Research state: Opportunity
Visioning workshop, opportunity: Street Furniture
Physical icons to represent different sensory experiences
Existing street furniture and amenities can be a hindrance to the blind and partially sighted. Shared spaces and open streets can disrupt the orientation practices of blind and partially sighted people looking for key indicators like kerb edges or other tactile surfaces.
Traditionally the curb edge has been used to separate people and cars. New solutions are being developed including digital and tactile edges, but must be easy for both guide dogs and people to recognise. Likewise, design best-practice should always acknowledge that long-cane users navigate by following the building line.