When the agency Something Familiar took on the redesign of the identity for Onvero, a non-profit organization, it faced a transformative challenge: its CEO, Sandi Wassmer, is blind. This fact forced the team led by Kane Hawkins to discard conventional methods. The mission was no longer just to create a visually appealing logo, but to build an identity system accessible from its core. The humble and collaborative experience demonstrated how exclusive communication based solely on the visual can be and changed the agency's methodology forever.
3D and Digital Tools Adapted for Sensory Inclusion 👁️🗨️
The technical process required innovating with the available tools. Visual presentations were replaced by detailed narrative descriptions. To discuss color palettes, a shared language based on sensations and contexts was created, not HEX codes. The conceptual phase used voiceovers and audio descriptions. The tangible result was a tactile identity, where 3D modeling was crucial for designing raised textures and volumes in physical stationery, allowing Wassmer to perceive her organization's identity. This case proves that 3D and digital design is not just for the visual; its potential to generate textures and tactile prototypes is a powerful tool for inclusion.
True Accessibility Arises from Methodology, Not the Final Add-On 🤝
The fundamental lesson goes beyond the tools. Accessibility cannot be a coat of paint applied at the end of the project. This case demands integrating sensory diversity into the methodology itself: listening actively, iterating based on non-visual feedback, and co-creating with the end user. Protecting vulnerable groups, such as people with visual impairments, requires this mindset shift. Design for all stops being a slogan and becomes a rigorous and empathetic process that, ultimately, enriches the outcome for the entire audience.
How can graphic design, traditionally a preeminently visual field, integrate accessibility principles for blindness without sacrificing its aesthetic and communicative impact?
(P.S.: At Foro3D we protect vulnerable groups... and unsaved files) 💾