From lessons learned by the initial project of the Braille Map for Seoul Land in 2015, the Braille Map design project in 2018 aimed to create a service for the blind and visually impaired (BVI) children visiting the Seoul Children's Grand Park.
Desk Research
First, we identified related policy and regulation through desk research. Some questions for the field research were as follows:
- Is it possible to check the current status and location of information facilities for the BVI, such as tactile pavings and audio guidance, in the Seoul Children's Grand Park?
- Has the survey been conducted on the current status of the BVI children visiting Seoul Children's Grand Park?
- What is the most popular or enjoyable facility for visitors to Seoul Children's Grand Park?
Field Research
During the field research, we found that the separation of the park into different areas (e.g., botanical garden, zoo…) can be useful for the BVI childerns’ access. We also found the park does not have special safety regulations or facilities as there are some limitations on installing facilities for the BVI. For example, since the park is an open space without designated route and the main visitors of the park are families with children and strollers, installing tactile paving may interrupt pedestrian flows. In addition to using facilities in Children's Grand Park, we identified the necessity of providing hands-on experiences for the BVI children.
We conducted interviews with multiple stakeholders to define the design needs and goals.
▪ Seoul Children’s Grand Park Staff
▪ Original project proposer of the 2015 project
▪ Blind and visually impaired children and their caregiver
▪ Braille textbook production team manager
Findings
From the interviews, we defined five key takeaways.
1. Needs for an audio guide
Especially for the case of children in the lower grades of elementary school, it was difficult to read braille. The audio guide could serve as an effective source of information.
2) Maps are important as preliminary information for children
Since caregivers(parents) always have to explain external information to their children, visiting unfamiliar places and planning outdoor activities were difficult. maps with braille and audio guides that the BVI children can review/access on their own prior to/during visiting the park would be good for children and their parents.
3) Necessity and cautions of external activities
There were limited places for the BVI children to do outside activities for hands-on learning. In particular, there was a lack of content that the children can enjoy with the visually unimpaired children while ensuring physical safety. Therefore, the caregivers showed high interest in the 'Barrier-free Playground' of Children's Grand Park. In addition, the information regarding particular facility locations (e.g., family restrooms) was important for the caregivers.
4) Content that children likes
Designing a braille map considering the characteristics of their childhood for BVI children is important as BVI children don't want anything particularly different from visually unimparied children. The BVI children were very interested in the content delivered by touch and sound. The limited experience in the park shows that most children are not interested in botanical gardens and are bored. I can see that I don't prefer to take a walk without any content to enjoy. Getting information from the map can be a similar experience of reading picture books and do not seek too much practical information.
5) Importance of Public Relations
There have been occasions when you are not familiar with the services provided by cities and organizations for the blind. Thus, considering public relations with the project lifecycle is important for the project deliverables to be fully promoted and distributed.
Problems
Caregivers of BVI children feel burdened and tired to continue to explain the current situation and information when they visit the Children's Grand Park with children.
BVI children have interests in experiencing outdoor activities and animals in the park, but it is difficult to find information for them because most of the information is conveyed through visual media.
Values
To Children: (New)Experience/Fun/Self-directed Learning and Play
To the guardian: Comfortable/Positive memories with the child
- Try something the BVI children haven't tried before
- Self-directed learning
- Sustainable design repeatedly used and experienced before and after visiting the park
- Universal design for all children to enjoy together
Keywords throughout the visiting experience
- Prior to visit: Maps/Stories to plan ahead
- During the visit: Boost your experience
- After the visit: Re-mind / Re-member / Re-learn
Design Direction
Map consists of two main maps which are "Tactile Map" and "Experience Cards." The two-folded composition of the map is designed to stimulate children's imagination and help them plan and enjoy visiting the park.
1. Tactile Map
It shows the entire park by area and by theme. It aimed to provide simpler but essential information of the park to all, including BVI children and their caregiver.
Uses UV-printing for braille and tactile information.
Image credit: BeMinor
2. Experience Cards
It includes the card-type story book and contains stories of attraction (e.g., elephant stories, the birth of alpaca, naming behind stories, fairy tales, stories that interest and immerse the child in 3d, explanations/play kits using elements such as sound, shape, etc.) with multimodal information such as QR code for audio guide, UV-printed braille, text descriptions of basic information (e.g., park facilities, toilet, amenities) for caregivers.
To define attraction spots and routes to provide the best journey map for BVI children, we visited park multiple times and selected attraction to create contents for experience cards.
Prototyping
I designed prototypes (cards) with simple graphics and researched UV printing vendors to create tactile braille map.
I prototyped experience cards to present idea of tactile information storytelling.
For example, for experience cards for animals, I suggested UV-printed patterns to express textures of skin, fur, and shape.
for experience cards for attractions, I suggested UV-printed patterns to express movement and shape of the attractions.
Project deliverables
Image credit: Team interface
