Rethinking public space design for people with visual disabilities: Towards an inclusive urban environment

Public spaces serve as vital social hubs that impact our quality of life. Although the correlation between public space design principles and human well-being is well established, a greater understanding of how to create inclusive spaces for all users, especially those with visual impairments, remains necessary. To fill this gap, the study's main goal is to examine the influence of various design aspects on the perception of public spaces by visually impaired people (VIP) compared to sighted ones (SIG), as well as the similarities and differences between these two groups. The research was conducted by applying two approaches: a quantitative approach based on the audio-visual stimuli of the environment and a qualitative approach based on a series of surveys to understand the user's perception. The key findings of this study demonstrate that people with visual impairments deserve special attention due to their varying abilities to perceive their surroundings. Furthermore, this research highlights the vitality of involving users as co-designers, emphasizing their critical insights in developing spaces that accommodate varied requirements and preferences.