Accessibility as a Catalyst for Innovation

Listen - Accessibility As A Catalyst

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Navigating to and within public spaces can cause stressful challenges for disabled persons, let alone being included in and considered for with the activities and events presented there. As such, Marie Clapot, the head of Okeenea Group’s Tactile Studio office in New York City, along with a dedicated team of designers, engineers, interns, and testers are tasked with creatively conceptualizing solutions in order to make facilities not only navigable and accessible, but inclusive for everyone (the basis of Universal Design).

Incorporating multi-sensory elements and hybridized features to include both physical and digital interactions, the architects and designers at Tactile Studio are determined to provide incredibly interactive and immersive experiences for guests of all walks of life to engage in the exhibitions and galleries which they serve. The extent to which these designs are inclusive extends far beyond accessibility. While visitors will find accessibility features to assist in navigating the premises (Braille railings, audio guides and announcements, orientation maps, tactile walkways, signs/symbols, ramps, railings, etc.) they are also able to participate in the exhibits in innovative and nuanced ways.

The museums’ exhibits offer an array of accessible features, like tactile replicas of sculptures, aromas diffused in the air, touch screens, interactive games and physically immersive activities, audio translations and narrations in multiple languages, and high contrast displays. Some prominent partners are The Pantheon and Louvre in Paris, the New York Public Library, the Smithsonian in Washington D.C., and the MUCEM in Marseille. Worldwide, museums rely on Tactile Studio to deliver engaging accessible features that serve and are inclusive of diverse demographics. So Let’s take a deeper look at inclusive exhibit design, including the concepts and processes that go into their development.Framing an Accessibility Mindset through Persona“People assume I don’t like art because I can’t see it,” Katie, a Fellow with the Foundation, said. Katie has been totally blind since birth, and as frustrated and incredulous though she is, this type of notion ceases to surprise her - she has unfortunately come to accept it as the “norm.” Katie is not the type to let this reality set her back or waste her time, though; she quickly shifts into an energized explanation of how she perceives and appreciates art in other ways, like through the motifs, the history, and the reactions she hears from others. It can be very “isolating,” she admits about her many trips to art museums where she has felt excluded from fully engaging in exhibits. But she also has a number of positive encounters to share, like when she and her husband (who has his sight) visited a planetarium on Valentine’s Day, and she was provided with a guide in Braille. The couple could appreciate the art together, which was a beautiful and enriching experience where Katie’s says she felt included. Or when she visited the Confederate White House in Richmond and got to pick up and hold the heft of artifacts like a bone saw. 

Accessibility features, when they are provided, don’t always hold their own, Katie makes clear. Wi-fi malfunctions, for example, can inhibit audio-guided tours and render obsolete the entire intended experience. Enter Tactile Studio, whose designs, installations, and programming for major museums and cultural centers highlight the ‘hybridization’ of accessible design. They create truly inclusive, interactive experiences for patrons of all abilities, ages, and backgrounds using both physical and digital features. This approach ensures that everyone is able to engage meaningfully with the content.

Universal Design in Practice: A Human-centered Approach

Expanding what’s possible for truly participatory designs, the team at Tactile Studio operates with a philosophy that they must widen their approach to be that of a human-centered one. To achieve this, they empower disabled users with the authority to be involved in the design process and ensure considerations are made for all types of users. 

For example, the interpretation team at the University of Nantes’ XP Lab in France combined their efforts with members from the nearby Ocens institute (which serves individuals with both physical and intellectual impairments) in order to create a tactile model of the Venus d’Arles sculpture housed at MUCEM in Marseilles. By conferring directly with blind and low-vision community members, the team discovered that the patron testers preferred both a 3D bas-relief replica and a raised outline illustration of the sculpture, shown in the image below. 

Sensory models at MUCEM

The collaboration between designers and users is invaluable and truly emphasizes the notion of inclusion. As one user tester remarked, “By touching, you participate in the experience. It’s not just the others [sighted people] who talk about it.”

From Concept to Solution

Developing inclusive designs clearly involves a great deal of consideration, foresight, problem-solving, and analytical aptitude. So far we have seen the thought processes that drive inclusive innovations, but what exactly does the process entail to create said innovations? 

Designers must consider factors such as placement/height, operability, practicability, pacing, color contrast, readability, coherency, consistency, - the list goes on. This is part of the initial phase, research and development, where designers assess the unique needs and style guides of the company/organization/program as well as evaluate personas/profiles for a variety of potential users whom such establishments serve. Then, they create all manner of wireframes, concept maps, mockups, sketches, storyboards, and digital 2D prototypes (think AutoCad) as models for the intended final inception. These rough drafts are then implemented in the user feedback phase, which plays a significant role in the process of fabricating the deliverables using tools like 3D printers, laser cutters, and digital software.

The Challenge: 

The next time you visit a public establishment, look for as many accessibility features as you can. Take note of the design, purpose, and usage of such objects and signals. Think about who and why these pieces were put in place, would you change anything to improve or expand on it? These are the steps that inclusive designers like Marie Clapot and Tactile Studio take each and every day to ensure a more equitable society for all.

Sources

What is the impact of inclusive engagement on the general public?

MUCEM receives the trophy for accessible tourism - Tactile Studio

Inclusive Digital Interactives Best Practices + Research - AWS