusing on ADHD, the project grew to support all disabled students. Bridge organises this system to ensure staff are informed and students have full transparency. By focusing on social advocacy, I want to ensure the next generation of students have the best college experience possible.