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For many of us, shopping for groceries in physical stores is not just a routine task, but also a relaxing experience. However, for about 90% of blind people who rely on supermarkets as their primary source of food, shopping can present significant challenges.
In this project, our objective was to identify the specific challenges faced by blind people during grocery shopping. This was accomplished through continuous research and user interviews. After numerous user testing sessions and iterations, we developed an app designed to assist blind people in shopping independently, thereby enhancing their grocery shopping experience.
Our ultimate goal is to dismantle the barriers that have long prevented the blind community from fully enjoying one of life's everyday activities on their own terms.
We began with comprehensive, exploratory preliminary research, involving collecting information online and conducting on-site store visits. This process helped us define our research directions, questions, and hypotheses, and we refined our target user group to legally blind people who retain some degree of vision and capability.
A person has central visual acuity of 20/200 or less in his or her better eye with correction; in contrast, peopoe who are not blind is called sighted people.
85% of legally blind people have some remaining vision and perceive light.
Each blind person has their own preferred way of being called; in fact, many of them prefer being called blind.
Therefore, instead of political correctness, we should place greater emphasis on individuality.
We engaged in extensive primary and secondary research, digging into the problems to better understand and identify their needs and pain points.
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We focused on transforming the valuable insights from our research into concise user need statements. This was crucial for ensuring a direct connection between these findings and our design strategies.
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In designing a tool for blind people, it's essential to go beyond just understanding their basic needs and the product's characteristics. The most crucial aspect is the difference in operational habits between blind and sighted people.
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Since it was very challenging to find blind people for testing, we also conducted trials by blindfolding sighted people and simulating real-world scenarios. This approach helped us test whether the app could be operated without relying on vision.
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After numerous user testing sessions, I have gained a deeper understanding of designing for blind people.Since complete voice functionality is already available, I have reconsidered the role that visual interface can and should do for most of the blind people who still have remaining sight.
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In the United States, with over 1 million legally blind individuals, the development of an app to facilitate independent grocery shopping stands as a significant step towards empowering this community. Such an app transcends mere assistance; it embodies the principle that blind people have the right to experience life with the same autonomy and joy as anyone else.
By enabling blind people to navigate supermarkets independently, identify products, and make informed choices through audio guidance and information, this app does more than just simplify shopping. It breaks down barriers that have long stood between the blind community and their ability to enjoy one of life's everyday activities on their own terms.
In the process of designing for the minority, I learned to see the world through a new lens, appreciating nuances I had never considered. The project was more than a technical endeavor; it became a lesson in empathy and innovation. The realization that good design has the power to transform lives in tangible, meaningful ways was my most significant takeaway. It underscored the responsibility that comes with the role of a designer: to not only solve problems but to illuminate and alleviate the struggles faced in everyday life.