How can interactions between the sighted and the visually impaired be facilitated in order to raise awareness and empathy for those living with visual impairments?
This Master thesis aims to transform the city of Zurich into a more accessible place for the visually impaired. The transformation is accomplished through the implementation of a city tour app for the visually impaired-. The app works in combination with interactive, 3D-printed replicas of landmarks and views of the Old Town of Zurich. This combination creates an immersive-sensory experience of the city, which can be enjoyed by both the sighted and the visually impaired.
But why does the city of Zurich need to become more accessible for the visually impaired? By opening the sights of cities to everyone, the project encourages a more inclusive society – a society that is aware and understanding of what it means to be visually impaired.
How can interactions between the sighted and the visually impaired be facilitated in order to raise awareness and empathy for those living with visual impairments?
This Master thesis aims to transform the city of Zurich into a more accessible place for the visually impaired. The transformation is accomplished through the implementation of a city tour app for the visually impaired-. The app works in combination with interactive, 3D-printed replicas of landmarks and views of the Old Town of Zurich. This combination creates an immersive-sensory experience of the city, which can be enjoyed by both the sighted and the visually impaired.
But why does the city of Zurich need to become more accessible for the visually impaired? By opening the sights of cities to everyone, the project encourages a more inclusive society – a society that is aware and understanding of what it means to be visually impaired.
We all take pride in our creations. The more tangible the projects are, the easier it is to show them to others. The recent past has seen the emergence of the maker movement, which can be understood as a development of the do-it-yourself culture. However, makers manufacture goods using digital production processes, like 3D printing, CNC milling, and laser cutting. For a majority of people outside of the maker scene, these processes are too complex to learn and the equipment too expensive to acquire.
The service design «make people make again», developed in this Master thesis, provides access, support and inspiration for everyone. To step out of the niche of the maker community, the platform is being integrated into existing hardware stores. This makes the platform accessible to a broader audience and hobbyist makers can profit from the experience of professionals.
We all take pride in our creations. The more tangible the projects are, the easier it is to show them to others. The recent past has seen the emergence of the maker movement, which can be understood as a development of the do-it-yourself culture. However, makers manufacture goods using digital production processes, like 3D printing, CNC milling, and laser cutting. For a majority of people outside of the maker scene, these processes are too complex to learn and the equipment too expensive to acquire.
The service design «make people make again», developed in this Master thesis, provides access, support and inspiration for everyone. To step out of the niche of the maker community, the platform is being integrated into existing hardware stores. This makes the platform accessible to a broader audience and hobbyist makers can profit from the experience of professionals.
How can the use phase of clothing be altered to improve and prolong user satisfaction?
More than ever people are exploring the world. In 2016, international travels increased by four per cent globally, which shows people’s growing interest in travel.
Over the excitement of exploring new places, the packing logistics should not be forgotten. Do we not all know the struggle of anticipating what clothes we will need? And more so – where do we find the space to bring them all?
Through analysing female travellers’ needs and their journeys, this project developed a modular clothing system, enabling the freedom to travel light and adapt to all circumstances and wishes. Multifunctional items of clothing mean you do not have to compromise style for function. Having more choice with fewer items does not only benefit the traveller but opens up new ways of thinking about eco-friendly fashion.
How can the use phase of clothing be altered to improve and prolong user satisfaction?
More than ever people are exploring the world. In 2016, international travels increased by four per cent globally, which shows people’s growing interest in travel.
Over the excitement of exploring new places, the packing logistics should not be forgotten. Do we not all know the struggle of anticipating what clothes we will need? And more so – where do we find the space to bring them all?
Through analysing female travellers’ needs and their journeys, this project developed a modular clothing system, enabling the freedom to travel light and adapt to all circumstances and wishes. Multifunctional items of clothing mean you do not have to compromise style for function. Having more choice with fewer items does not only benefit the traveller but opens up new ways of thinking about eco-friendly fashion.
