Map for the blind

Young design student Ana Zupic created in 2008 a prototype of a tool she entitled ‘Map for the blind’ or ‘A Tactile Map for Visually Impaired’ intended to be in use as equipment for better socialization and integration into urban environment.

The map I saw projected the city of Zagreb, but naturally, the project could be carried out and adapted to any space or situation.

Ana Zupic: Map for the blind (c)

‘Map for the blind’ tenders info in Braille on user’s position in space, according to various referral points and destinations with included descriptions how to reach desired location, some tips on safety and useful shortcuts.

It can be used as a personal device with your very own stuff, or public data station for urban areas.
The map is created as rounded device presenting ‘environmental elements in a centric way, enabling cognitive transformation of an unknown surrounding into a familiar one’.

Ana Zupic: Map for the blind (c)

It’s obvious that Zupic wanted to create a multisensory device for tactile experience, but also a visual and material experience sort of, as she explains, ‘three dimensional pictograms’ for the space orientation.

Ana Zupic: Map for the blind (c)

Concept for presenting the Environment in a tactile way (by Ana Zupic)
1. Where am I and what is my immediate surrounding?
This type of information refers to identifying one’s position with respect to one’s surrounding. The person’s position and the position of the tactile map are centrically located at the highest point of the map, which enables the visually impaired person to determine his or her position at the first stroke of hand.

Ana Zupic: Map for the blind (c)

2. What is my position with respect to the referential points?
These are orientation points and important urban and public institutions, with the help of which the visually impaired person can establish a relationship with the environment, and possibly also places that she or he would like to reach.

Photo: lomodeedee (cc)

3. Possible routes or ways that must be traversed in order to reach the desired point:
The road and the pavement are placed on the same height. Smooth, finely whetted surfaces mark pedestrian zones and areas of safe movement. Coarse surfaces mark the road. The road and the pavement are on the same level for better perception of the route. The meaning is obtained through the use of texture, the interplay of smooth and coarse surfaces: safe surfaces as opposed to unsafe.

Ana Zupic: Map for the blind (c)

4. What can I expect on my way? The route selection:
Identification of potential obstacles, crossroads, and parking lots is important for deciding which route is simpler and safer in order to reach the destination.

5. Further information on the surrounding and the potential direction:
Buildings and green surfaces are represented on the texture level that is lower than the road, so visually impaired persons can pass their hands unobstructed over the way and obtain the primary information more easily.

6. Positions of other ‘Tactile Maps for Visually Impaired Persons.’

Ana Zupic: Map for the blind (c)

Ana Zupic (1982) is a student of the School of Design at the Faculty of Architecture in Zagreb (Croatia). She entered the  nomination  for the Index Award 2009 with ‘A Tactile Map for Visually Impaired’. The project was done under the guidance of her mentor Zlatko Kapetanovic and with the assistance of Vedran Kasap.