Books for all eyes
Combining braille and print text together makes books for all eyes. This is a project that reinvents the concept of a book and really considers equality in its design. The project goal worked to present an example of a book for both those who can see and those who cannot.
A children’s book from Thailand called Mr. Light and Mr. Dark uses a typeface that combines regular text and braille so readers of all abilities can share the experience.
Developed by the Thailand Association of the Blind by BBDO Asia, the book is described as a ‘Storybook For All Eyes’ and follows the story of Mr. Dark, who loses his friend, Mr. Light.
How it is printed
The book is printed in a dotted typeface that incorporates the braille symbols for each letter within the text.
Additionally, each illustration is embossed so that blind readers can get a better idea of what the characters look like by feeling the page. The design enables children with sight to read the book alongside blind readers, helping them to share the activity rather than having to do it separately.
Here is an example of one page.
Technology has limits
In an age where e-readers and touch-screen technology do not cater to the needs of the visually impaired, a print design such as Mr. Light and Mr. Dark helps to treat kids of all abilities equally. Try to imagine reading your ipad, banking at an ATM, or using your iphone if you could not see. Not being able to see screens eliminates a lot of people. I know what you’re thinking, and yes there are talking books (audiobooks) and screen reader programs built into computers, which is wonderful. But, the simple please of reading a book together is lost if sight is not possible.
Bedtime stories
This type of book would be fabulous to use with bedtime storytelling too, as a way to instill universal thinking at an early age.
