“a good designer gets married to his user’s problems. a bad designer gets married to his solutions”
Questions before I design
How can clothing be more functional?
How can it be more personalised?
Can garments be more dignified for different sections of society?
How can I cater to different consumer groups that are often overlooked?
Clothing problems faced by the Visually Impaired
Difficulty in matching garments
Difficulty in matching garment colours
Mismatched Buttons
Mismatched Silhouettes
Principles while designing for the VI
Separate content & structure
Avoid using colour to convey information
Use textures instead of colours
Monochromatic colour schemes
Contrasting colours for better adaptibility
Clear, robust, specific
Exploration by touch
overlooked segments - innovation - emotional design - change the game
The base photographs do not belong to me - I've used them as a base for further illustrations as shown, all for representation!
This is the visual inspiration/ a concept board I kickstarted with. The disabled population is often (and unfortunately) viewed very differently by communities. Hence, the vibe I’m playing with is fresh.
I used the concept photographs to derive design elements. In simpler words, I let the photographs inspire me to create design details like garment shapes, embroideries, patterns, etc.
Note: I've mostly worked around creating textures, which in context of visually impaired persons, acts as a differentiator for garments. It's a simple idea, and I think it could work. Let's see.
I developed textures/ surfaces on fabric.
Since colour is not a communicator for them, fabric & textures on fabric become the best identifier. I kept inclusivity in mind for smaller things, like the independence in small tasks of choosing what to wear or shop by depending on sense of touch, and the feel-good you get from that. I kept sustainability in mind while choosing natural fabrics for a lower impact on the environment.
How this collection caters to the visually impaired?
We form emotional experiences with products we wish to use continually. And this happens when it fulfils our psychological needs of any kind. We want to be heard, independent, and confident.
The following are some garment sketches designed with visually impaired consumers in mind. Not boring, not hospital-like, quite textured and very intriguing.
Silhouettes, Proportions & Fits
The garments are relaxed - with the objective of making the wearer geel comfortable & not worried about exposing too much. The move with the body, promoting agility.
Textures
Highly textural pieces to enable independance while choosing what to wear at home or in a store. Easily identifiable from one and other.
Placement of Textures
Done asymmetrically - in an manner through which the front & back can be distinguished.
Type of Garments
Mostly one-pieces to avoid the problem of mismatching colours/ styles. The co-ord sets can be matched through the similar textures.
Branding
Not executed but the tags could explain the garment in braille, and similar indicators can be made at the back of the garment.
I'm beginning to understand you can't solve all problems with one design. The smaller solutions spread out over multiple design projects matter. God, they matter.
Thank you Ummehaani, for having me over, and speaking to me about your problems as a VI in India, and Sunita Sancheti for connecting me to the right people time and again!