Vikki Byrne • 3 min read
This weekend, I had a transformative experience at Dans Le Noir in London, a restaurant where you dine in complete darkness, served by blind or visually impaired waiting staff. This unusual setting offers a profound insight into the daily realities facing those with visual impairments. My journey from fear and unease to joy and calm over nearly three hours was truly emotive, and it made me incredibly grateful that this isn't my everyday reality.
The day before visiting the restaurant, I attended an Andrea Bocelli concert, which left me wondering more about how people with visual impairments live. This curiosity led me to book the experience at Dans Le Noir. Navigating the setting was incredibly challenging. Simple tasks like using a knife and fork became significant hurdles. After pushing my main course around the table, I eventually switched to using my fingers. Pouring water was also a daunting task, especially for those seated next to me! Despite these difficulties, our waiter, Ghow, put us at ease. He explained, that with practice, these tasks become easier, a perspective that underscored the adaptability and resilience of those living with visual impairments.
The visit to Dans Le Noir also served as a social media detox. The lack of need for eye contact and the focus on just being present made the experience incredibly relaxing. It's a reminder of the value of disconnecting from screens and truly engaging with our surroundings.
As the Creative Director at OSP, I am eager to learn more about accessibility and ensure that the future brands we create are more inclusive. While we've previously focused on accessibility for our public sector clients, it's exciting to see that similar considerations are starting to ramp up for our non-public sector clients as well, with new legislation coming into effect next year.
I strongly recommend that all designers and creatives visit Dans Le Noir or other dine in the dark restaurants at least once. This experience allows you to step into the shoes of people living with visual impairments, offering a new perspective that can profoundly influence your approach to designing accessible content.
Since visiting the restaurant, I have spent time exploring the RNIB website. I have looked up more about sight loss and found these videos on the RNIB website useful. To watch more, visit RNIB: Before You Ask. It’s a video about living with sight loss, pointing out that blind and partially sighted people can live the lives they want to lead, but how others behave and what they think often gets in the way.
Accessibility isn't just about catering to the visually impaired. As someone with dyslexia, I often use tools like dictation and text-to-speech to cover more learning principles and enhance my understanding of content. These tools, designed with accessibility in mind, benefit a broader audience, demonstrating the universal importance of inclusive design.
Embracing accessibility in design, not only complies with regulations but also creates inclusive, enriching experiences for all users. Let’s make accessibility a priority in all our creative endeavours.
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