Signage For Visually Impaired

Creating an Empowered and Accessible Environment

Designer: Neeta Verma

Neeta Verma, a renowned designer, has taken on the challenge of creating a signage system specifically designed for visually impaired individuals. Inspired by her personal experience with her visually impaired niece, Verma embarked on a journey to understand how these individuals navigate their surroundings and compensate for their loss of sight. The result is a unique and innovative signage system that not only caters to the visually impaired but also creates an inclusive environment for everyone.

The project, in collaboration with teachers and students at the Poona School for Blind Girls in India, aimed to create a signage system that would be highly tactile for the blind and brightly colored for those with partial sight. This collaborative effort fostered a sense of ownership and joy in the creation process, ensuring that the final product would truly meet the needs of the community.

The signage system utilizes locally sourced materials and fabrication techniques to withstand constant touching. Brightly colored beads, affixed to the tiles with permanent adhesives, create visually appealing patterns that guide partially sighted individuals. Additionally, metallic laser-cut signs in relief provide tactile information for the visually impaired.

Each sign measures 305mm in width, 10mm in depth, and 508mm in height, ensuring visibility and accessibility for all individuals. The project was initiated in December 2016 and concluded in December 2018 at the Poona School and Home for Blind Girls in India.

Verma's research involved observing how visually impaired students navigated their surroundings and conducting interviews with teachers and administrators to understand existing navigation methods. The design had to consider varying degrees of impairment and propose a solution that would cater to all individuals within the school.

One of the major challenges faced during the project was working with limited resources while delivering innovative, indigenous, and sustainable solutions. Verma successfully overcame these challenges, creating a signage system that not only addressed the problem of navigation for visually impaired girls but also contributed to a kinder and gentler environment.

The Signage For Visually Impaired project has received recognition for its excellence. It was awarded the Iron A' Design Award in the Social Design category in 2019. This prestigious award acknowledges designs that are well-designed, practical, and innovative, meeting professional and industrial requirements. The signage system has proven to be a fulfillment of these criteria, contributing to a better world for visually impaired individuals.

The Signage For Visually Impaired project is a testament to the power of design in creating inclusive and accessible environments. Neeta Verma's dedication and innovative approach have resulted in a signage system that not only guides visually impaired individuals but also fosters a sense of empowerment and independence.