PROJECT GOAL

Design an inclusive home maintenance product to support adults aged 45 to 65 with vision impairment or blindness. This product should empower them to effectively perform everyday home maintenance tasks, enhancing their independence, safety, and quality of life.

A design project for AD 246: Design Drawing II

DESIGN INTENT

Develop a Bluetooth braille label maker that utilizes a simple app function for stress-free use and easy management by those with low or extreme visual impairment

Partial v Total Blindness %

IMPAIRMENT RESEARCH

According to the American Foundation for the Blind, only about 15 percent of those visually impaired are categorized as “totally blind”

Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) is a leading cause of blindness in the United States

In a DR prevalence estimate, the CDC stated that an estimated 9.6 million people in the United States lived with DR, and 1.84 million of these lived with vision-threatening DR

Vision-Threatening DR Among DR in the US

DESIGN PERSONA

Simon Williams

Simon is a 55-year-old man who was diagnosed with Diabetic Retinopathy at age 13. Over the years his vision has deteriorated to the point where he only has 10% vision. Despite this, he loves to experiment in the kitchen and come up with new recipe for himself, friends, and family.

Challenges

As Simon’s vision fades more and more, he’s finding it harder and harder to feel independent in his home, often relying on family members for help more than he’d prefer.

ISSUES

Washing Dishes

Set Item Differentiation

Cleaning (Missing Spots)

Single Tone Alerts

Buttons

Laundry

Cooking

DIRECT SOLUTIONS

Contrasting Colors

Different Handle Forms

Specific Pattern Chimes

Pan Placement

Knife Safety

Finding the Expiration Date

POSSIBLE DIRECTIONS

SET DIFFERENTIATION

Develop a differentiation system using different sensory features to help visually impaired individuals easily identify and differentiate between household items or tools. Enhance usability and accessibility, promoting greater independence and confidence in daily tasks by allowing users to quickly and accurately recognize each item without reliance on sight.

KNIFE SAFETY

Create an intuitive knife safety system for individuals with visual impairments that will enhance safe knife handling techniques, reduce the risk of accidents, and promote culinary independence. The system will enable users to confidently prepare food while maintaining optimal safety.

VISUAL CONTRAST AIDS

Using high visual contrast, create a product to assist visually impaired individuals in more easily identifying and using essential cooking tools and supplies. Think about a system that will promote independence and confidence in the kitchen, ensuring that users can effectively navigate their kitchens with more comfort and ease.

BLIND TEST

Create a series of blind assistance concepts based on the brief first hand experience that were things I wanted while blind in my kitchen for an hour that would help enhance safety, reduced injury risk, and culinary independence.

final direction

KITCHEN GUIDES

Develop a range of innovative kitchen products that provide practical, reliable, and user-friendly assistance to individuals who are blind or have low vision. These products should enhance independence, improve accessibility, and provide ease of use for daily kitchen activities.