INTERCULTURAL DESIGN - Project 3 (Final Project/Assessment)

  INTERCULTURAL DESIGN - Project 3 (Final Project/Assessment)

4/3/2026 - 18/3/2026 (week 5 - week 7)

Yang Shumeng, 0378848

Project 3 (Final Project/Assessment)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Instructions

2. Process Work

3. Feedback

4. Reflection

Instructions：

Process Work：

1. Project Background

This PPT focuses on the accessibility problems faced by visually impaired people in Kuala Lumpur. It shows that many public spaces are not truly safe or convenient for blind users, and the project aims to improve this situation through both awareness campaigns and an app design solution.

2. Social Problems

The presentation explains that tactile paving in Kuala Lumpur is often incomplete, blocked, or unreliable. Blind users may suddenly lose the guiding path, which makes it hard to know where to go safely. Public spaces also contain hazards such as uncovered drains, uneven pavements, and obstacles like motorcycles or signboards. In addition, normal map apps do not provide enough accessibility information, so they cannot fully support visually impaired users.

3. Public Welfare Posters

The team created three posters to raise public awareness about these problems. The posters are meant to build empathy and remind society that accessible paths are essential for the safety and independence of visually impaired people. They also prepare the audience for the project’s practical solution.

4. Poster Concepts

The first poster highlights the importance of tactile paving by showing it as something critical for safe movement.
The second poster presents the danger of broken or interrupted blind paths, such as an open manhole cutting through the route.
The third poster shifts to a more hopeful tone, showing community care and support for visually impaired people.

5. EchoPath App

The main solution proposed in the PPT is EchoPath, a voice-guided navigation app for visually impaired users. The app is designed to provide safer and more independent travel through real-time voice instructions, obstacle alerts, and accessible route planning.

6. Branding and UI Design

The name EchoPath combines “Echo” (sound and voice guidance) and “Path” (route and movement). The logo also reflects navigation and audio support. The app interface is designed to be simple, clear, and high-contrast, with large text and easy interaction for low-vision users.

7. Voice Pack Feature

A key feature of the app is its voice pack system. It gives spoken instructions such as going straight, turning, or warning users about obstacles. This makes navigation more intuitive, hands-free, and safer, especially in unfamiliar or complex urban environments.

8. One-Tap Video Call

Another important feature is “Become Your Eyes.” This allows visually impaired users to start a video call with a sighted helper through the app. The helper can describe the surroundings and give real-time support. The app also includes ratings and badges to build trust and encourage participation.

9. Reflection and Conclusion

The PPT concludes that accessibility is not only a technical issue but also a social responsibility. Through research, posters, and the EchoPath concept, the project shows how design can improve safety, independence, and inclusion for visually impaired people in the city.

Feedback：

Week 5: The work was still in progress.

Week 6: We presented our progress to Sir and received feedback. He suggested that we shorten some of the simpler text so that it would be clearer and easier to read. Other than that, he mentioned that our work was mostly complete, and we only needed to continue with the final drawings.

Week 7: In the final week, we checked our submission before submitting it. However, Sir mentioned that we did not include at least one slide showing the compilation of the navigation systems we created. He also pointed out that there were still some issues with our video navigation function, so it still needed further improvement.

Reflection：

Through the research and field observation at KL Sentral, I gained a better understanding of the difficulties that visually impaired people may face when using public transportation and moving around the city. By observing tactile paving, signage, and accessibility facilities, I realized that many small design details can greatly affect how easily visually impaired users navigate public spaces.

Based on our research findings, our group is planning to develop the final design in the form of posters together with a concept for public facilities that could improve accessibility. The posters aim to raise awareness about the barriers faced by visually impaired people, while the conceptual design will explore possible improvements to the current environment.

At this stage, we are still exploring different design directions and thinking about the most effective way to communicate our ideas visually. This process helps us reflect on how design can respond to real social issues. Moving forward, we hope to transform our research findings into meaningful visual outcomes that promote a more inclusive and accessible urban environment.