Design Beyond Sight: Tangible Interactions for People with Visual Impairments (PVI) Informed by Generative Research
The underlying goal of our project was to enable true inclusion for People with Visual Impairments (PVI). Through our research we realized that a single solution wouldn't be sufficient to create the desired impact. Instead, a variety of accessible and affordable solutions/tools were needed to help PVIs better perceive and participate in the world. They require numerous options, not just one solution.
Moreover, we intended to showcase the potential of new, PVI-centric interfaces that promote self-reliance, moving beyond their current practices. The goal was to suggest that these proposed solutions could bring about meaningful, long-term benefits for the PVI community.
The project converged to six such concepts, each with a different short-term goal but rooted in common focuses on awareness of surroundings, visualization skills, and tactile vocabulary. All the prototypes were designed and developed using materials and components that ensure accessibility, portability, low cost, and feasibility for large-scale manufacturability. The creation of such meaningful, affordable solutions can drive significant progress toward greater inclusion.
More than 90% of people genuinely acknowledged the usefulness of interventions for Students with Visual Impairment (SVI) and agreed that it would lead to more inclusion. A few professionals with visual impairments also commented that their perspective and understanding of the world could have been better if these solutions had been available during their early education.
Project Lead:
Varun Sai Koruprolu
Final Year Product Design Student
National Institute of Design (NID) Ahmedabad
Lead Designer & Coordinator
Project Support:
Tanishq Shendre
1st year Design Student, Department of Design
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi
Prototyping & Usability Testing
Aradhye Saini
1st year Design Student, Department of Design
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi
Prototyping & Usability Testing
Nabeeha Akhtar
2nd year Design Student, Department of Design
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi
Prototyping & Usability Testing
Mohammad Nadir
Electronics Engineer
Assistech Lab,
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi
Technical Assistance
Project Advisors & Facilitators:
Dr. P. V. Madhusudhan Rao
Professor at Department of Design & Department of Mechanical Engineering
Dean of Alumni Relations
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi
Dr. Piyush Chanana
Head of National Center for Assistive Health Technologies
Assistech Lab, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi
Mentored for Conceptualization, Prototyping & Testing
Dr. Gourab Kar
Assistant Professor at Department of Design
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi
Praveen Nahar
Faculty at Product Design Department
Director
National Institute of Design (NID) Ahmedabad
