Designing an outdoor space for a person who is blind

Student rendering - exterior view of a porch

Designing an outdoor space for a person who is blind

Karen Kim
ARC623 | Fall 2012

This project developed out of a focused interview with a person living with blindness and diabetes. The following are themes that arose during the interview:

• Lack of opportunity to study and learn new things.
• Frustration towards daily life and the future
• Fear of leaving the house and fear of dangerous environments
• Desire to spend more time outdoors

An outdoor space that may support mobility training was identified as a need to improve the interviewee’s life satisfaction.

Left out : Universal design in a left-heander’s kitchen

Student rendering - kitchen

Left out : Universal design in a left-heander’s kitchen

Kristen Gabriele
ARC623 | Fall 2012

Handedness throughout history has been subject to all types of product and environmental bias. Product design is perhaps the largest hurdle for left-handers, who adapt each day to right-hander items. Many of these items, though seemingly harmless, can in fact be dangerous to left-handers. Although left-hand dominant individuals have no physical, mental or social disabilities, they have consistently been an ignored and underrepresented in society. After an analysis of left-handed design strategies, an intervention for one of the interviewee’s own homes was generated. Concepts of Universal Design as well as the interviewee’s own personal interests were taken into consideration to create a newly renovated kitchen that would serve to accommodate a left-handed owner as well as any other user. This intervention, while affordable and aesthetically pleasing, creates a kitchen that can now be more comfortable for a variety of users both in the present and the future.

Library research kiosk

Library kiosk axonometric diagram

Library research kiosk

Megan Basnak
ARC623 | Fall 2012

Why it is Needed:

• Lack of research tool training for all students

• Varying technological skill levels amongst students

• Lack of subject-specific knowledgeable staff

• Portable resources may be stolen

The Elements of a Kiosk Should:

• Be adjustable

• Accommodate physical needs of users

• Contribute to kiosk usability for users on both sides of digital divide

• Be minimal and support purpose of kiosk

Portable lactation room

Student rendering - exterior view of a portable lactation room

Portable lactation room

Shauna Pritchard
ARC623 | Fall 2012

There are very limited options for nursing mothers to breastfeed or pump in public. On March 23, 2010, the Nursing Mothers Amendment was passed that requires that employers with 50 or more employees provide a lactation room or dedicated space to pump. This creates a solution for a very limited number of working mothers in the US as the majority of companies have less than 50 employees. This leaves many women having to pump in less desirable environments such as bathroom stalls and their cars. In addition, very few public places like restaurants and theaters offer spaces to breastfeed in private. This proposal is for a Portable Lactation Room which could be rented as needed to accommodate nursing mothers. This would work in a workplace environment where the need to have a lactation room is periodic and not constant.