How can the use phase of clothing be altered to improve and prolong user satisfaction?
More than ever people are exploring the world. In 2016, international travels increased by four per cent globally, which shows people’s growing interest in travel.
Over the excitement of exploring new places, the packing logistics should not be forgotten. Do we not all know the struggle of anticipating what clothes we will need? And more so – where do we find the space to bring them all?
Through analysing female travellers’ needs and their journeys, this project developed a modular clothing system, enabling the freedom to travel light and adapt to all circumstances and wishes. Multifunctional items of clothing mean you do not have to compromise style for function. Having more choice with fewer items does not only benefit the traveller but opens up new ways of thinking about eco-friendly fashion.
How can the use phase of clothing be altered to improve and prolong user satisfaction?
More than ever people are exploring the world. In 2016, international travels increased by four per cent globally, which shows people’s growing interest in travel.
Over the excitement of exploring new places, the packing logistics should not be forgotten. Do we not all know the struggle of anticipating what clothes we will need? And more so – where do we find the space to bring them all?
Through analysing female travellers’ needs and their journeys, this project developed a modular clothing system, enabling the freedom to travel light and adapt to all circumstances and wishes. Multifunctional items of clothing mean you do not have to compromise style for function. Having more choice with fewer items does not only benefit the traveller but opens up new ways of thinking about eco-friendly fashion.
Gender is no longer considered a binary concept. Today the term embraces a spectrum of increasing interpretations. Self-determined gender identities are being defined and lived, free of stereotypes. Design must respond to this societal shift, and itself become more fluid and nuanced in terms of its interpretation of gender.
This work emerges from an empirical investigation of gender, and its impact on design. Based on insights, a catalogue of design criteria was established that consciously caters to the widest possible spectrum. Instead of being genderless, these designs are «genderfull»: embracing diversity and fluidity. Genderless design criteria are showcased in the form of theoretical sex toys to provoke debate. It is the physical representation of theory that allows beholders to question conventional perceptions of gender and its impact on design.
Gender is no longer considered a binary concept. Today the term embraces a spectrum of increasing interpretations. Self-determined gender identities are being defined and lived, free of stereotypes. Design must respond to this societal shift, and itself become more fluid and nuanced in terms of its interpretation of gender.
This work emerges from an empirical investigation of gender, and its impact on design. Based on insights, a catalogue of design criteria was established that consciously caters to the widest possible spectrum. Instead of being genderless, these designs are «genderfull»: embracing diversity and fluidity. Genderless design criteria are showcased in the form of theoretical sex toys to provoke debate. It is the physical representation of theory that allows beholders to question conventional perceptions of gender and its impact on design.
Gender is no longer considered a binary concept. Today the term embraces a spectrum of increasing interpretations. Self-determined gender identities are being defined and lived, free of stereotypes. Design must respond to this societal shift, and itself become more fluid and nuanced in terms of its interpretation of gender.
This work emerges from an empirical investigation of gender, and its impact on design. Based on insights, a catalogue of design criteria was established that consciously caters to the widest possible spectrum. Instead of being genderless, these designs are «genderfull»: embracing diversity and fluidity. Genderless design criteria are showcased in the form of theoretical sex toys to provoke debate. It is the physical representation of theory that allows beholders to question conventional perceptions of gender and its impact on design.
Gender is no longer considered a binary concept. Today the term embraces a spectrum of increasing interpretations. Self-determined gender identities are being defined and lived, free of stereotypes. Design must respond to this societal shift, and itself become more fluid and nuanced in terms of its interpretation of gender.
This work emerges from an empirical investigation of gender, and its impact on design. Based on insights, a catalogue of design criteria was established that consciously caters to the widest possible spectrum. Instead of being genderless, these designs are «genderfull»: embracing diversity and fluidity. Genderless design criteria are showcased in the form of theoretical sex toys to provoke debate. It is the physical representation of theory that allows beholders to question conventional perceptions of gender and its impact on design.