A11y

Timeline

Feburary - May 2026

Role

Accessibility Researcher
Prototype Facilitator

Responsibilities

Research

(Data Synthesis)

Accessibility Framework

(Propose the availability of accessibility navigation measurements)

Prototyping

(Design Iterations & Deliverable Finalization)

Disciplines

Accessibility Design
Speculative Design
Information Science

Tools

Google Doc
Figma
Figjam

Methods

Literature Review
Lived Experience Review
Video Demo Review
Related Work Study
Prototyping

Teammate

Sandra Ye

(Project Manager & Content Design Lead)

Claire Jen

(Navigation Prototype Facilitator & Design Deliverable Lead)

Keertana Gunnam

(Navigation Prototype Facilitator & Researcher)

Advisor

Prof. Rahaf Alharbi

Associated with

Positive Exposure & Art 75

Center of Digital Experience
at Pratt Institute

Project Highlight

Overview

How Might We design a gallery experience that fosters interdependent agency, allowing BLV visitors to co-construct their own art journey?

In many traditional gallery settings, Blind and Low Vision (BLV) visitors face a "fixed, one-way" experience where they are forced to follow pre-recorded, listen-only narrations. This prescriptive approach often creates a barrier to forming the personal and emotional connections to art that sighted visitors enjoy. (Li et al., 2023)

We believe that accessibility isn’t about making them do everything alone, it’s about giving them the option of a supportive system and the predictability of information to explore alongside others. (Bennett et al., 2018)

Our project re-imagines the visit of the Positive Exposure as a holistic, interdependent journey.

Outcome Preview

A11y Measurement Framework for Content Sensory & Spatial Environments

By connecting content discovery (Li et al., 2023) with spatial navigation (Ahmetovic et al., 2016; Kamikubo et al., 2020), we support BLV visitors in moving from just "listening to a guide" to becoming active participants who can truly share in the social and emotional magic of the art gallery.

Content Approach: From Passive Listening to Active Discovery

We move away from one-way narrations and toward a "discovery" model.
By providing interactive content layers, BLV visitors aren't just told what to understand, they "capture" information with thrit own way and to form their own emotional connections. (Li et al., 2023)

Navigation Approach: Tech as a Tool, Not a Replacement

Following the principle that technology should supplement rather than replace a user’s existing mobility tools (Sato et al., 2016), our navigation provides the "environmental knowledge" or mental map of the room. This allows BLV visitors to decide where they want to go alongside their companions.

Design Artifact

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Accessibility Measurements

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Review A11y Critique

Mid-Fi Prototype

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Try Prototype

What My Collaborators Say

Teammate

Sandra Yee

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Teammate

Claire Jen

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Teammate

Keertana Gunnam

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Advisor

Prof. Rahaf Alharbi

Assistant Professor at Pratt Institute, School of Information

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The True Story Behind this Project

The Case Study Author

Yung-Wei Chen

Something I wanna share before you dive into my research story…

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Background & Defining Accessibility

Persona & The Who is the A11y for

Design Value & A11y Principle

Problems & Solutions

Ideation

Synthesis

Iteration

Prototype

Key Changes Break Down

Reflection & Lessons Learned

This project taught me that great financial design isn't about making everything "simple". It’s about knowing when to provide detail and when to provide speed. I realized that users need a two-stage journey: one to learn and one to act.

Our ultimate design impact demonstrates that clarity in financial UX is not about minimalism, but rather a thoughtful strategy that aligns information density with the user’s current needs. This approach creates more paths, ultimately reducing friction.

Post-Design Outcome

The redesign transformed a fragmented legacy system into a structured ecosystem where users feel in control. By separating learning from doing, we achieved three core outcomes: