Designing for All and Everyone

DeafSpace was developed at Gallaudet University years ago to spatially support people who are hard-of-hearing.  As the article at the link below indicates, it is now being used to develop a major public space.

Although DeafSpace was originally developed in one sensory context, when its principles are applied, we can all benefit, regardless of our sensory capabilities.  For example, many deaf individuals lip-read and being able to clearly see each other’s faces is often a big plus.

Another example:  corridors that meet at right angles can lead to collisions when we can’t hear others coming—but today, many of us with a perfectly good sense of hearing may be listening to podcasts or something similar as we walk around and blocking out our acoustic world.  In DeafSpace, corridors do not meet at crisp right angles unless there are some sort of windows worked into corridor walls to supply views of other travellers or the walls of intersecting hallways are removed way before the intersection point so others can be seen; often it seems the sharp points at which the corridors would meet are lopped off and replaced by gently curving wall segments.

Other generally useful aspects of DeafSpace are noted in the article linked to below.  For example “Colour palettes—specifically blue and green tones—won’t just create a calming background; they’ve also been shown to be the best backdrop for communication between people of every different skin tone.”

For more information on the new project: Link to article

For more information on DeafSpace, in general:  https://www.gallaudet.edu/campus-design-and-planning/deafspace/