Visual capabilities: What do graphic designers want to see?

Abstract

© Springer International Publishing AG 2017. Capability loss simulation has great potential to improve the inclusivity of designs, through helping designers to understand the needs of people with reduced capabilities. However, its uptake in the design industry has been low, particularly in graphic design. This may be partly due to a poor fit between design tools and the work processes and tool requirements of designers. This study aimed to address this by seeking designers’ input into the design of concepts for vision loss simulation. Five design workshops were conducted, each with one or two graphic designers. In each, participants were given a list of requirements for simulator tools, summarised from previous studies, as well as 15 cards describing a range of simulator concepts. They then developed their own concept and explained the reasoning behind it. The resultant concepts are presented and analysed in this paper. Key aspects that designers consider important in simulator tools are identified.