Non-Visual Design challenges the dominance of visuals in design. To create a more inclusive society, design must engage all senses. True inclusion is impossible while the design field and design education remain visually focused and lack diversity.
What can you find in the studio of Simon Dogger?
At the heart of his design universe, blind designer Simon Dogger challenges the visual dominance in design and education. Non-Visual Design explores how design can contribute to a more inclusive society by emphasizing other senses, such as touch, smell, and sound. Field research at TU Delft, with blind and partially sighted participants in a design course, demonstrated that through their multisensory perception, they can fully contribute to the design field. However little of them are designers and it's time to look beyond what we can see.
Visitors can experience objects designed without the use of sight, ranging from tactile museum pieces to working with clay without visual input. The goal is to demonstrate how the dominance of sight can limit sensory experiences. By exploring cross-modal perception, visitors will learn how all senses contribute to our understanding of the world. Additionally, Simon illustrates how quick visual judgments often hinder dialogue and understanding.