Designing for calm, not clicks
Why avoiding overstimulation shapes every choice were making
Most tech on the market for kids is built to hold attention. SageBrain is building to give it back.
When I started designing SAGE for one child, I noticed a problem: even the “educational” tools were noisy. They flashed, they dinged, they rewarded tapping the right spot. The feedback loops weren’t about support, they were about keeping a child engaged with the screen for as long as possible.
With SAGE, it’s a different path.
The problem with chasing clicks
Many apps and devices are shaped by the same logic as social media: if the user stays longer, the design is working. For neurodivergent kids, this can mean:
Overstimulation. Bright animations and constant sounds overwhelm sensory processing.
Disrupted regulation. Fast reward loops can spike and crash dopamine, making transitions harder.
Distraction from the real goal. The app’s needs replace the child’s needs.
How SAGE is designed for calm
1. Gentle sensory profile. SAGE is being built with soft colors, steady pacing, and minimal animations. Any sounds are truly functional, not decorative.
2. Predictable patterns. Menus stay in the same place. Phrases repeat in the same tone. Kids don’t have to relearn the interface every time.
3. No gamified hooks. No streaks, no badges, no “just one more.” The goal isn’t to keep a child inside SAGE, it’s to help them get through their day.
Why less stimulation can mean more connection
When SAGE doesn’t compete for attention, kids have more capacity for:
Following routines without resistance.
Engaging with the people and the world around them.
Regulating transitions between activities.
Calm design isn’t about making things boring, it’s about making space for what matters.
The trade-offs
Choosing calm means saying no to features that would boost engagement metrics. We pass on big, animated celebration screens in favor of a quiet “You did it.” We skip the push notifications. This sometimes makes SAGE harder to compare to typical “edutainment” tools, but we’re okay with that.
Our commitment
At SageBrain we will always design with sensory safety and regulation in mind. Every choice, from button placement to audio tone, goes through this filter: Will this help the child feel calmer, or will it ask them to push through more noise?
For some kids, “calm” is the difference between making it to school on time and starting the day in meltdown. That’s worth more than any click count.
-Kris
Founder of SageBrain
Dad to the original SAGE user