How We See

CONTEXT

Only 3% of people registered blind are actually fully blind and consequently the other 97% have remaining useful sight. Having an invisible disability can affect a person’s’ everyday life and often also has a broader social, emotional and psychological impact on the individual. The aim of this project is to break the stigma and reshape the representation of someone who sees differently; to reshape how we see. This 18 month long design research project was conducted in collaboration with the Royal National Institute of Blind People and the Helen Hamlyn Centre of Design, Royal College of Art after the RNIB’s success with a viral video called #How I See (find below).

METHOD

Commonly used design research methods in inclusive design, such as participatory design workshops with both the VI community and approximately 75 KEY Stage 2 primary school children, interviews with teachers and cultural probes and public engagements to gain insight of existing perceptions of general public, were conducted to obtain qualitative primary research to inform the design outcome. In addition an illustrative literature review informed the initial ideas of pathways to explore and discuss with the user groups.