Empathy in Action: A Journey of Design and Inclusion

Empathy is often spoken of as an essential skill in both personal and professional life. But what happens when we push ourselves to physically experience the challenges faced by others? I had the unique opportunity to live this concept in a deeply personal way when I spent ten days blindfolded designing an inclusive educational game for both sighted and blind children. The experience, organized by a group of experts in Poland in collaboration with Creativity Lab, was not just about designing a game—it was a transformative journey of empathy, understanding, and learning.

The Challenge of Blindness

The task seemed simple at first—to design a game that would bring sighted and blind children together in a meaningful, educational experience. However, the challenge was far greater than anticipated. As soon as the blindfold was placed on my eyes, the world around me shifted. I was suddenly thrust into an unfamiliar and often intimidating environment. Tasks that I had once done without thought—walking, finding objects, or even engaging in basic communication—became complex, frustrating, and time-consuming.

Experiencing the World Through Different Eyes

For those of us with sight, it is difficult to comprehend the complexity of living in a world that is predominantly designed for the sighted. The experience opened my eyes to the everyday barriers that blind children face - whether it’s the lack of accessible resources, navigating spaces, or participating in activities that are designed with a visual focus. The sensory shift from sight to touch, sound, and feel forced me to think creatively and reconsider how learning tools could be adapted for inclusivity.

Every day, I learned something new. The physical act of navigating space without sight was humbling, but the emotional impact was even deeper. There was a constant feeling of vulnerability, not just in moving through physical space but also in social interactions. Conversations became more thoughtful, and I was forced to rely on other senses to interpret the world and connect with others.

Designing for Inclusion

The objective of the game was to bridge the gap between sighted and blind children, creating a shared experience that fostered learning, connection, and play. Throughout the process, I constantly had to put myself in the shoes of both groups—the sighted children who might feel frustrated by the limitations they perceive for their blind peers, and the blind children who might feel isolated in environments designed for sighted learners.

The challenge wasn’t just about creating an accessible game. It was about making it engaging, fun, and educational for everyone involved. We focused on integrating multi-sensory elements—such as tactile feedback, sound cues, and audio instructions—to ensure that both blind and sighted children could participate equally. This process required constant iterations, testing, and collaboration to get it right.

Lessons Learned

Spending those ten days blindfolded was more than just a design challenge—it was a powerful lesson in empathy. It taught me how crucial it is to understand the challenges that others face before we try to build solutions for them. Designing for inclusion doesn’t just mean making things accessible; it means deeply considering how different individuals interact with the world and ensuring that solutions are meaningful and respectful to their experiences.

Furthermore, the experience reinforced the importance of collaboration. It wasn’t just about me; it was about the expertise and perspectives of the Polish team, the accessibility experts, and the incredible people at Creativity Lab. Together, we worked toward a shared vision of inclusivity, recognizing that it requires collective effort to create a world where everyone, regardless of ability, can thrive and learn together.

Conclusion

This journey was one of the most eye-opening experiences of my life, and it left a lasting impact on how I approach design, empathy, and inclusion. While wearing the blindfold for ten days was challenging, it was an essential step in creating something that could genuinely make a difference in the lives of children.

As we continue to design solutions for a more inclusive future, it’s essential to remember that empathy goes beyond understanding someone’s needs—it requires experiencing them. Only by walking in the shoes of others can we create meaningful solutions that bring everyone into the fold.