one for all

Sweat, tears—and no blood: the time has finally come! After many discussions—both locally and internationally—it's time for our guidance system at the Betty Hirsch School Center of the Nikolauspflege Stuttgart to spring into action. A guidance system for as many eyes, sensors, strengths, and “weaknesses” as possible.

During the process, we saw once again that a “healthy eye” and an “unrestricted nervous system” have no idea. What's more, even years of experience as a designer are more of a hindrance here. This is because a truly barrier-free guidance system requires a design in which a designer can no longer rely on their own judgment. Your own experience, your own paradigms, and “business as usual” stand in the way here. – Here is a short list of the process...

– Contrasts were not assessed with the naked eye – nor with calculated color values on the computer, as these always remain theoretical. The finished object was assessed using measuring devices that see what we cannot see.
– Design axes and fonts as obstacles: these can cause dizziness in people with photosensitive epilepsy, for example. And that's just the beginning.
– Movement and multiplicity as excessive demands: where is the middle ground? What is allowed and what is not? Where is the upper limit, where is the lower limit?
– Grasping, feeling, seeing, hearing:

After extensive international research and discussions with Nikolauspflege, its specialists, teachers, and students, and after thorough analysis of the existing premises and signage, a specific goal was set: room and classroom signs.

Um möglichst viele Anforderungen zu bedienen – sowohl menschlich als auch materiell – haben wir eine »Barierefrei-Box« erfunden: Kabel, Flaschenzug, Gummistopper, Lärmschutz, Holz … Hier ein Blick …