Investigation of the interior design requirements for visually impaired patrons of the formal hospitality industry in South Africa

Abstract: Visual acuity is not the same for all members of the population, particularly as we age. People with visual impairments are diverse and travel for business and pleasure. When they travel, they often visit formal hotels that are designed by interior designers and architects who use national regulations to guide their design approach. In South Africa, interior designers and architects are governed by the South African National Standards. Universal design is an all-inclusive design theory that is often used by interior designers and architects to design for people with disabilities, including the visually impaired. Using an exploratory qualitative approach through direct observation and open-ended interviews, the study found that the interior environments in the formal hospitality industry in South Africa do not meet the needs of visually impaired people. Data shows that the interior environments of formal hotels in South Africa are designed aesthetically, but do not cognisance of people with visual challenges. The study further concludes that the South African National Standards do not adequately provide guidance for the design of interior environments for people with visual impairment. The study recommends that interior designers and architects should take up the challenge to engage with building features and materials beyond their physical properties and aesthetics, by considering how the needs of visually impaired people can be met in the design of interior hotel environments.M.Tech. (Interior Design