Architecture professors John Clark and Hugh Swiatek at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign are working to make architecture education more accessible to students who are blind and low-vision. Their project, inspired by sophomore architecture student Daniel Bein, aims to create new tools and workflows for a more inclusive design studio experience.
Bein, who is legally blind, uses software like Microsoft PowerPoint and OpenSCAD to create 3D models, but faces challenges with precision and speed. The professors are addressing these issues by developing AI-powered extensions, tactile graphical standards, and tools like 3D printing pens and swell paper. Their goal is to enable students who are blind or with low vision to work independently, receive feedback, and incorporate it into their designs.
This is the kind of innovation that could work well in Australia, where universities are looking for ways to make design education more inclusive and responsive to the needs of students with disability. The research is supported by the College of Fine and Applied Arts and the Office of the Chief Information Officer, with collaborations across campus.
To find out more, read the University of Illinois’ article about their inclusive architecture developments.