Lighthouse International
Identity
Visual Systems
Accessibility matters
Lighthouse International is a leading, worldwide information resource for the visually impaired. Founded in 1905, the Lighthouse helps people of all ages who are blind or partially sighted to lead independent and productive lives. Ensuring access to information lies at the heart of the organization’s mission.
Challenges
Leverage Lighthouse International’s own research to improve communications for the visually impaired
Create a Web portal that bridges the digital divide, eliminates vision-related obstacles and makes the Internet more accessible
Actions
Reviewed existing research and best practices on communicating with the visually impaired
Designed a visual system and guidelines for the Lighthouse's own communications program
Developed a series of brochures targeting the marketing communications and advertising communities to educate and persuade them to adopt accessibility design best practices. These included: “Making Text Legible”, “Effective Color Contrast” and “Size Matters”
Created the information architecture, design, illustrations and page templates for VisionConnection, a Web portal launched in 2003 by the Lighthouse and partner institutions. Blending information, commerce and customization features, the site exemplifies the state of the art in accessibility design–including multiple contrast settings, text size options, a text-only version and a voice-activated browser