Charley Barnes, The Thought Sorter, 2025 (installation view). screen printed book cloth and coptic bound notebook, digital print on paper, elastic string. Dimensions variable.
Photographer: Brenton McGeachie
Charley Barnes
Bachelor of Visual Arts
and Bachelor of Design
The Thought Sorter is an organisational and well-being tool, created to help young neurodivergent people mitigate the everyday obstacles that arise from symptoms like overthinking and low motivation.
Treatment for many neurodivergences, like ADHD, often fails to help individuals navigate how various symptoms impact their everyday experiences, health and productivity. Additionally, conventional wellbeing and organisational tools can be ineffective or inaccessible, failing to consider the unique perspectives of neurodivergent individuals.
Driven by a user-centric approach, this project involved extensive research, ideation and iteration, exploring ways to facilitate daily routines that support individuals struggling with ADHD.
Combining graphic and information design with book-binding methods, the final design prioritises versatility, featuring flexible, alternating page layouts. These layouts incorporate design features that structure routine while highlighting the importance of individual needs that often go overlooked.
The Thought Sorter considers the unique mindsets of neurodivergent users, empowering them to reframe their approaches to productivity and create routines that support their health and well-being.
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.
