modern-plastic

Working with the material plastic and the adjective modern, we quickly come across microstructures. They can be found in many contemporary products, for example for better grip or for visual reasons. We rethought this common texture and placed it in a new context where microstructure makes sense.

While studying these structures, we quickly made an association with Braille, the writing system for blind people. Elastomer was a good material choice. Because of its elasticity and the Braille-like surface, it creates a tactile experience similar to reading a book. This kind of experience is rare in the everyday world of visually impaired people.

From this idea, our Omni concept was developed. We asked the question: How can museums become an experience for visually impaired people? Audio guides cannot explain colors or the composition of a painting. Using microtexture, we made visual information touchable. Different heights, sizes, and shapes of the structures allow people to feel the composition of a painting. Each shape has a different form, explained in a legend with colors. In this way, a 2D image becomes a 3D, tactile experience.