Illustrating the Invisible: New UL ALUO monograph explores the importance of inclusive design

Monograph Illustrating the Invisible: Towards an Inclusive Society for Blind and Partially Sighted explores the importance of inclusive design, with a particular focus on the accessibility of scientific illustration for the blind and partially sighted. It is one of the results of the Research Programme Visual Literacy P5-0452 at the Academy of Fine Arts and Design (UL ALUO), co-funded by ARIS.

The work examines the hegemony of sight in Western society and the need to explore ways of translating visual content for people with visual impairments. Particular emphasis is placed on the historical link with the international summer workshops organised by the Kaverljag Association (1998–2012), which formed the basis for further research in 2024.

The authors touch on the positive pedagogical aspects of intensive, focused teaching in the international summer school format and on the importance of developing empathy in designers, which is a key to inclusive, universal and user-centred design. The monograph’s central topic is analysing the methods and processes for creating tactile materials for the blind and partially sighted, with a particular emphasis on the production of scientific illustrations of marine organisms using 3D printing. This technology enables the systematic design of affordable and high-quality learning aids. The research involved experts from a variety of fields—tiflopedagogy, biology, scientific illustration and design—who emphasise the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration between experts and users, as well as between science and art. The book, therefore, includes first-hand accounts from blind and partially sighted people and their expectations regarding accessible design.

The contributions in this monograph highlight the importance of social inclusion and demonstrate how thoughtful design can improve quality of life. In addition to the practical aspects—such as process descriptions, analysis of results and examples of good practice—the monograph also provides theoretical analyses of scientific illustration and design for the blind and partially sighted and offers recommendations for further work in this field.

The aim of the monograph is to encourage discussion on visual literacy and inclusive design, as well as to contribute to the development of new projects for blind and partially sighted people in order to facilitate their equal participation in society through improved access to information.

E-book in English is freely accessible on the UL ALUO website and the University of Ljubljana Press website, the Slovenian translation will be available soon. The printed edition can be purchased at the University of Ljubljana Press online Bookshop.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.51938/9789612975920

Texts: Igor Miljavec (Intermunicipal Association of the Blind and Partially Sighted, Nova Gorica), Aleš Sedmak (Kaverljag Association), Zoja Čepin (UL ALUO), Leon Rojk Štupar (UL BF), Marija Nabernik (UL ALUO), Tim Prezelj (UL PeF, ZRC SAZU), Mateja Maljevac (PF UP), Lech Kolasiński (Faculty of Art and Design of the Pedagogical University of Kraków – Uniwersytet Komisji Edukacji Narodowej), Petra Černe Oven (UL ALUO), Tomaž Wraber (former President of the Union of the Blind and Partially Sighted of Slovenia).

Edited by: Petra Černe Oven

Co-editor: Marija Nabernik

Published by: Založba Univerze v Ljubljani (University of Ljubljana Press)

Published for: Academy of Fine Arts and Design of the University of Ljubljana, 2025

Reviewers: Dr. Aksinja Kermauner, Dr. Raša Urbas