e
GE's Access Kit Lets You Easily Retrofit Appliances for Use by the Blind
GE Appliances sells this Access Kit, which contains over 450 transparent stickers featuring Braille and raised symbols. The idea is to make it easier to retrofit existing appliances for households with blind or low-vision members.
"Designed to represent the 80 most common settings across thousands of appliances, the durable stickers are placed directly over existing controls, allowing appliance buttons, knobs and other functions to be identifiable by touch. They are created to be easy to feel and differentiate with a thin and angular tactile design. They are also transparent so the original text can still be viewed."
GE uncovered the need for the kit while conducting customer research, which shows the importance of studying what end users actually need: "Our research showed that a lot of blind and low-vision consumers are devising their own complex systems just to navigate the settings on their appliances, making simple household tasks incredibly difficult," said GE industrial designer Chris Bissig, who leads a team of both industrial and user interface designers in the Concept & Brand studio.
GE produced the kit in partnership with the American Printing House for the Blind (APH). They retail for $20.
-
o1Favorite This
-
Q4Comment
Directory Company Profiles
Core77
Industrial Design
Resources
Industrial Design
Resources
-
Core77 Directory
Find the Best Industrial Design CompaniesGo -
AmmunitionFounded in 2007, Ammunition is led by partners Robert Brunner and Matt Rolandson. Our work is create...
-
Agncy Design
Using design as a tool to reduce structural inequity. We work with teams and leaders to make the equ...
-
Acorn Product Development
Acorn Product Development is based in Silicon Valley with design centers in Boston, Denver, Los Ange...
-
Evolve Collaborative
We are an independently owned design agency that helps teams drive change. Together, we partner wit...
-
Logitech
-
Unbox Product Design
Unbox is a full-service design, engineering, branding, and custom manufacturing firm. Unbox works wi...
-
Tandem Product Design
With a stellar record of design and engineering successful products with World Class brands since 20...
K
{Welcome
Create a Core77 Account
Already have an account? Sign In
By creating a Core77 account you confirm that you accept the Terms of Use
K
Reset Password
Please enter your email and we will send an email to reset your password.
Comments
My thought is that this “solution” is for a problem that shouldn’t have been there in the first place. The graphics on our washer & dryer still requires staring at it from different loads.
…or scrolling endlessly through menus is not helpful either.
The tactile icons are good. As so few can read it, designers and brands jumping on Braille is ridiculous.
Love the consideration for accessibility - it's a true need.