Play-Finding: An Inclusive Play Navigation System
The Goals -
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Research!
Inclusive playgrounds are more than physically accessible. They must be inclusive of anyone of any age or ability. User research is a vital first step.
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Design!
Iteration and Critique! The design process of manufactured items relies heavily on company/peer feedback and contiuous form development.
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Integration!
How are these fixtures put into play? A design is only as good as its appeal and successful implementation. These designs not only needed to integrate seamlessly with the playground, but Playcore’s existing catalog as well.
Research:
Our studio started this project with deep user and disability research. We complied journals, surveys, and interviews to fully contextualize our designs.
Through this research we determined:
Most accessible playgrounds focus on being wheelchair accessible, but neglect other disabilities.
Between 70-90% of disabilities are sensory or cognitive
A playground experience can be overstimulating and distressing when only movement disabilities are considered
Sensory stimulation benefits can be incorporated into the structures of playgrounds to fulfill play needs and guide the users
Having accessible means of direction and understanding across the applicable senses (visual, tactile, auditory, proprioceptive, vestibular) lead to a safer more meaningful experience
Play-Finding -Navigation System
Comprised of a series of modular signs, icons and walkways, Play-Finding is a new play navigation system intended to help visually and sensory impaired park-goers play, relax, and socialize safely.
Parts of the System -
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Signs
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Icons
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Walkways
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Color Coding
Signs components:
Two 3.5” pipes with slots for boards
Up to six, 3-layer HDPE routed Directional Boards
Use a tongue and groove locking mechanism
Icon components:
17 current options
12 play
5 Recreation
Inspired by available Boardmaker icons, adapted to routable designs
Bold and easily recognizable
Color-coding components:
Used for directional Bars, icons, and arrows
Sensory safe colors/ non-clashing with ACD color systems
Play type colors:
Green- Moving
Blue- Stay and Play
Purple- Recreation
Walkway components:
Rubber tiles with ADA standard truncated domes
Used for: Pour in place rubber, rubber tiles, and artificial turf
Used to outline areas of movement and cross points between types of play.
PLAY-FINDING
A navigation system designed to benefit people of all abilities and ages and to ensure an enjoyable, enriching, and safe playground experience.