A student-built digital map at the University of Michigan is offering a practical example of what accessible design can look like when it starts with real user needs.
The web-based tool, called MGuide, was developed by incoming doctoral student Luna. It takes a different approach to traditional campus maps, focusing on how students actually move through and use the university. Instead of dense, text-heavy interfaces, it provides simpler navigation and useful features like finding empty classrooms, checking transit routes and locating campus services.
Accessibility is a key part of the project. An accessibility consultant who is blind said the map’s controls are easy to use and the information is straightforward to navigate—something that is still uncommon in many digital maps, which often rely on complex data and layouts that can be difficult to use with assistive technologies.
While the tool hasn’t been developed as part of a formal university initiative, it points to a broader shift in how digital access is being approached. Rather than being added later, accessibility is built into the design from the beginning.
By keeping the interface simple and focusing on what students actually need, the map makes it easier for more people to navigate campus and access services independently.
More broadly, the project reflects a growing trend of user-driven accessibility. As digital tools become central to everyday environments like universities and public services, access to information is increasingly tied to participation.
In this case, a student-led project shows how accessible design can be both practical and genuinely useful.
For more information, please read gov tech’s article on the campus accessible map.