Design Beyond Vision: Tactiel Schilderij

Design Beyond Vision: Inclusion through multisensory design.

Touché – The Tactile Image is a project by Design Beyond Vision, a collective led by blind designer Simon Dogger with sighted and non-sighted makers George Kabel, Jos Lavrijsen, Boey Wang and Hanneke Wetzer. As digital images dominate our world, the collective questions how this focus on sight excludes people without vision. Their work opens design to all senses, creating products that are inclusive, sustainable and usable. Touché invites visitors to explore an image through touch, revealing form and emotion. By translating visual information into a tactile language, the project transforms how we perceive and connect with images. During Dutch Design Week, Touché will be presented as an invitation to rethink how design can communicate beyond vision and broaden our understanding of accessibility, aesthetics and sensory diversity.

The work is developed by an interdisciplinary team with three blind and two sighted makers. Initiator Simon Dogger as a blind designer safeguards the artistic line. George Kabel blind sculptor philosopher develops tangible forms; Jos Lavrijsen blind furniture maker builds the physical wall; Boey Wang designer provides the visual layer and positioning; photographer Hanneke Wetzer documents the process with focus on strength, autonomy and craftsmanship. The collaboration is equal and explores how emotions and transformation relate to touch.

The presentation takes place in the quiet, accessible studio of Simon Dogger at Strijp S. Here there is room for dialogue, reflection and guidance, essential for a tactile experience. Outside on the square the work can additionally be made visible. With targeted programs and guided tours we connect audience, professionals and policymakers to the theme of sensory perception and inclusion.