Interior - Honours (Interior Design)
Everyone has the right to a positive and enjoyable shopping experience. 5enses is a sensorial retail experience designed for anyone of any ability with a specific focus on the visually impaired population.
… disability is not inherent within a person but occurs when there are gaps between personal capabilities and the demands of certain activities, such as those encountered when shopping.
Yu et al., 2014
Post Office Square in the CBD was selected to be the location of 5enses to make an important impact on the inclusivity of our city whilst being in close proximity to public transport.
A limited colour palette with one accent colour with a high enough luminance reflectance value to the surrounding materials was used to highlight salient elements within the space and avoid a camouflaging effect from too many colours and patterns. Materials with varying tactile qualities were used on both horizontal and vertical planes throughout the space to provide an interesting and engaging design for customers with visual impairment.
Post Office Square forms part of a main axis and uninterrupted vista through Brisbane city, spanning from Grand Central Station all the way to Naldham House adjacent to the river. 5enses employs a central spine circulation for ease of way finding whilst paying homage to this important main axis that was so important to the designers of these historic buildings.
52% of the Australian population suffer from one or more chronic eye conditions (AIHW, 2021). Whilst 100% of ‘design’ trends tend to be all about the visual experience, excluding the majority of the population. Visually impaired consumers identified that they are not prepared to purchase an item of clothing without first having felt the quality of the material, noted the fit, and gained the trusted opinion of a friend or relative (Bradley, 2000). Tactile merchandising allows the customer to take their time and feel the products before entering the store.
Black signage positioned at eye level against a white background was used throughout the space to assist with way finding and to be easier to read by customers with visual impairment.
Bamboo was selected to be the main material due to its acoustic properties which weakens the scattering and absorption of sound waves, resulting in a neutral soundscape.
The conceptual underpinning for the clothing displays arose from understanding how individuals with vision impairment navigate space via passive and active echolocation. Bats also use echolocation to navigate pitch black caves which provided inspiration for the conceptual design incorporating stalactite forms flowing down from the ceiling for clothing displays, eliminating tripping hazards.
The scents from the aromatic café and coffee shop help guide customers through the building and assists in developing a sensorial map of the space.
5enses also features a pet groomers for guide dogs and other domestic animals and a one stop shop for pet food and accessories.
Georgia believes interior design has the power to support or inhibit the user's autonomy. The focus throughout her degree has been designing for minority groups to positively impact the user’s lives through innovative design solutions. This has developed her design philosophy as she strongly believes design should be used to transform our community into an accessible and inclusive one.