Poppy’s project is breaking down barriers to art
Published: 5 June 2018 at 14:00
Student’s work on designing books for the blind forms part of annual degree show
A project aiming to make graphic design more accessible to partially-sighted people is just one of a host of exhibits showcasing the impressive work of students from Anglia Ruskin University’s Cambridge School of Art.The Nothing, but the beginning project by Poppy Huskinson will go on display alongside the work of around 200 other graduating students from Friday, 8 June in the annual Cambridge School of Art degree show.
This book is about the creation of the universe and is a tactile experience for the visually impaired, a target audience which is rarely considered by designers. The goal was to create an enhanced reading experience for the visually impaired.
Poppy, 20, who is from Stevenage and is studying Graphic Design, said:
“When carrying out research, it was clear that very little is done in the way of designing books for the blind as they are often presented with simple Braille on a page. This was something that I wanted to provide a solution to.
“I want designers to work on creating enhanced experiences for the blind. This really became my goal after meeting with various blind individuals as I could see the enjoyment such a book brought to them.”
The exhibition is titled “…” indicating an ellipsis, the ‘dot dot dot’ at the end of a phrase or sentence. The title implies what is to come but remains unknown. That is the future for the students, from courses as diverse as Computer Games Art, Fashion Design and Photography, who will showcase their work at the annual exhibition.
Chris Owen, Head of the Cambridge School of Art, said:
“We have some incredibly talented students and the annual degree show gives us an opportunity to show off their work to the wider public.
“Poppy’s work demonstrates how our design students are tackling real issues in society, using their creativity to improve the lives of other people. Our students go on to great things in their respective fields, and I am sure Poppy’s fascinating work will attract real interest at the end of year graduate show.”
The free exhibition will be on display from 10am-8pm on weekdays and from 10am-4.30pm on weekends, until 16 June at the Ruskin Gallery at Anglia Ruskin’s Cambridge campus on East Road. A private viewing will take place on Thursday, 7 June from 6pm-9pm.