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Designing with empathy: bringing a new visual life to the University of the Third Age

  • Jul 6
  • 2 min read

How do our visual design practices adapt when designing for a 35-year-old institution with a unique audience, such as the University of the Third Age?



The world of graphic design, with its tendency to use tiny fonts or insufficient contrast, is often an invisible barrier for entire groups of people—seniors with visual or mobility impairments, as well as individuals with dyslexia, color blindness, or low vision. My recent project with UTEM – Università della Terza Età di Montebelluna – to overhaul their visual identity and create new materials for online and offline communication was driven precisely by the need to design with deep empathy and respect for the users' needs.





Design Codes for the Third Age


The most extensive research went into deeply understanding the senior audience's needs when engaging with printed and digital materials, ensuring maximum usability and complete visual accessibility. Here are the core design principles that guided the layout of the course program brochure, event posters, and website:


  1. Maximum Legibility (Offline)


– High Color Contrast: I selected high-contrast color combinations to make reading effortless, especially for users with mild visual impairments. Crisp white text against solid dark backgrounds (and vice versa) became our greatest asset.


– Generous Body Text: Say goodbye to tiny fonts! Across both the brochure and posters, font sizes were significantly boosted. I opted for clean, solid sans-serif typefaces with generous line spacing to eliminate visual clutter.


– Clear and Uncluttered Layout: To neatly divide text blocks and images, guiding the eye logically and effortlessly through the content.





  1. Usability and Clarity (Online)

Web design must put usability above all else. The site shouldn't confuse—it should inform instantly.


– Intuitive Navigation: The site structure was stripped down to the essentials. Navigation menus are clear, direct, and placed right where users expect them.


– Generous Touch Targets: Buttons and links aren't tiny targets that are frustrating to click; they are sized for effortless interaction, whether on touchscreens or with a mouse.


– Highlighted Key Information: Crucial details—like enrollment, course schedules, or contact info—stay front and center, supported by a sharp visual hierarchy that leaves zero room for doubt.



Integrated Search


Because communication goes beyond just visual design, the UTEM project also involved Amadou (web writing, UX, SEO)—an indispensable partner when it comes to delivering truly synergistic results. During the initial research phase, Amadou focused on analyzing the behavior of senior users, studying multiple case studies to define new accessibility principles. To explore this topic further, check out these articles on the Micelio blog:




Design as a Service


This project showed me that the most effective design isn't necessarily the trendiest—it's the one that serves its audience best. 


For UTEM, creating a new visual identity wasn't just about polishing the aesthetics—it was about tearing down invisible barriers and making access to education and events effortless and stress-free for an audience that deserves to keep learning and connecting with absolute ease.

It was incredibly rewarding to see how thoughtful, respectful visual communication can contribute to the success of an institution so vital to the community.




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