Designing an inclusive navigation system for visually impaired transit riders through participatory design sessions and iterative prototyping with assistive technology users.
For the 7.6 million Americans living with a visual impairment, navigating public transit is a daily exercise in uncertainty. Existing apps rely heavily on visual maps, small text, and touch-based interactions that create barriers rather than break them down.
This project was rooted in participatory design — working alongside visually impaired transit riders from the very first research session to ensure we were building with the community, not just for them.
Our accessibility audit of the top 5 transit apps revealed systemic issues: unlabeled buttons (averaging 23 per app), maps with no audio alternatives, and real-time alerts delivered only as visual toasts. Screen reader compatibility was an afterthought, not a foundation.
"I've memorized three bus routes because learning a new one with this app is basically impossible."
Competitive accessibility audit — mapping WCAG compliance across 5 transit apps
We partnered with a local blindness advocacy organization to recruit 8 participants for our participatory design sessions. Over four workshops, participants co-created journey maps of their transit experiences, identified pain points through storytelling, and sketched (yes, sketched — using tactile drawing tools) their ideal wayfinding interactions.
We also conducted ride-alongs with 5 participants, observing how they navigated transfers, delays, and route changes in real time using their current tools and strategies.
Co-design workshop with participants
Tactile journey map created during co-design
Our design principles were clear: every feature must work with a screen reader first, haptic feedback replaces visual-only cues, and the information hierarchy prioritizes what matters in the moment — "Is my bus coming? Which direction do I walk? Did I miss my stop?"
Key features included an audio-guided walking navigation mode with haptic pulses for turns, proactive alerts ("Your stop is next") delivered via both audio and vibration patterns, and a simplified interface with large, clearly-labeled touch targets.
Interaction design wireframes — audio-first navigation flow
We tested our prototype with 6 participants using VoiceOver (iOS) and TalkBack (Android). Each participant completed five core tasks including planning a route, navigating to a bus stop, and handling a real-time delay. Sessions were conducted both in a controlled environment and at actual transit stops.
Route planning — high contrast, large touch targets
Active navigation — audio guidance mode
The most important lesson from this project was the power of participatory design. Our initial assumptions about what visually impaired riders needed were often wrong — the co-design workshops fundamentally redirected our approach three separate times. True accessibility isn't a checklist; it's an ongoing conversation.
Next steps would include expanding to other disability communities, integrating with actual transit APIs for real-time data, and partnering with a transit authority for a pilot program.