Exhibiting Accessibility
Designers approach accessibility by asking a simple question: Can all users — regardless of their abilities — have the same experience using the same product or service? The answer to this question incites a creative problem-solving process, one which involves balancing many considerations:
- How much contrast is too much?
- Is this an appropriate font size?
- Does this design choice negatively affect another choice?
- Is this design usable?
- What about blind people?
- What about deaf people?
The questions could go on indefinitely. One way to approach this challenge, then, is to focus on a single aspect of accessible design and run with it. The following project showcases this approach. Meet Artifact Alley, a gallery which features artifacts from a museum’s vastly diverse collection.
Eye on the Prize
The Canada Science and Technology Museum’s (CSTM) vision for Artifact Alley is to create an experience that is appealing, dramatic, and above all, accessible. The Alley prioritizes accessibility by designing a tactile experience for museum goers. This includes exhibit titles, braille introductions, tactile pictures, and touchable artifacts (deaccessioned or spare parts).
An Eye for Success
Reich+Petch (R+P), the design team that worked on the project, heavily considered the Ingenium Museums design guidelines, the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), and CSTM Accessibility Standards to deliver this immersive experience. These policies ensured that the Alley, in addition to the museum’s other exhibits, would be accessible. Ingenium’s guidelines apply to all its museums’ exhibitions, the AODA addresses all Ontarians, and the CSTM standards are specific to the CSTM.
R+P exceeded expectations by looking beyond color contrast, font size, and readable height. They examined interactive devices to make enough space for wheelchair clearance and long legs while ensuring that the device is still within reach. Moreover, R+P designed for users with missing limbs/appendages and for varying hand dominance, even though the guidelines had no specifications on regarding these nuances.
Behind Rose-Colored Glasses
According to RGD, the biggest challenge R+P faced was balancing accessibility with cost. Senior Exhibit Designer Edmund Li mentioned that, “Tactile content is an excellent tool to engage with visually-impaired visitors; however, it can also be expensive both initially, and for future maintenance.” R+P had an open and honest dialogue with CSTM throughout the process, ensuring that they were able to design the best possible experience within their budget. To R+P and CSTM, communication was the key to a successful project. As each group understood the other’s goals and limits, the two were able to arrive at compromises that were mutually beneficial.
Designing Forward
One takeaway from this case study is that accessibility manifests itself in various forms, each of which has the potential to improve the design as a whole. From font color contrast to braille, designing for accessibility fosters an inclusive environment — an especially essential element in museums, a place for everyone to learn.
Learning drives progress. I love museums because they are one of the most versatile sources of knowledge! They are — at least in my opinion — far more interesting places to learn than classrooms. Museums have the freedom to exercise various creative approaches for spreading knowledge. That’s one reason why the small nuances in their designs are critical. Aesthetics are of great value, but focusing on this aspect alone dilutes the true purpose of museums — to teach. Designing for all museum-goers, irrespective of their abilities, makes learning accessible and unlocks the true potential of these great institutions.
Further Reading
Be sure to check out R+P’s project profile to read about the Alley’s positive impact and learn more details about the project’s design process!
Sources
https://www.interaction-design.org/literature/topics/accessibility
https://www.rgd.ca/2018/01/24/accessibility-case-study.php
https://www.rgd.ca/database/files/library/CSTMCAccessibilityStandardsIllustrated2016.2.pdf
